Rasta Rafiki to play at 123 Pleasant Street

Legendary Morgantown roots band Rasta Rafiki is set to play tonight at 123 Pleasant Street.

Rasta Rafiki got its start in 1990 and has been playing with a few hiatuses since then.

During the '90s they toured the country, even opening up for Reggae bands like The Wailers.

Rhythm guitarist Tom Batchelor said the band has always called Morgantown its "home base."

In the mid-90s, 123 Pleasant Street was known as the Nyabinghi Dance Hall, located at the same present address.

Batchelor said that the Morgantown music scene was "a little more prominent" during that time.

During their early days of touring, Rasta Rafiki released two albums and one cassette-only recording.

"Morgantown has always been really good to us," Batchelor said.

Over the past decade, the band has slowed down touring a lot.

Eventually, the members of Rasta Rafiki decided they would get back together and start playing again.

"We didn't have a clue if anyone would remember us," Batchelor said of a reformation show a few years ago in Morgantown.

Batchelor said that it was great to see old faces again.

Recently, Rasta Rafiki started to play old venues that it had played before during its more active years.

One such performance was at the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman, N.Y. in 2009.

"It's nice to get with your pals again and play music," Batchelor said.

Batchelor is surprised to see fans around town who were "being born" right around the time that the band started.

The doors of 123 Pleasant Street open early at 7 p.m. so fans can watch the WVU vs. Marshall game at their upper and lower bars.

Tickets for the show are still available and are $15 at the door.