VETERAN reggae band Mystic Revealers was the highlight at the second in the monthly series, Acoustic Live, held at the Redbones Blues Café in St Andrew, last Friday.

The St Thomas-based outfit, led by founding member/lead vocalist Billy Wilmot (more popularly known as Billy Mystic) was in fine form.

The seasoned musician led his aggregation through an entertaining set with hit songs including Try Try, Got To Be A Better Way, Religion, Space and Time, and Remember Romeo.

Bassist Leroy Edwards assisted on vocals while Wilmot’s son, Ika, did bass duties.

Adding value to the musical package on horns were Conrad ‘Sax’ Melody and Evoral Ray doubling on trumpet and trombone, and Nicky Henry on drums. Dalton Browne, who hosted the show, was on guitar.

Formed in 1977, Mystic Revealers enjoyed prominence on the international stage. The band was, at one point, signed to the Washington, DC-based Ras Records as well as Mesa Bluemoon Records, an affiliate of Atlantic Records.

The band regrouped in 2012 after being inactive for more than a decade.

Curtain-raiser Bongo Herman was entertaining.

Armed with his wide range of percussion instruments, from the Congo drums to his famous enamel chamber pot, the percussionist gave the audience a history lesson of Trench Town and the hit songs he recorded on.

His hilarious gimmicks and vocalisation of Eastman Chant [Fly Away Home], New Name Jah Got, as well as his interpretation of Alton Ellis’ Rock Steady and Breaking Up, all went down well with the patrons.

— Basil Walters