Katchafire

Katchafire are a reggae band from New Zealand, who first started in 2000. They actually started out as a Bob Marley tribute band and have since released 5 albums. Their album 'Revival' from 2003 included the highest selling New Zealand single of the time called 'Giddy Up'. They have toured the likes of Australia, Europe, the USA, Brazil and so on and have done extremely well in all of those areas. The band actually consists of 7 members, which has varied in numbers over the years due to some members leaving and others joining, which does seem like quite a lot but they are needed to make their unique style of music. To be honest I think you have to be a reggae fan to enjoy their albums and to see them live, I did unexpectedly enjoy some of their singles but I wouldn't go as far as to say I'd rush out to see them perform. They have very old school style music videos and fashion sense, and they are very mellow, which I suppose best describes reggae music anyway. But Bob Marley will always be the king of that music scene for me so no one could ever live up to those expectations or interest me I don’t think for that reason.

Roots reggae band may not have originated from sunny Jamaica yet the New Zealand band seem to embody everything the great nation and great genre stand for. These musicians simply live and breath reggae and this is very evident in their performance style. They have not just learnt their instruments, they have mastered them in order to create sounds that sound truly authentic.

An eight man operation centring around Grenville Bell and his two sons, originally a Bob Marley tribute band has evolved into so much more with a solid following all of their own. They have great rapport with the audience and the crowd react absolutely fantastically to the friendly interaction that Grenville and co offer up. They acknowledge their past venture once tonight with a cover of 'Three Little Birds' by the great Bob Marley but the rest is all original material and this goes over really well with the fanbase who know it well. Great reggae is not confined to Jamaica and the surrounding islands and Katchafire are evidence of this.

Katchafire is kachafire..they are the best band in the world and this show lived up to that title, but, I hope they never play at the at the Rialto Theatre again. I am sixty-five yrs young and l feel uncomfortable attending shows there now as the security people are out of control. They are overly aggressive. What I witnessed was horrific, three people took down a young man who was having a great time waving a Hawaiian flag. I don't know what he did I didn't see anything. They body slammed this guy to the the concrete held him down and this one dude whom I have noted in the past as being overly aggressive punched the guy in the face several times. I'm so happy my wife who was I'll didn't have to see that. The image still burns in my mind.

The show was good, but I felt like they blew through their songs from their latest album "Legacy". I would have also loved to hear "Is this familiar". They can only play so many songs, but I guess sometimes what fans think are their best songs, is not exactly what the band thinks. I'm a musician myself so I tend to have solid opinions of songs based on melody, bass/drums, versus someone that just listens to music and doesn't really hear the distinct differences.

Overall, I would see them again and again, but how the hell do I tell them what songs I want them to play??? Wouldn't it be awesome that fans could vote on a list of songs for bands to paly at their shows?

I've been listening to Katchafire for a while now and this show was the first time I was able to see them live. They were exactly how I imagined they would be, amazing! I can not wait til they come around again, hopefully to a larger venue, cause I will 100% be buying tickets to their shows everytime they come around. Definitely worth the lack of sleep of got from not taking off work the next day!

Katchafire was OTRA in Tempe...and on fire! They delivered sweet reggae sounds nearly non-stop for two hours, driving from one tuneful hit to the next with a variety of liquid and abrupt transitions. What a group of musicians delivering such a tight sound, reading each others minds along the way. Danced all night, moved by the sound! Hard working band! Thx for the irie time! Soulful!

A magnificent show, katchafire was amazing was a unbelievable night. The energy and love they have during the show made for a memorable
Night.
In addition the support Ria hall and jelly were astounding and a beautiful surprise.

Amazing gig. The band put on a great show with loads of energy, good vibes and really getting the crowd going. Music was fantastic, great sound, great for dancing and such a happy buzzing atmosphere. Loved it :)

Katchafire absolutely killed it, the support act were a more than worthy warm up and when the headliners came on they really grooved with the crowd!
10/10 would love to see them again sometime!

Katchafire mashed it up!!!!! Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! And the steppas and innavision ragged!! Dam thieves broke in to the steppa boys van. Smh some oakland bums giving the bay area a bad rap smh