Yard Squad brings reggae to Joe's Cafe!

The one type of music that has never been properly presented at Joe's Cafe is reggae. It's not that it's not a good fit, it's just that nobody could curate it properly. And, truth be told, reggae isn't around as much as it used to be.

In the 1980's reggae peaked in popularity. That was following a twenty-year arc that had ska and dance hall start in Jamaica and was meant to make people dance. A lot of the tunes were based on Motown takes and specifically to Rosco Gordon. Rosco was considered the seed of reggae music that started the whole thing.

Eventually the tunes slowed down a bit and reggae music was born of ska combined with a lot of herb, and the need to combine Niyabinghi rhythms from Ethiopia to the music. Haile Selassie was considered the true ruler of the world with a direct descension from King Solomon. The worship of Selassie would birth the Rastafarian movement in Jamaica and give a powerful voice to the music of reggae.

Traditional Rasta practice has many rules and guidelines for living. No beef or pork, grow your hair in traditional style, no Western medicine and plenty of ganja for a mental state that brings one higher to Jah. Scholars consider Rastafarians to be a branch of traditional Judaism. This is the practice that birthed reggae music.

Yard Squad brings Arthur Richards to the front of the stage as a person very familiar with traditional Rasta culture and music. He will bring his band, Yard Squad, to Joe's Cafe on April 20 for a celebration of the music and the herb. While there would have been problems with this in the past, Missouri is about to legalize the herb, finally, so that all can partake freely, just as brother Peter Tosh encouraged the world to do forty years ago.

Our only ask is that you don't smoke inside. Please smoke outside during this celebration. Yard Squad will bring the meditative music to bring our minds and hearts to the right place. Nobody has to partake of the herb but if one is not comfortable around it, this might not be the show for you.

Yard Squad will play some well-loved covers and some original material as well. We will update news on the band members as we get closer to the show.

Normal Joe's rules apply.

• Doors 7pm, show 8pm.

• $15 Eventbrite advanced tickets

* $20 at the door, night of

• Bring your own drink, food will be here.

• Please don't park on Kingsbury.

• No talking over the music.

• Try to be over 25 See Less

Thank you for following these simple rules which make the show more enjoyable for everyone.

Host or Publisher John Parker