More than just “Chinese reggae”
Hillside’s main stage welcomed Beijing-based reggae band Long Shen Dao on the Saturday afternoon of the festival. The dreaded rain held back just enough to draw a large, dynamic crowd complete with essential beach balls, ponchos, and all-around good vibes.
After their set, it was no surprise to hear that Long Shen Dao was the talk of the town (or village, in this case), and awe-inspired whispers of the “Chinese reggae band” filled the festival and volunteer village for the weekend’s remainder. Fusing traditional Reggae, Ska and Hip-Hop forms with a distinctly Chinese compositional and instrumental approach, the five-piece band certainly embodies the transcultural and transnational power of music that festivals like Hillside celebrate and nourish.
Long Shen Dao translates in English to “way of the dragon god,” and their intense stage presence and rock solid tunes reflects their name quite aptly. While there is a definite Chinese aesthetic to their music, it does not aim to subvert either Chinese or Caribbean musical forms, but more so heightens their unity and celebrates the boundlessness of creativity. The rhythmic quality of their Mandarin lyrics worked well to compliment their backbeat heavy Ska and Reggae music, and to some extent even emulates the rhythmic qualities of Jamaican Patois. However one can put it, seeing the five-piece group perform was a pleasurable and inspiring reminder of world music’s ungraspable and all-reaching allure.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of their set, musically and culturally, was how naturally the guzheng (Chinese zither) fit with the overall timbre. Actively resisting an “Orientalising” of the Chinese and Jamaican blend, the guzheng fit in with the music as naturally as the cornerstone keyboards, drums, bass and guitar did. By blending so well, the instrument solidifies the band’s testament to the joy of reggae, regardless of culture or style.
The group left with an earnest and heartfelt thank you, saying that Canada was the best country they had played in, and Hillside in particular was the best festival they had done. So it’s safe to say that the attendees and organizers of Hillside hope to see them the same time next year.
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The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.