Samory I’s Successful L.A. Debut

Where: Los Angeles
When: August 22, 2025
Reporter: Stephen Cooper
Photos & Videos: Stephen Cooper
Media Editing : Teacher
Copyright:  2026 – Stephen Cooper

The Rockwell Lounge in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles is not a good place to enjoy music. The sound system and sound engineering are subpar. The acoustics are atrocious, probably because the so-called “lounge”—adjacent to a pizza joint with oily cheese smells that waft in—is smaller than the area inside many convenience stores; it’s irregularly shaped, claustrophobic before any patrons arrive, and crowded with cheap tables and chairs, a postage stamp-sized stage, and a bar selling overpriced drinks. The lighting is bad. Staff are rude and unfriendly. No green room exists for singers and musicians; instead there’s a cramped and dirty trailer in the back of the establishment, near an alley where rats the size of cats feast on scraps.

Stating the obvious: It’s not a dream venue for an artist performing in L.A. for the first time, and yet, on August 22, that’s just what one of Jamaica’s brightest roots reggae stars, Samory I, did. Rising to the occasion despite the obstacles he faced, and despite telling this writer in an interview after the show that he had been nervous at the start, Samory I conquered the crowd with his swaggering style, unique and pleasing voice, abundant talent, and overflowing charisma. I hope you enjoy these photos and videos I took to document the occasion for Reggae-Vibes magazine before lounge management rudely, unreasonably, and unprofessionally limited my access to the stage. And please be sure to check the Reggae-Vibes website in a few weeks for my irie and informative interview of Samory I done after the show. Blessings to all the reggae fans!