Easy Star All-Stars Get Psychedelic

Getting Better All the Time: Easy Star Dub All-Stars

With two previous dubwise takes on classic rock albums--namely, Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread, the Easy Star All Stars are carving out a rather interesting niche. Their latest addition to their oeuvre, Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, tackles one of psychedelia's highest moments, the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's (an album so perfect in its original form, it's probably too intimidating for any normal, non-gimmicky band to cover, especially in its entirety.) Though the Easy Star treatment this time out doesn't work quite as well as with their echoing, reverbified take on Pink Floyd, Lonely Hearts Dub Band definitely has giddiness-inspiring moments, such as Luciano singing "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," and Sugar Minott voicing "When I'm Sixty-Four."

The touring version of Easy Star won't feature the top-shelf vocalists of their studio recordings, but that shouldn't stop anyone from checking out their show at Slim's on Saturday (along with Blue King Brown); there should be more than enough irie dub vibes to go around, and after a spliff or two, who cares, anyway?