Abdel Wright
w/ Mieka Pauley & Citizen Cope
by Andy Winkler

Spark it up folks, there’s a new reggae master in town and his message has as much political and social consciousness as his predecessors. What is it about this island nation that allows it to produce great social activist musicians? Jamaican born, dynamic singer-songwriter Abdel Wright doesn’t have to shoot a sheriff to advance his career anytime soon. Already, worldwide music superstars such as Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Bono of U2 have been drawn to this budding musician, showing support through Stewart’s executive production on his fall Interscope debut and Bono’s multiple invitations to share the stage. Wright’s material is innovative, edgy and thought provoking. A brief stint in a Jamaican prison allowed for some reflection, thus pouring his creative juices into solid, rich and poetic songs. An earthly brother of the people, Wright could be seen during much of the downtime talking to new fans and old friends, his laid-back Jamican accent rhythmically rolling along with sing song style. One such conversation with Cityzen writers revealed that he still resides in Jamaica, but is making plans to move stateside in an effort to work more closely with his label.

Playing three out of the four weeks on the Cope Supertour, Wright held down the middle spot and raised eyebrows and awareness. Taking a “Michael Moore-esque” approach, Wright burst onto the stage armed with an acoustic guitar, harmonica, and flowing Rasta dreadlocks, a history as telling as the rings of a redwood. The result fuses early Neil Young with the late Bob Marley into a melting pot of culture, rhythm and a high-speed rollercoaster of vocal range. Provocative songs such as “Quicksand” and “Dust Under Carpet” are sure hits, possibly even filtered into television commercials and war propaganda. There’s no doubt why Gwen Stefani recently chose Wright to open for her band on several occasions. Wright’s vibrant and lively stage presence is compressed in a high-end champagne bottle waiting to be opened and poured to the masses.