Reggae cools campus

Isouljahs performs for CSULB crowd

By David Felton, On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, August 27, 1998

The sun blazed down on the University Student Union South Plaza on Wednesday as the cool sounds of reggae awashed over the campus.

The USU Program Council's noontime concert presented Isouljahs, a four-piece reggae band from Costa Mesa.

"I heard the band from a distance and was lured by the reggae chant," said Julie Tran, a CSULB anthropology graduate student.

The band played a relaxing and entertaining set, which was the perfect remedy to ease the stress caused by the first week of the fall semester.

Halfway through the set, the singer, Mickey Gamboa, soulfully announced, "Here is some positive music."

The fourth song was an instrumental that ended with a slow fadeout that most bands can only accomplish with the aid of studio equipment.

By the sixth song the singer took off his guitar and grooved to the tight musicianship of the members behind him.

As the singer floated casually on the ethereal waves of music that engulfed him, the crowd become more entranced by the hypnotic music of the band.

The band members have just as casual an attitude on stage as they do offstage.

"Music is universal and for everyone," Gamboa, vocals, guitar and percussionist, said. "Reggae is universal and one does not have to understand the words in order to enjoy it."

At the end of the set a crowd lined up for free CDs and conversation with the band members.

At present, Isouljahs is excited about a forth coming, self produced tour throughout the West Coast, which includes a headlining slot at the Humbolt Hemp Festival, Mike Judah Miller, band manager, said.