Reggae stars to perform at The State Theatre

Famed reggae band the Wailers, which have continued performing since being formed by members including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in 1969, are set to to play The State Theatre on Feb. 23.

The Wailers’ current frontman, Dwayne “Danglin” Anglin, has been a fan of Marley’s music his whole life.

“Bob Marley was my musical idol growing up,” Anglin said. “The first part of my life, I grew up in Jamaica. Being in Jamaica, you automatically become a part of the reggae culture. Bob Marley and the Wailers are at the pinnacle of that. It’s automatic to be a Wailers fan. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of this.”

Anglin’s story may begin in Jamaica, but his time with the band has taken him all over the world.

“I started around 11 or 12 years ago,” he said. “I was actually in the military, and I started doing music. When I left the military, I left to pursue a professional musical career. It started there, and before I knew it I was touring with the Wailers a few years later.”

Anglin says fans of Marley’s hits will not be disappointed by the band’s set list.

“We pretty much do the classics,” Anglin said. “Family Man (Aston “Family Man” Barrett, longtime bassist for the Wailers) is always recording new music, but at this time we find that the music that’s already out there is what the audience wants. We have to give the people what they want.”

Anglin views reggae as more than just music.

“(Reggae) is the conscience of music,” he said. “Songs on social commentary or political songs or just songs with a positive vibe — reggae is the sound to convey that kind of message.”

When asked what musician of any time period he would like to jam with, Anglin responded with an unsurprising but powerfully true answer.

“It’d be Bob Marley, no questions asked,” he said. “And, I’m currently jamming with one of the legends that I would have picked to jam with anyhow. Family Man is a really, really credited and accomplished bass player in his own right. He’s one of the legends and the pioneers of reggae music. He’s definitely toured seemingly the longest of several musicians out there. It’s truly an honor to share a stage with him and learn from him, and just to be a part of this great legacy. I’m privileged that he gave me that opportunity.”

Though the band has had several incarnations over the years, the Wailers still bring a strong message of positivity to its classic shows.

“I think music chooses its people,” Anglin said. “It calls a lot of people, but it chooses very few. The only way to find out if you’re chosen is to truly commit to the craft and learning the craft. I mean, of course, there are lots of different ventures you could do in life. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to do music. It’s the best way that I’ve seen people can communicate. You can communicate your ideas, and you can help to guide a mass of people the right way. Wailers music is always positive music and very inspirational. I’ve been inspired by that growing up, and I’m still inspired by it. Man, just to be a part of something so positive, again, is truly an honor.”

If you miss this show, Anglin thinks you’ll miss out on a unique experience.

“If you don’t (buy a ticket), you’re just going to regret hearing everyone else talk about it. You can bet someone you know is going to go to the show and rub it in your face,” Anglin said, laughing. “You’re going to hear just how inspired they were. If you want to be a part of the conversation, that positive uplifting conversation, don’t miss out.”

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Reggae stars to perform at The State Theatre."