Katchafire goes Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA

On September 16th, New Zealand legends Katchafire headlined at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach (a suburb of San Diego). They were supported by Ryan Gozo (of Tribal Seeds), who was showcasing his solo music.

But, how did this all come together for me? Well, I was sitting on my couch one Friday afternoon when I got a text asking if I wanted to shoot Katchafire at the Belly Up. 

Of course, I was like “HELL YA!”

Katchafire is always a good time, especially since my friend Corrick is playing guitar for them while they’re on tour. Gonzo started out the night with support from Jamey “Zeb” Dekofsky (also from Tribal seeds) on drums, while Koa Lopes from (aka, Inna Vision) held down the bass next to Benjamin Guzman taking care of the keys. It’s always a fun time seeing Gonzo and tonight was no different; he got everyone dancing, singing and ready to have a great night!

Then came Katchafire, hitting the stage hard! The all-Māori reggae band, originally formed in New Zealand as a Bob Marley tribute band, now travels the world playing roots reggae for fans everywhere. Frontman Logan Bell had us all dancing throughout the show, while the rest of his band absolutely crushed every song they played. What a great night it was… naturally, since it’s always a good time with Katchafire!

Glad that I got off my couch for this one!

Photography by Sean McCracken

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