A month's worth of color, quarter-page ads in local alt-weeklies the Stranger and Seattle Weekly promoted an October 30 show by reggae legends Sly and Robbie that never happened. The highly-hyped show at Les Amis (located in the space neighborhood hardware store Crawford and Waage occupied for decades before going under in 2002) was cancelled literally at the last minute, prompting the Messenger yellow dog investigative team to check things out. On October 15, less than two weeks before the Sly and Robbie show, Les Amis still did not have a permit to occupy the building. And they had not passed ANY DPD or SFD inspections.

Messenger staff found out that Seattle concert promoter Jean Baptise helped book the show for Les Amis, operated Terry Emmatrice, who also runs the Wasobia in Pioneer Square. Baptise runs much of the reggae action in Pioneer Square, and in the past has wet his beak at the Ballard Firehouse, Under the Rail (in Belltown from 1991-95) and other lowbrow clubs.

Many people have been, shall we say, financially disrespected by Baptise in years past, according to our Seattle music industry source. Baptise sometimes just does not feel like paying people for the work they do. (Full disclosure: I should know: he still owes me money for work I did for him in 1994!) Baptise did not return our numerous phone calls asking for comment.

A former accounting employee at one of Seattle's alt-weekly newspapers told us that we made the dude pay up front for his ads. The guy was one of our worst clients to deal with, ever.

According to Bill Schrader at the Washington State Liquor Board, Emmatrice was denied a liquor license for Les Amis on September 1, 2004. The City objected to the application because of past practices.  It turns out folks from Les Amis went to the grocery next door to buy beer during a semi-clandestine show earlier this fall. The City busted him for that one. Reliable sources also claim the City reported Emmatrice to the State Department of Labor and Industries for using untrained electrical engineers at the club, which until recently was permitted as a hardware store. Emmatrice has appealed the denial of the liquor license. Schrader says the Liquor Board is keeping a close eye on the club. And what's with the spelling of the "Les Amis" name? Charles Mudede wrote a half-page concert preview piece about the Les Amis Sly and Robbie show for the Stranger. He spelled Amis "Amies." The ads in the local papers call the club Les Amies,  too. But the signage on the wall of Les Amis (next to Dan's Belltown Market) says "Les Amis," with no "e."

On October 30 the Messenger was prepared to pay the $25 (!) cover to attend the Sly and Robbie show, but a note pasted to the door said the event was cancelled: DEAR CUSTOMERS, REGGAE HOTLINE APOLOGIZE THE SLY'S ROBBIE CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY THE FIRE MARSHALL. WE DEEPLY REGRET ALL INCONVIENCE. ALL TICKET REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AT POINT OF PURCHASE. I AM SORRY SEATTLE. BLESSED LOVE.

The note was written on the back of a yellow Sly and Robbie poster, in which the club's name is spelled "Les Amis. "

By November 8 the club had a "Certificate of Occupancy and a Public Assembly Permit, but not the Liquor License, so they cannot sell or serve alcoholic beverages on the premises," according to John Pehrson, chair of the BHLUS and one of several concerned neighbors keeping an eye on the place.

Les Amis finally got a show going on Friday November 12, when Bambu Station and IBA played to a small crowd. Show promoter Jah Breeze says that "since the fans weren't sure the club was open, it created some stumbling blocks, which were soon overcome by the Bambu musical force. We all know that righteousness will rule. There were a few other reggae shows on the same night, but the hardcore supporters still came out for the roots. I am not making any money, but my wealth is magnificent in Jah Rastafari his wonders to perform."