Reggae band shines 

By Wes Woods II
Daily Forty-Niner

While students were busy buying books or shuffling from class to class on their first day, the Isouljahs were performing a well-rounded yet late-starting reggae set.   
 
The concert was at least 30 minutes late as the speakers evidently werenít working so they had to be replaced. The microphones then werenít working, so they had to be replaced. Then, the microphones wouldnít work with the speakers so that was even more time.
 
After all the equipment replacements, maybe 100 people attended the concert at Student Union South Plaza.
 
The Isouljahs somewhat short set consisted mostly of ear-pleasing mid-tempo reggae grooves that seemed to melt into one unified song. 
 
One song, "Freedom," displayed a fast paced bass guitar with reggae synthesizer blips from a keyboard. Singer Mikey Gamboa instructed the audience that "the race is not for the swift, nor battle for the strong -- but [to endure]."  
 
Their last song, "It Takes Two," featured a rumbling reggae beat with an organ piercing the background. Gamboa, toward the end of the song, held the microphone with his eyes closed and sang "I'm giving you my all, "I'm giving you my best, "I'm giving you my everything." 
 
"[Their music] touches the heart and soul," said Zaida Saleh, a senior in anthropology.
 
"The harmonies, voice and bass guitar [stood out at the concert]," said Alan Smithy, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry.