SOJA’s roots go back to
vocalist/guitarist Jacob Hemphill and bassist Bobby Lee meeting in first
grade (Hemphill’s family had just returned from Africa, where his
father had done contracting work). The two friends began playing music
in high school and assembled the band that would ultimately become SOJA.
Hemphill
claims any number of disparate influences on the sound and philosophy of
SOJA, but he hails Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Survival
as the greatest Reggae album ever made.
SOJA plays Thursday, Feb. 16 at the 20th Century Theater with guests THE MOVEMENT and KIDS THESE DAYS. For more on SOJA, read Sound Advice here.
