By Howard Campbell—  Cecil ‘Skelly’ Spence (left) and Lascelle ‘Wiss’ Bulgin of Israel Vibration at the sound check before a show on their recent European tour.— FORTY years of recording and touring with Israel Vibration has not dimmed Cecil ‘Skelly’ Spence’s passion for making music. Spence and the group’s co-founder Lascelle ‘Wiss’ Bulgin recently completed a six-week tour of Europe, promoting their latest album, Play it Real. Backed by longtime recording and touring partners, the Roots Radics Band, Israel Vibration did shows in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. But Spence, 63, yearns to conquer new territories. “Wi don’t get much exposure in areas like New York, Miami, an’ even England. People not much into roots an’ culture in dem areas, but wi want to reach a younger generation,” he told the Jamaica Observer. Spence lives … Read entire article »

After more than four decades, the members of Israel Vibration sets their own schedule— By Eddie Jorgensen — “Don’t worry, the bus will wait.” PHOTO COURTESY OF ISRAEL VIBRATION Israel Vibration performs on Sunday, August 10, at Assembly Music Hall, located at 1000 K Street. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $22. Simple Creation is also on the bill. See www.israel-vibration.com for more on the band. Reggae fans have almost always been a different type of concertgoer. Not only do they provide the bands they love with an extremely loyal following, they usually show up en masse to concerts expecting a start time other than the one advertised. Perhaps not coincidentally, the members of roots-reggae bands tend to do everything on their own, slow, and certainly not methodical, schedule. Take, for example, what it took to even get an … Read entire article »