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The Black Seeds have the cure for what ails you.
The New Zealand reggae band gets its name from the spice that the prophet Muhammad once said can heal every disease, except death. Barnaby Weir, Black Seeds singer and guitarist, said the band is “a musical remedy that can cure anything but death.”
Turns out the band is actually offering more than just a cure-all at its Whistler debut next Thursday (July 8). Weir said people who come to the show will dance, have fun, get sweaty and maybe even meet the girl or guy of their dreams.
“Many couples meet at our shows… really,” he wrote in an email to The Question.
With such an enticing list of offerings, it’s not surprising that Weir refers to the eight Black Seeds members as a bunch of “musical salesmen” — among other descriptions. He also called the group a “band of brothers,” “a group of lads” and “the boyos.”
Whatever you might call them, the Black Seeds have been busy over the past 10 years making a name for themselves at home in New Zealand, all across Europe and more recently in the U.S. But next week marks the first time they’ll touch down on Canadian soil, and Whistler is one of only four stops the band is making on its Canadian debut.
“We really just can’t wait,” Weir said. “Our fans have been telling us to get to Canada for years, so it’s about time really.”
Besides being super excited to visit Canada for the first time, Weir said he’s looking forward to introducing people to the Black Seeds and winning over a new crowd. With promises of fun, good music, dancing and even a possibility for love, he’s clearly already started the campaign.
“If you’re new to us, you should come see our show — it’s what we do best and have been working on it for a long time,” he said. “We will be having fun and will be feeling fresh at the start of our tour… a good combination of factors. Do it.”
Based in Wellington, New Zealand, the group got its start in the late 1990s as a “jam party band,” Weir said. They got a little more serious and released their debut album, Keep On Pushing, in 2001. Three other albums followed, with 2008’s Solid Ground being the most recent.
A new album is in the works and Weir said the band will be “road testing” some of the new material in Whistler. The band is also getting ready to release a remix album later this year.
While their albums have sold well and received critical acclaim, it’s the Black Seeds’ live show that has earned the most accolades and word-of-mouth recommendations. With eight musicians on stage, including two percussionists, a saxophone player and trumpet player, the band is known for its raw energy and good vibes.
The U.K.’s Clash magazine has called the group “one of the best live reggae bands on the planet.”
Weir said the Black Seeds don’t have a strictly reggae sound. Inspired by old-school roots reggae, ska, funk and soul, the band’s music incorporates those styles and everything from Latin to rock, he said.
Head to the GLC on July 8 to see if Barnaby Weir and the rest of the Black Seeds deliver on their musical sales pitch. Tickets are $30 at the GLC and doors open at 9 p.m. Giraffe Aftermath is the opening band.
The show is part of a special two-night New Zealand Showcase with Katchafire slated to play on July 9.
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