Jonah and the Whalewatchers make a new reggae sound all their own.

Photo by Randy Tunnell: Jah Say Go: Jonah and the Whalewatchers have been the area''s favorite reggae band for more than a decade.

It''s almost impossible to live around here for any length of time without hearing locals rave about the Monterey reggae band Jonah and the Whalewatchers. But anyone expecting a band that sounds like Bob Marley and the Wailers is in for a surprise. The Whalewatchers'' sound, while undeniably reggae, has a unique aspect. Even the band''s Marley covers (and they mix some in) are bouncing reinterpretations of the classic songs--true to the roots, yet infused with the band''s unique melodic sensibility

The Whalewatchers are fronted by singer and bassist Alex Shirley, a thickly accented Jamaican export, and also features the classic reggae lineup: two guitars (Bill Steacy and Tracy Chesebrough) and a strong drummer (John Tallon). What makes the Whalewatchers unique is the inclusion of steel drummer Cary Lowney, and trumpeter/ percussionist Jun Tatsuoka--both of whom solo frequently. The Whalewatchers'' live show alternately sounds like a hot jam session and a carefully rehearsed set spun out of the classic Jamaican tradition.

Many people were genuinely shocked that a music writer had lived on the Peninsula for 11 years without ever seeing them. But I don''t like reggae, I said. Go, they said. You''ll like this band.

So I went, preparing to be impressed--or at least to be able to tolerate the music for long enough to get a sense of the band and what made them so supposedly great. The crowd seemed primed for a good show--both the seasoned regulars and the young, luminous hippies were in attendance. As the show kicked off, the crowd grew, and the luminous hippies alternated between sipping their beverages and dancing like fireflies to the warm beat.

The band covered the Marley classic "One Love" (a song I, reggae-non-enthusiast, have never cared for) and found a way to make it resonate even in my dubious ears. Something about the warmth of the environment, the obvious enthusiasm of the audience, and the electric energy in the air made the moment nearly perfect.

The core of the band has been together for 13 years, with Alex Shirley at the helm. "There were no reggae bands in this area," Shirley says. He spoke to some friends and fellow musicians, and Jonah was born.

The band started in the garage of a friend, practicing and playing and getting a sense of themselves as musicians. Their somewhat innovative take on reggae came to them fairly naturally.

"Reggae''s already pretty sophisticated," Shirley says, "so that''s what we try to do." The band bio, authored by Tallon, states that their music "fuses Caribbean and African beats with American jazz, blues and soul to create a very unique sound that is most often identified as reggae." Tallon also mentions calypso, soca, and hip-hop as influences.

Whatever the combination of music types the band employs, it seems to be working, as J&TW have a loyal and still-growing fan base after more than a decade. Fans who''ve been with the band since the beginning still show up to hear the band play, and new fans are won over by Shirley''s and his bandmates'' obvious enthusiasm for the music. At any show the audience is full of middle-aged women and young creatures in flowing clothing, as well as the occasional septuagenarians rocking out.

While Jonah and the Whalewatchers occasionally touch on the political subjects that are rife in the world of reggae music, the band is much more into commenting on the beauty of life. "My message is that I try to tell the crowd that they all been given a great gift by the most high Jah," Shirley says. "We try to spread that message every time we play."

Jonah and the Whalewatchers play Blue Fin on thursday at 9pm.