When John Brown's Body released their fourth studio album in 2005, the band looked forward to the happy grind of touring to support the release. With Pressure Points hailed by critics as their strongest, most consistent effort to date, [Popmatters] JBB set out on tour and continued their efforts to conquer the world. Little did they know that they were about to go through a series of events that would significantly change the band. They endured the death of bassist Scott Palmer, the departure of several long time members (including singer and co-founder Kevin Kinsella), and throat surgery for lead singer Elliot Martin - enough challenges to end the career of many groups. Instead, JBB emerged with a brand new line-up, a fearlessness born out of this musical near-death experience, and a brand new album dubbed Amplify.

One of reggae's preeminent, modern acts, John Brown's Body let the good vibes flow throughout this performance, stirring an eager crowd into an absolute tizzy over the course of their hour and a half long set. For those not up on the Boston bred band, JBB don't exactly specialize in reggae alone. Their's is a much more hybrid take on the genre. Dub, electronica, hip hop, rock...JBB transform reggae into a vessel for bringing other influences and genres to the surface. The result is an utterly explosive blend of sound and style that recalls the classic offerings of Marley and Toots and the Maytals, as well as the more modern sonic ventures of 311. - david pitz