Toots & the Maytals currently hold the record for the most number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of 31, and continue touring and recording with huge success. Tonight is no exception; the Dome is a sell-out show.

The band warm up with a quick number, then the guitarist introduces Toots & the Maytals to the stage. Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert is looking good at 66 years young, dressed in an all white shell suit with matching shoes. Toots has a welcoming presence and engages the audience’s attention with his soulful lyrics.

If Toots sings ‘Sitting in the Sunshine’ you put yourself there, everybody is feeling ‘Sweet & Dandy’. International hit ‘Pressure Drop’ gets the crowd moving early in the set and in ‘Bam Bam’ Toots plays the acoustic guitar. He is in total control of the crowd and incorporates audience participation as a fundamental part of the show. The Dome holds a large capacity but Toots gets the whole venue involved. He is our preacher and we listen attentively to his sermon, “I want you to believe every word I say and I want you to believe everything I do”.

Layered vocals and drop harmonies from The Maytals infuse a Trojan Records style ska, soul, reggae flavour. The Maytals sound like The Wailers in ‘West Jamaica’ (take on West Virginia). ‘Funky Kingston’ is a crowd favourite and like many of tonight’s songs gets sped up at the end, stirring a frenzy of arms and legs on the ground floor. ‘Monkey Man’ is the most explosive song of the night, and a suitable end to this celebration of some five decades with Toots and Co. This is followed by a brief encore.

Toots & the Maytals have come a long way since recording their debut album with the legendary Skatalites in 1964 but maintain the same raw musical qualities. The music continues to appeal to people, the live shows still draw in big crowds and it attracts new fans. Toots & the Maytals are true pioneers.

Toots & the Maytals
Brighton Dome
Thursday, 8 Sept 2011

WORDS BY JOHN MCLEAN