Authority Zero plays Dubfest in Hollywood on Saturday. (Courtesy myspace.com/authorityzero)

Parking, more info about Dubfest

“We’re super pumped man. I love it out there.” exclaimed Jason DeVore, lead singer of the band Authority Zero.

Unlike many South Florida residents, who’ll likely be pretty tired of yet another hot late-summer day despite it being Labor Day weekend, DeVore is ready to bring his band in to play Saturday’s Dubfest in Hollywood.

The festival brings together 14 reggae-flavored acts to the new ArtsPark at Hollywood’s Young Circle. Dubfest will mark its debut with a line-up of artists that embody the past, present and future of the genre.

The most notable acts are legendary performers Bunny Wailer and Lee “Scratch” Perry who will provide traditional roots reggae sounds of Jamaica. Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger, who both made an impact on the pop charts as part of the third wave ska movement, will liven up the mood with some Southern California ska-influenced punk.

The huge touring act Badfish will entertain with covers of songs made popular by Sublime. South Florida acts B-Liminal and The Resolvers will open the show.

Special contributor Ari Justin Rothenberg is the editor/photographer of anti-fascion.com

But it is Authority Zero that stands out in my mind as the most currently relevant band on the bill and the one that is going to leave the biggest impression.

DeVore touched on the feelings he gets moments before heading out on stage to perform a show of this size: “It’s one of those things. You get chills. You know you’re about to get the craziest energy. To get that from an audience is dream come true.”

That “crazy energy” is the only way to describe the passionate reaction that the bands fan base displays from the first guitar chord struck to the moment they stop.

It’s been a couple years since Authority Zero has been to South Florida and the small tour arranged around their Dubfest stop brings back a familiar face to the band’s line-up. Original bassist Jeremy Wood has rejoined the group, after the band announced last month that Dean “DJ” Farmer had commitments that prevented him from continuing on with them.

With Woods back in the band, DeVore believes it has eased the writing process for their new album: “Things are going good. It’s a lot smoother. The chemistry between the three of us (himself, guitarist Zach Vogel and Woods) is there. We have been hammering away four days a week, writing and laying down tracks. Right now we have seven songs ready to go”.

The opportune timing of the Dubfest insures that Florida is going to get the first look at a handful of the new Authority Zero songs. The band plans on finishing up the new album in the coming months before deciding if they are going to self-release it or shop around for a label.