Making the Pilgrimage to the Home of Cali Reggae and Finding a Beautiful Bromance Between Dan Kelly and Zeb Dekofsky

Traveling across the United States was probably not the most ideal way of catching a pair of shows, but after a year and a half of almost no live music, the pilgrimage to California was something that made perfect sense within my mind. This was something that clicked for a couple of reasons. Most obviously was the fact that the state is known for being the birthplace for many bands that encapsulate the irie vibes of the Cali Reggae genre. The idea of seeing some bands in their own realm titillated my senses with joy and excitement, but the idea of meeting new people and seeing new places excited me even more.

The first of the two shows was Bayfest which was located in the breathtaking city of San Diego. With acts such as DENM, KBong, Fortunate Youth and The Aggrolites opening up the festival it was hard to deny, and with The Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome headlining, the lineup was something to not bat an eye at. Though the inevitable curse of California traffic had me miss DENM and KBong, The Agrolites greeted me with a magnificent set that had me dancing and smiling brightly in the blinding California sun. I wasn’t alone in that regard because the sounds of Roger Rivas’ organ ringed out through the venue, the vibrations were strong. Laughter could be heard echoing through the park and everyone could not stand still. By the time Fortunate Youth came on, the crowd was beyond ecstatic to have the sounds of sweet reggae music bumping their ear drums. Front man and lead singer Dan Kelly was just as excited to be in front of a crowd. He told MusicMoveMe how it felt to be back. “It was awesome, I think there were around 13,000 people, and it was great! The fans were hot, so was the weather! It was beautiful!” Fans were sure not to let the ash hit the ground during Fortunate Youth’s set because they only buzzed more and more as the night went on.

The quest for live music didn’t end as the festival came to a close because the next day Dan Kelly and Jamey Zeb Dekofsky, drummer of Tribal Seeds, played a pair of intimate sets for saltwater lovers in Huntington Beach as part of a Reggae Sunday Series presented by Sealegs, a nice chill spot within walking distance of the waves. It was not only a great venue, but an awesome place with finger licking quesabirria tacos food as well. By the time the music had started, a sizable amount of people could be seen trudging through the thick sand to catch a vibe with Dan and Zeb. Their set was something that was irreplaceable and unforgettable. The chemistry on stage was natural and unforced, the two are great friends after all. Though the pair have worked together before pre pandemic, with Zeb filling in on drums for Fortunate Youth, the idea of playing together in front of a crowd stemmed from the limitations of the pandemic. Dekofsky told MusicMoveMe how it all started, “We wanted to play music and see people again. And it was organic, we always jam together and hang out and we were like ‘let’s just do this on the road.’”

But what was it that made the Dan and Zeb set so special? “Because we’re friends. We’ve known each other for over a decade now!” Dekofsky exclaimed, before Kelly got sentimental about their bromance and expressed how the pandemic fortified it. “I can say I spent every holiday with one person!” Before looking over at Zeb who started rattling off the holidays, before letting me in on the ideas behind joining with Dan to play small jam sessions during the. “We were all going crazy at home, we were recording and we’ve been working on stuff, but what we really missed was playing!” He explained how the place to play was different each time “We did some backyard stuff, we also played some venues too!”

Dan Kelly of Fortunate Youth Photo By Brendan McGinley

Jamey ‘Zeb’ Dekofsky of Tribal Seeds Photo By Brendan McGinley

As the two prepared for their second set, the already packed beach front seemed to intake even more people and the music picked back up without a hitch. It was an incredible set, full of jokes, special guests and tributes to some of Jamaica’s greats. It was merely impossible not to twist and turn every which way. With the sand beneath the feet and a giant smile stretched across the face, it was possible to float away to the sounds of Dan and Zeb’s set. 

The music came to an end, but the vibrations were at an all time high. As flip flops, sneakers and bare feet came hurdling toward the stage, Dan and Zeb could be seen smiling along with everyone else as they greeted, bumped fists, and spoke with fans. The night was a success and as my pasty skin twinge from the kiss of the California sun, the thought of how far I’ve come just to feel right back at home amongst the ever potent vibrations. I was told not to fret because this was not the end. Both Fortunate Youth and Tribal Seeds have plans for not only new music, but a fall tour for both bands look to be in the works.