Groundation ADD

Concert Review: Groundation in Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik 2024

07/18/2024 by Gardy Stein

GROUNDATION IN HAMBURG, GERMANY @ FABRIK - JULY 16, 2024

In Jamaica, grounations are regular spiritual gatherings where Rastafarians meet to drum and chant together, celebrating their faith and the visit of HIM Haile Selassie on April 21^st 1966. In the here and now, Groundation is the Californian band on tour to celebrate 20 years of their album Hebron Gate (released in 2003), and thanks to the booking of Revelation Concerts, they stop over in Hamburg as well!  

While other parts of Europe are struggling with high temperatures, the summer is on break in Germany’s north, it seems. Doors open right on time to let in the early birds who were socializing in front of the venue but now seek shelter from a violent cold downpour, and I send a thought of pity to those who attend the open-air show of Sean Paul on the other side of town. The Fabrik, instead, welcomes us with its unparalleled charm, and the arriving visitors spend the hour or so left until the concert starts by grabbing a drink, looking at the merch on display or talking to friends.

At 8:16pm, the lights are dimmed, the musicians take positions behind their respective instruments and play some introductory notes. With the words “Feel your heartbeat!”, Harrison Stafford then opens the set with the track Original Riddim to enthusiastic applause. Originally released on the album One Rock as a feature with Israel Vibration and The Abyssinians, these vocal parts are performed by bass player Isaiah Palmer. Together with drummer Zack Morillo, he provides the pillar of the musical blessings the band has in store for us tonight.

The subsequent pieces Energy, We Free Again and the beautiful Groundation Chant bear proof of the special chemistry that has developed between the band members, many of them in place since the release of New Generation in 2018 (former members Ryan Newman, Marcus Urani and Paul Spina continue their musical journey in the new formation Rising Tide). Thus, the horn section consisting of Jeff Cressman on trombone, Roger Cox on saxophone and Darren Johnston on trumpet have had sufficient time to develop the multi-layered harmonies that now constitute a great part of the group’s magic, weaving in and out of the excessively long songs and even maneuvering to the front of the stage at times.

Relatively new to the current line-up are guitarist Kris Dilbeck and keyboarder Pau Dangla Valls, whose towering dreadlocks, infectious smile and skillful instrumental performance add another level of excitement to the show. “We play music for a reason!” Harrison addresses the audience, “We came to uplift and unite. We are here together, as one family, we are here for peace and love! Not just for ourselves, but for our children, for every child in this world!” Despite his small stature, this man is a giant. Not only by exploring musical realms no one has entered before, not only by writing lyrics that indeed uplift and unite us, but also by his sheer presence, the way he plays guitar (and  drum even, occasionally), and the way he sings, of course, so full of passion and emotion that it translates directly to the audience.

Most of them seem to participate more in the second half of the set, when songs like Jah Jah Know, Babylon Rule Dem, Silver Tongue, Weeping Pirates and Picture On The Wall, all taken from the celebrated Hebron Gate album, get to the heart of the tour. Movement is high both on and off stage, and the band members take turns in coming up front and playing solo. Especially the two background singers Kerri-Ann Lewis and Thamar Williams are a joy to watch, skanking along to the music and igniting the dancing fever even more, and the latter gives me a goosebumps-moment when her crystal-clear voice intones the beginning of Freedom Taking Over: “Zion, dreaming from an Iron gate…”

After a playtime of almost 90 minutes, the band waves to the crowd and leaves stage, accompanied by loud applause and instant shouts of “Zugabe!” (German for encore), and when people start banging their fists on the stage, they come back, smiling. “Do you want some more music?” Stafford asks, answered by a thundering “Yeah!”, and Groundation then plays three more songs to the delight of the fans: Not So Simple, Here I Am and Hold Your Head, again immersing us into this unique reggae-jazz-sound. Almost two hours after they started, Harrison addresses the roughly 650 visitors once more, expressing his gratitude and saying his final goodbyes: “Hamburg! Thank you so much, thank you for your spirit, thank you for sharing your energy, thank you for sharing this moment with us. Keep love alive, keep hope alive!”

While most guests flock outside for some fresh air (it was really muggy inside!), those who linger are rewarded with a meet-and-greet moment, as Harrison Stafford poses for pictures and a quick chat with his fans. The friends I talk to feel exalted, grateful for this experience – grounded, actually, in this very moment. Thank you Groundation, thank you Laurent Pebaumas (tour manager), thank you Revelation Concerts, thank you Team Fabrik for another night to remember. To quote myself from another review I wrote about this extraordinary project: “This is not a band that backs a singer, these are instrumentalists who create a musical realm, extending an invitation to all of us to enter.” For those who wish to accept this invitation – they are still on tour for the next couple weeks, so check if they come near to you!