Jah Wins! Babylon -- and reggae haters -- fall

We tricked my reggae-hating daughters tonight.
Unbeknownst to 9-year-old Kerstin and 6-year-old Annika -- both committed reggae haters -- a Madison, Wis.-based roots quartet called Natty Nation headlined the first outdoor concert of Dubuque's festival season. We told the girls we would be listening to "some music." We tolerated the warm-up act, a middle-aged blues ensemble.
"That first band, they would be better off in a nursing home," Kerstin complained.
We stood at the side of the stage as Natty Nation set up their equipment.
As the band kicked into their set, singing about revolution and Jah and heading back to Zion, Kerstin stared, absolutely riveted by the stick work of the drummer and the moonstomping, singing bassist/frontman. Both sported flowing dreadlocks.
Five songs into the band's set, Kerstin and Annika both joined me in some serious skanking. My wife Jill and I glanced and smiled at each other: Reggae haters gonna fall. Jah Ras Tafari!
Sure enough, as we left the gig for home, newly reggae-loving Kerstin came clean.
"I actually kind of like reggae," she said,sheepishly. "You haven't been playing it loud enough."
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