Style Devner reviews SOJA @ Ogden Denver Monday, February 27, 2012 - 4:38

Saturday nights show at the Ogden Theater was one that will resonate through Denver’s reggae nation for awhile.  The sold out theater was jammed packed for a beat bouncing, horns blaring, bass grooving great time that should be the precedent for live performances in the music world.  The energy that D.C. area SOJA and Colorado based opener Dubskin brought to town should be bottled and sold on the counter of your local 7-11, pop the top, release the beats, and blow the heals out of your dance shoes.

Read the full review HERE.

Inity Weekly [INTERVIEW] Monday, February 27, 2012 - 4:23

Before Denver’s Ogden Theatre filled up with an audience anxious to hear reggae beats and conscious lyrics, Jacob Hemphill – one of the founding members and lead singer of SOJA – was gracious enough to sit down with Inity Weekly for an exclusive interview to discuss SOJA’s new album and the messages they hope to promote.

Inity:  Congratulations on “Strength to Survive” being on the Top 40 Billboard list in Rolling Stone!

JH: Yeah, Billboard Top 40 – and it’s reggae! It’s not even party reggae.  There isn’t one party song. We were surprised. I mean, I actually knew it was going to happen.  We were so happy with the album that I kind of knew this is the time that I get to see it [on the Top 40 Billboard].  I have a copy of it on my bunk in the bus under my mattress so when I get home I can frame it.
Read the full interview HERE.

Photo Essay: SOJA @ Ogden Theatre Monday, February 27, 2012 - 10:53

Reverb put together some great photos (taken by Seth McConnell) taken at SOJA’s sold-out show at Ogden Theatre this past Saturday.

Check them out here!

Review: SOJA, The Movement, Anuhea - Feb. 25, 2012 Sunday, February 26, 2012 - 10:34

Saturday night was a special night for reggae-rock music. Those of us lucky enough to live in Denver, CO were witness to several “firsts” for one of the genre’s biggest bands. Saturday was the first time reggae-rockers SOJA had ever performed an acoustic set at a record store—my personal favorite, Independent Records; it was also the band’s first performance at the historic Ogden Theatre; and, the most important “first” of them all, was that SOJA had handpicked the venue for their first live video recording with the help of No Coast TV.

For those of you not familiar with the Ogden Theatre, let me give you the quick rundown. First, the Ogden Theatre is old—it was built in 1919. Second, the theatre holds about 1,300 music lovers. Third, the theatre has recently hosted the likes of reggae-rock king’s The Dirty Heads and Pepper, as well as the Expendables and Ballyhoo!.
Independent Records-Record Store. Denver, CO Sunday, February 26, 2012 - 10:26

Record stores use to be the main resource and outlet for all your music needs and information. From the latest albums, to hidden gems or the always popular in store performance and record signing from your favorite artists. Independent Records is your old fashion independent record store located next to the infamous Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO. Housing all of the elements & familiar symptoms of an old fashion record store, the place was huge and held a variety of everything from band t-shirts, stickers, flags, DVD’s, VHS to cassette tapes for $1.99. Not to mention a FREE in-store performance & record signing courtesy of SOJA!

Read the full review HERE!

MindInversion.com Concert Review Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 11:13

Concert Review: SOJA @ the Cabooze Minneapolis

The final chapter in the Strength to Survive story is about to be written. It started with a teaser to promote the release of their new album and is ending with this review of their show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis on February 19th, 2012. Just because this book is about to be done doesn’t mean there will be no more books written about SOJA in the future. The relationship built here is as strong as their message and I want to let everyone know; I am not done yet.

Check out MindInversion.com’s full review HERE!

The Correspondence [INTERVIEW] Monday, February 20, 2012 - 2:36

SOJA is an incredible reggae band from Arlington, Virginia. They are, in my honest opinion, the best reggae band out there right now. There show at The Electric Factory was a treat a for all, and I was lucky enough to get to talk to the main man, Jacob Hemphill before the show. The band jammed out hard after awesome opening acts The Fear Nuttin Band and The Movement to a unexpectedly big audience. Everybody was having a great time, even when they were playing a bunch of songs from their just released album, Strength to Survive. The crowd went wild to the classic SOJA jams as well, Here I Am, I Don’t Wanna Wait, and Rest Of My Life. As If this Philadelphia winter didn’t feel warm already, this show felt like summer. If you haven’t checked out this band yet, there’s no better time than now!

Read the full interview HERE!

JamBase [INTERVIEW] Friday, February 17, 2012 - 3:59

On Wednesday of last week, SOJA, in partnership with the all-new Chevy Sonic, performed an hour long concert as part of the new Sonic Live series, which was streamed right here on JamBase. Today, we present three smoking live clips from this performance followed by an interview video with the band.

For more and to view the videos, CLICK HERE.

SOJA at 20th Century Theater on Feb 16th [PHOTOS] Friday, February 17, 2012 - 11:33

The Noble Visions were on hand at SOJA’s packed show last night at 20th Century Theater in Cincinatti and put together a great photo gallery of the night - check it out here!

Modern Drummer w/ Ryan Berty [INTERVIEW] Friday, February 17, 2012 - 8:56

Hello, MD readers! If you had told me at age fifteen that I would grow up to be a professional drummer, I would have thought you were crazy. Playing drums seemed like the last thing I would be able to do. Fast-forward fifteen years, and who would have thought that some kids from Arlington, Virginia, would play stadiums for over 50,000 people.

Read the full interview HERE.