Solidarity is a popular word these days.
We’ve seen it on signs, heard it shouted in and around the Capitol building, and next week, it will be accompanied by the sound of reggae music.
Local reggae group Natty Nation is hosting a concert April 7 to continue the solidarity bandwagon, and do so for a cause: to raise funds to recall eight Republican senators.
According to the band’s keyboard player, Aaron Konkol, one of the main goals of the concert is to rekindle a sense of action among those who attend.
“Our main ethos or mission is to spread positivity,” he said. “And singing about peace and love is one thing, and we definitely do that and try to promote being positive, but being aware and actually making the change, you have to be conscious.”
Konkol and Natty Nation’s lead singer, JAH Boogie, knew change had to happen after witnessing the political turmoil at the Capitol and seeing how the budget repair bill would affect their friends and family.
“I pay attention to politics, and I vote and volunteered to get people out to vote. And I had no idea that it was going to be this bad,” Konkol said.
That’s when Konkol did some research and came across the organization Recall the Republican 8. The organization is raising money to, as its title implies, recall the eight Republican senators who are currently eligible for recall – they include Sens. Sheila Harsdorf, River Falls, Robert Cowles, Green Bay, Randy Hopper, Fond du Lac, Luther Olsen, Ripon, Glenn Grothman, West Bend, Alberta Darling, River Falls, Mary Lazich, New Berlin, and Dan Kapanke, La Crosse. As officials cannot be recalled until one year into their term, the remaining Republican senators, and Gov. Scott Walker, are eligible for recall beginning January 2012.
“[Recall the Republican 8] seems to be taking the most direct action to make a change. … These people are actually going out and collecting the signatures to recall the senators,” Konkol said of the organization. At the concert, Konkol hopes concertgoers will donate to the organization or sign up to volunteer their time.
Being socially aware is just one of the distinguishing facets to Natty Nation. With a presence in Madison’s music scene that dates back 15 years, Konkol credits the group’s success to their unique sound they describe as “all original hard roots rock reggae and dub.”
“I love reggae, but I don’t think I could stick with a band as long as I have if it was just the traditional reggae,” Konkol said.
He joined JAH Boogie in 2002 and together the duo form the core of the group, inviting a rotating group of “high caliber” musicians to perform along with them.
“We bring a lot of outer influences, and each player throws in what they do while still playing reggae,” Konkol said. “But it’s decidedly American, because we’re not Jamaican, and it’s progressive. I don’t know of another band that sounds like Natty Nation.”
Of course, there’s also their interest in the world around them. Natty Nation has a history of being socially conscious through its music – JAH Boogie wrote “Hurricane” after Hurricane Katrina and “No Apology” is a response to the 9/11 attacks.
“[The music has] a long tradition of social and spiritual consciousness, and we identify with that,” Konkol said.
Also setting Natty Nation apart from the rest is an undying love for Wisconsin, as Konkol is from Madison and JAH Boogie is from Racine. And they’re not afraid to show where they came from.
“We rep Wisconsin,” Konkol said. “A lot of people from Wisconsin, when they’re in New York, they say, ‘Oh, we’re from the Chicago area,’ or the Milwaukee area, even. But no: Madison, Wisconsin. We definitely rep Wisconsin.”
Also taking the stage is Minneapolis-based artist Carnage the Executioner and Tropical Riddims Sound System.
“He is a ridiculous beatboxer,” Konkol said of Carnage the Executioner. “He can do stuff you would never think would be possible.”
While the concert’s motivation may lie in politics, Konkol and Natty Nation hope to inspire concertgoers through an upbeat atmosphere.
“I think now that Scott Walker has done this, people are opening their eyes and are realizing that it really does matter,” he said. “You can affect you and the people that matter. … I feel like this is the start of a movement that will actually make a change.”
Natty Nation’s “Solidarity!” concert will be at the High Noon Saloon April 7 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Donations to Recall the Republican 8 will be accepted at the show. For ticket information, visit the High Noon Saloon website: http://www.high-noon.com.
