Toots and the Maytals packed Jannus Landing’s courtyard Tuesday night — a surprisingly large crowd for the second day of the week, but not so surprising if you consider that the so-called father of ska-reggae was performing. It was fun, energetic, uplifting, andToots  at all times, musically fantastic. Toots, despite his somewhat questionable fashion sense, has unbelievable stage presence. I couldn’t look away from him for most of the show and as a friend of mine said at the end, “My cheeks hurt from smiling.”
     Burlington, Vermonters RAQ paid its first visit to the Bay area and The Bank Friday night, and was surprised with a great turnout made even more special by a core group of RAQ fans, who brought cake and balloons in celebration of keyboardist Todd Stoops’ 30th birthday. The music was good, the company was great and a fun time was had all around.
     Finally, Bank veterans Green Lemon rounded it all out on Saturday night, playing the same place for a rather small crowd that swelled after the Dark Star Orchestra show let out at Jannus. While the first set was a bit mild by Green Lemon standards, the second set was like a big party, and owner Bill Hillman had to literally push people out the door at the end.

This article appears in Feb 22-28, 2006.