He can't take another bill again. This is the timely and powerful message revered reggae musician Tony Rebel opened with when he took the Sirius Satellite Stage at Toronto's Harbourfront headlining the weekend's Island Soul Festival. The thousands of fans who gathered to hang onto his every word wave their flags and jam with loved ones on the warm summer evening, most likely could relate, given the world's current economic woes. Not even two minutes into his hour and a half long set, and Rebel had already wowed his audience.

Dressed in a matching pinstripe pant and vest suit, Rebel held nothing back as he took over the stage with his booming voice and smooth reggae rhythms. After performing "Another Bill" he looked out to his audience, full of people of all ages and races, and announced, "I want you [to] know that when you don't see me, I'm working." This was his lead up to performing his dynamite new single, "Fire"; a song he says is for both those in love and those vying to be.

With a catalogue of hits that spans nearly two decades, Rebel kept the vibe strong all night, a vibe that heightened when he performed hit singles like "Fresh Vegetable" and "Hypocrites", as well as a medley of classic reggae love songs including "The First Time I Met You" by Tony Tuff. He even experimented a little, explaining that as a Jamaican he isn't afraid to try anything at least once, and performed his own rendition of Tina Turner's "Let's Stay Together" and Michael Jackson's "Rock With You".

By the night's end, Tony Rebel had no doubt rocked his Toronto crowd with nothing but strong stage presence and timeless music. Had the concert not been free, it would have been worth every cent.



Words By: Priya Ramanujam + Photos By: Karla Smith-Brown