The Show: Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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Joe Vano leads reggae meisters Pablo and the Hemphill 7 into the Black Dog Tavern to help out some fellow Fort Worthians, Fri.
PHOTOS: 1
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Pablo and the Hemphill 7

By Anthony Mariani

Every year around this time, Pablo and the Hemphill 7 celebrates its anniversary by playing a show at the Black Dog Tavern. What’s different about this year’s gig is that Pablo won’t be the center of attention. The band is playing to raise awareness of a local tragedy that’s left a group of about 250 Somalians from New Orleans who fled from Hurricane Katrina coping with the lack of many basic necessities, including winter clothing. Many of the people, who’ve been living in one Section 8 apartment project in Stop 6, were burglarized recently, according to Pablo frontman Joe Vano, and they’ve been almost entirely wiped out financially. “We don’t want money. We need winter clothing, for women and children, and shoes and diapers,” he said. “Especially diapers — they’re like gold to the [Somalians living here].”

Of the dozens of local bands that would go out of their way to help a disenfranchised minority group in our backyard, Pablo is a perfect fit. Their blend of ska- and Afrobeat-tinged pop reggae is transformative, redemptive, and all about power to the people. Based on some samples, Pablo’s much-labored-over new c.d. will sound the way a supremely talented band that’s had four years to develop should — tight, adventurous, and predictable enough to sate long-time fans’ tastes but not so much that you always know what’s coming next.

For more information, visit the band at www.myspace.com/pabloandthehemphill7. –

Fri at the Black Dog Tavern, 903 Throckmorton St, FW. 817-332-8190.


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