Reggae group at home

Reggae band House of Shem will never forget their roots and where it all started for them.

That was in Wanganui in the late 1990s, when musician Carl Perkins came home after years of touring with bands such as Herbs, Mana and 12 Tribes of Israel.

Now the band are returning to the River City for the first time in four years.

House of Shem are playing at the War Memorial Hall tomorrow, their first concert in the city since 2009.

Band member Te Omeka Perkins, Carl's son, told the Chronicle that since the band had moved to Auckland they had been very busy.

"We've toured the world, including the United States, Hawaii, Australia and New Caledonia, and we're looking at branching out to Europe this year."

Te Omeka said the band were also recording their third studio album, with a single from it, Hard Road, already released.

House of Shem is a family affair with Carl, Te Omeka and two other sons, Isaiah and Joshua.

The band was born when father Carl established an outlet for youth to compose, record and perform music on Taupo Quay two decades ago. He then formed the record label Southgate Entertainment and out of that came House of Shem in 2004.

Their first single was Keep Rising on the Roots 2 album in 2005, followed by their second album, Island Vibration.

And although they have moved to the Big Smoke, they have never lost touch with home.

"We're all really looking forward to the Wanganui gig. It will be great to be home again," Te Omeka said.

House of Shem will be performing at the War Memorial Hall tomorrow and will be joined by DJ Sito from Chile.

Visit www.dashtickets.co.nz or www.houseofshem.com.