I-Wayne is a Jamaican roots reggae revivalist, but perhaps can be better described as a roots reggae sentimentalist. He repeats the same social messages as his reggae lineage (calls self “fire warrior,” warring against inequality) and his singles, “Can’t Satisfy Her” and last year’s “Book of Life,” have everything in common with the grooveable, organic, undemanding sounds of retro-roots nuggets. He’s as romantic a throwback to smooth 70s reggae as possible, which sounds more incredible than it reads.
For the many other roots reggae sentimentalists – including the seemingly thousands (millions?) of students that flirt with this very kind of reggae at some point in their college years – this all should be sounding pretty good. Unfortunate, then, I-Wayne plays this little place on Saturday.
