Thursday, November 15, 2012

Reggae bash: Rising Lion to play at Mickey Finn’s

Reggae bash: Rising Lion to play at Mickey Finn’s Written by Mike Bauman | | mbauman@toledofreepress.com

Danny Dred For veteran reggae artist Danny Dred, playing music is not just for his own personal well-being; it’s also to spread love and positivity to those he performs for. “There’s a division and all these things, but the way I really look at it is like this: There’s always going to be something in life,” said Dred, the singer/songwriter behind Florida-based Rising Lion. “There’s always going to be something negative. There’s always going to be something challenging. Thing is, it’s like John Kennedy said — what can we do to make a difference? “And I think that’s the way we should think because tomorrow’s going to come up with the sun shining and it’s going to be a new day.” Rising Lion has been spreading those positive vibes through its music since 1992. On Feb. 3, it’ll bring them to Toledo for an early Bob Marley birthday bash at Mickey Finn’s Pub with a new six-piece band that features a second guitar player and a female vocalist. Rising Lion’s fourth full-length album, “Changes,” is nearly complete and being released as singles. The first, “Feelin Irie,” debuted on May 18, 2010. The title of Rising Lion’s most recent effort came from the struggles Dred was dealing with in his marriage as well as the United States’ economic and social changes. “Things just change, you know?” Dred said. “And so I looked around, and I just saw a lot of other people going through changes, going through things. When I looked at it I was like, ‘This is the worst I’ve ever seen it in my lifetime,’ as far as the economy and all those things. People not [being] able to handle the pressure, and going through divorces and losing their homes and all of this. “And so I was just like, ‘This needs to be talked about.’” One constant Dred has always addressed through Rising Lion’s music is his own life experience, something he has passed on to his 16-year-old son, who is trying to find his own voice through music. Having never known his own father, Dred is happy to be able to guide his son in whatever he pursues. “All of his life I’ve been a touring musician,” Dred said. “And if you’re going to do it, I tell kids this — it’s not the easiest business in the world. That is for sure. But if you love it and you find it’s really what you love doing, then you’ve just got to get out there and you’ve got to do it.” Dred speaks from experience. He has bachelor’s degrees in sociology and Spanish and was a case manager at Columbia University before he started Rising Lion. While he appreciated what his college experience meant, ultimately music was his true passion and calling. With influences ranging from Peter Tosh to Jimi Hendrix to Bob Marley, it was difficult for Dred to ignore his gift. Over the years, Rising Lion has performed at “The Legends of Rasta Reggae Festival Tour,” “The Annual Bob Marley Reggae Festival” and “The New England Reggae Fest,” to name a few. In addition, Rising Lion also has songs on compilation records with the likes of Gregory Isaacs, George Clinton, Fats Waller and Dennis Brown, among others. “Just like anything else in life, the greatest happiness I think you’re going to find is to find something as a job that you love doing and then get good at it,” Dred said of being a musician. “And that way, it won’t seem like you work.” Some of Dred’s philosophy can be attributed to Marley’s vision. One quote that stuck with him over the years was when Marley said, “If my life is just for me, my own security, then me don’t want it. My life is for people; that is the way me is.” “If you’ve been blessed with certain skills and talents and abilities, then you should use them for the upliftment of mankind, for the upliftment of people [rather than] to just keep them for yourself,” Dred said. “It’s therapeutic for me in that way, but I definitely look at music as a vehicle for social change and spiritual growth and all these things.” Rising Lion will perform Feb. 3 at 9:30 p.m. at Mickey Finn’s Pub, 602 Lagrange St. For more information, call (419) 246-3466 or visit mickeyfinnspub.com. Tags: Mickey Finn's Pub, Red Lion, Reggae This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 5:35 pm and is filed under In Concert, Star, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Celebrity Chef Mario Batali Goes on Food Stamps Budget



Can you get by on $1.48 per meal for a week? That's the campaign challenge that the Food Bank for New York City has posed to those interested in seeing what it's like to live on food stamps. Celebrity chef Mario Batali and his family have accepted the challenge and are living on $31 a week per person. Batali, his wife, and their two teenage sons are doing something that 1.8 million New Yorkers and 46 million Americans depend on.

Will you take the challenge ? Can you do it ? Alot of people in this country and around the world are feeling the pinch. Hang in there and keep a positive spirit.  Remember summer is the perfect time for listening and dancing to reggae music. Rising Lion will be out on the road to help you out with this. Check http://www.risinglion.com/ to see when The lion will be near you. Next stop : Rasta Dog Entertainment Presents Reggae @ The Well on Saturday May 26 (Memorial Day weekend) in Knoxville, TN. Roots, Rock, Reggae !







Friday, April 13, 2012

Rising Lion Live @ Seville Quarter :: 2012 Reggae Festival

Come check out your Florida favorite,  Rising Lion returns to his native Florida after a long winter of national touring. Located in beautiful historic Pensacola at Seville quarter this promises to be a great show. See you there! Roots, Rock, Reggae.........
Seville Quarter :: 2012 Reggae Festival

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Reggae bash: Rising Lion to play at Mickey Finn’s


Reggae bash: Rising Lion to play at Mickey Finn’s

Written by Mike Bauman | | mbauman@toledofreepress.com

Danny Dred
For veteran reggae artist Danny Dred, playing music is not just for his own personal well-being; it’s also to spread love and positivity to those he performs for.
“There’s a division and all these things, but the way I really look at it is like this: There’s always going to be something in life,” said Dred, the singer/songwriter behind Florida-based Rising Lion. “There’s always going to be something negative. There’s always going to be something challenging. Thing is, it’s like John Kennedy said — what can we do to make a difference?
“And I think that’s the way we should think because tomorrow’s going to come up with the sun shining and it’s going to be a new day.”
Rising Lion has been spreading those positive vibes through its music since 1992. On Feb. 3, it’ll bring them to Toledo for an early Bob Marley birthday bash at Mickey Finn’s Pub with a new six-piece band that features a second guitar player and a female vocalist.
Rising Lion’s fourth full-length album, “Changes,” is nearly complete and being released as singles. The first, “Feelin Irie,” debuted on May 18, 2010.
The title of Rising Lion’s most recent effort came from the struggles Dred was dealing with in his marriage as well as the United States’ economic and social changes.
“Things just change, you know?” Dred said. “And so I looked around, and I just saw a lot of other people going through changes, going through things. When I looked at it I was like, ‘This is the worst I’ve ever seen it in my lifetime,’ as far as the economy and all those things. People not [being] able to handle the pressure, and going through divorces and losing their homes and all of this.
“And so I was just like, ‘This needs to be talked about.’”
One constant Dred has always addressed through Rising Lion’s music is his own life experience, something he has passed on to his 16-year-old son, who is trying to find his own voice through music. Having never known his own father, Dred is happy to be able to guide his son in whatever he pursues.
“All of his life I’ve been a touring musician,” Dred said. “And if you’re going to do it, I tell kids this — it’s not the easiest business in the world. That is for sure. But if you love it and you find it’s really what you love doing, then you’ve just got to get out there and you’ve got to do it.”
Dred speaks from experience. He has bachelor’s degrees in sociology and Spanish and was a case manager at Columbia University before he started Rising Lion. While he appreciated what his college experience meant, ultimately music was his true passion and calling. With influences ranging from Peter Tosh to Jimi Hendrix to Bob Marley, it was difficult for Dred to ignore his gift.
Over the years, Rising Lion has performed at “The Legends of Rasta Reggae Festival Tour,” “The Annual Bob Marley Reggae Festival” and “The New England Reggae Fest,” to name a few. In addition, Rising Lion also has songs on compilation records with the likes of Gregory Isaacs, George Clinton, Fats Waller and Dennis Brown, among others.
“Just like anything else in life, the greatest happiness I think you’re going to find is to find something as a job that you love doing and then get good at it,” Dred said of being a musician. “And that way, it won’t seem like you work.”
Some of Dred’s philosophy can be attributed to Marley’s vision. One quote that stuck with him over the years was when Marley said, “If my life is just for me, my own security, then me don’t want it. My life is for people; that is the way me is.”
“If you’ve been blessed with certain skills and talents and abilities, then you should use them for the upliftment of mankind, for the upliftment of people [rather than] to just keep them for yourself,” Dred said. “It’s therapeutic for me in that way, but I definitely look at music as a vehicle for social change and spiritual growth and all these things.”
Rising Lion will perform Feb. 3 at 9:30 p.m. at Mickey Finn’s Pub, 602 Lagrange St.
For more information, call (419) 246-3466 or visit mickeyfinnspub.com.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Life On The Road

Have been on the block for a minute.  Still getting organized and wanted to get you all caught up with what's happening on the road. I will make a better effort moving forward to keep you updated with the 2012 tour. We started out the last week of January and played several clubs in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana before turning left and heading west. The first show in Chicago at "The Shrine" club was amazing - packed dancefloor and tons of positive feedback from everyone. The new lineup of musicians each have special and unique talents and we are playing to everyone's strengths in the band. Lots and lots of driving.....trapped together in a tight space and you get to know your new peeps really quickly!  Did I mention lots and lots and lots of driving? Wintertime driving in Vail and Alma Colorado was challenging and also stunningly beautiful. Meeting tons of new friends and playing music every night - what's better than that? Great show in Taos, New Mexico where we met Mario and Heather. They locked eyes at a Rising Lion show 15 years ago and have been together ever since - beautiful! We've had some good CD sales so far and are getting some new fun merchandise coming soon. More Soon - Peace Love Joy - Let Light Shine!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Rising Lion in Cincinnati

Rising Lion is in Cincinnati rehearsing for their upcoming winter tour 2012. The rehearsals are going nicely and they are looking forward to being on the road seeing old friends and making new ones. Check out http://www.risinglion.com/ to see when they will be near your area.

Feelin Irie- Rising Lion

Feelin Irie- Rising Lion