Easy Star All-Stars

Stuyvesant Town Oval; Wed 24

Photograph: Olly Hearsey

Bubbling bong rips and hacking coughs replaced the familiar pulsating-noise intro to “Speak to Me” on Dub Side of the Moon, a 2003 Pink Floyd homage from New York’s Easy Star All-Stars. Those same sounds were no doubt echoing simultaneously in college dorm rooms across the country—not mine, Mom, I swear!—obscuring (or perhaps enhancing) the brilliantly recast music underneath. Whether you were attempting to sync this reggae version of Dark Side of the Moon with The Wizard of Oz or excitedly instant-messaging MP3s to a pal halfway across the country, you knew that, musically speaking, you weren’t in Kansas anymore.

Since then, the All-Stars—led by producer and guitarist Michael Goldwasser—have committed themselves to reenvisioning concept albums as reggae. In 2006 the feel-good collective risked tackling Radiohead’s moody OK Computer: “Let Down,” the highlight on Radiodread, defied its title, transforming one of Radiohead’s most depressing songs into an upbeat dub delight. Following an EP of original material, the All-Stars are back with this year’s Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band. The familiar watery gurgles lead off once again—wasn’t acid the drug of choice for Sgt. Pepper’s?—leading into refreshing, joyful takes on old Fab Four faves. When the All-Stars sing “I get high with a little help from my friends,” it takes on a playful yet worldly resonance. For this free outdoor show, you can expect Goldwasser and eight players to pull from all three projects. And this time, you can add your own cough track.—Colin St. John

Buy Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band on Amazon.com | Buy it on BN.com

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