Easy Star All Stars
The Aggrolites, SensaMotion, DJ HydroPhonic
Sat, October 20, 2012
9:00 pm
The Blockley$15 - $18
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Easy Star All Stars
Combining musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies and a superb rhythm section, the Easy Star All-Stars have established themselves as one of the top international reggae acts since their live debut in 2003. Thanks to their best-selling tribute album releases, Dub Side of the Moon (2003) and Radiodread (2006), and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (2009), the Dub Side remix album Dubber Side of the Moon (2010), as well as Until That Day (2008), an original EP, the Easy Star All-Stars have built a growing, dedicated fan base throughout the world, bringing together fans of reggae, classic rock, dub and indie rock into one big family. Their latest release, First Light, released in April 2011, allows the group to grow creatively, unleashing its talent on a disc of totally original music.
Originally formed in 1997 for Easy Star Records’ earliest recordings, the Easy Star All-Stars existed mostly as a studio entity until releasing Dub Side of the Moon in 2003. The group, which operates as a collective with a rotating cast of musicians and singers, was put together by Easy Star co-founders Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith and Lem Oppenheimer. These three have directed and managed the band ever since. In 2009, the All-Stars played 125 shows in 25 countries on 6 different continents, truly establishing themselves as one of the top reggae touring acts in the world. The band was nominated for a UK Festival Award for its three-day, three-stage performance at Glastonbury 2009.
The other members of the Easy Star All-Stars, past and present, read like a who’s who of New York’s reggae, ska, dub and jazz scene. The core of the touring band has remained largely intact since 2003: Ras I Ray (bass, vocals), Ive-09 (drums), Kirsty Rock (vocals), Jennifer Hill (saxophone, flute) and Buford O’Sullivan (trombone). Menny More has handled deejay vocals since 2006. The current touring line up is filled out by Elenna Canlas (keyboards, vocals) and Shelton Garner Jr. (guitar, vocals), with either Justin Filmer or Amotz Nachmany handling dub engineering and sound. The band also rotates in Cliff Simpson (drums), Matt Bauder (saxophone), David Luther saxophone), Joanne Williams (vocals), One Drop (bass) and Curtis Fowlkes (trombone) depending on the tour. Other members of the collective—including vocalists Tamar-kali and Stephanie McKay, Groove Collective’s Jay Rodriguez, Antibalas’s Stuart Bogie, reggae legend Ranking Joe, trumpet player Pam Fleming (of the Burning Brass), deejay Dollarman, guitarist Junior Jazz, and keyboardists Ticklah and Jeremy Mage—all continue to make appearances or toured extensively with the group at one time. Producer/arranger/guitarist Michael Goldwasser still joins for occasional gigs, but spends most of his time in the studio working on the band’s musical output and his own outside productions for artists such as Rebelution, Umphrey’s McGee, Hatikva 6 and Corey Harris.
The Easy Star All-Stars—in any combination of members—have been a resounding success. Their worldwide album sales have surpassed 300,000 units since 2003, with Dub Side of the Moon staying on Billboard’s Reggae Chart since its 2003 release. MOJO picked Dub Side as the second best cover album of all time. Radiodread spent almost 2 years on Billboard’s Reggae Chart and earned praise from the members of Radiohead themselves. As for Lonely Heart's, the record cracked the Billboard Top 200 twice, becoming the first reggae album to do that in over two years.
Originally formed in 1997 for Easy Star Records’ earliest recordings, the Easy Star All-Stars existed mostly as a studio entity until releasing Dub Side of the Moon in 2003. The group, which operates as a collective with a rotating cast of musicians and singers, was put together by Easy Star co-founders Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith and Lem Oppenheimer. These three have directed and managed the band ever since. In 2009, the All-Stars played 125 shows in 25 countries on 6 different continents, truly establishing themselves as one of the top reggae touring acts in the world. The band was nominated for a UK Festival Award for its three-day, three-stage performance at Glastonbury 2009.
The other members of the Easy Star All-Stars, past and present, read like a who’s who of New York’s reggae, ska, dub and jazz scene. The core of the touring band has remained largely intact since 2003: Ras I Ray (bass, vocals), Ive-09 (drums), Kirsty Rock (vocals), Jennifer Hill (saxophone, flute) and Buford O’Sullivan (trombone). Menny More has handled deejay vocals since 2006. The current touring line up is filled out by Elenna Canlas (keyboards, vocals) and Shelton Garner Jr. (guitar, vocals), with either Justin Filmer or Amotz Nachmany handling dub engineering and sound. The band also rotates in Cliff Simpson (drums), Matt Bauder (saxophone), David Luther saxophone), Joanne Williams (vocals), One Drop (bass) and Curtis Fowlkes (trombone) depending on the tour. Other members of the collective—including vocalists Tamar-kali and Stephanie McKay, Groove Collective’s Jay Rodriguez, Antibalas’s Stuart Bogie, reggae legend Ranking Joe, trumpet player Pam Fleming (of the Burning Brass), deejay Dollarman, guitarist Junior Jazz, and keyboardists Ticklah and Jeremy Mage—all continue to make appearances or toured extensively with the group at one time. Producer/arranger/guitarist Michael Goldwasser still joins for occasional gigs, but spends most of his time in the studio working on the band’s musical output and his own outside productions for artists such as Rebelution, Umphrey’s McGee, Hatikva 6 and Corey Harris.
The Easy Star All-Stars—in any combination of members—have been a resounding success. Their worldwide album sales have surpassed 300,000 units since 2003, with Dub Side of the Moon staying on Billboard’s Reggae Chart since its 2003 release. MOJO picked Dub Side as the second best cover album of all time. Radiodread spent almost 2 years on Billboard’s Reggae Chart and earned praise from the members of Radiohead themselves. As for Lonely Heart's, the record cracked the Billboard Top 200 twice, becoming the first reggae album to do that in over two years.
The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites are more than a band they are a movement unto themselves. They carry a banner - one created with their own hands. This banner reads, “Dirty Reggae,” and represents their signature fusion of reggae, soul, grit and determination. For seven magnificent years, this dirty reggae bunch has rolled from city to city, across the pond and up main street USA. They rally the kids, the parents, the students, the cops, the bosses and the drifters. The people come, they relish in The Aggrolites, the dirty reggae and the joy that comes with it all. The liberating rhythms and catchy grooves demand a return trip.
Out of the Los Angeles school of hard knocks, The Aggrolites have earned a Ph.D in "feel good music." On the road they educate with the thunder and punch of the reggae drums and bass, the ripping, soulful melodies of the organ and guitars, and Jesse Wagner’s voice - a gift from the heavens, a perfectly intact gift from Otis, Sam, Ray and Wilson.
After eight years of touring the globe, The Aggrolites are proud to reveal their first live album, Unleashed Live Vol. 1. With five previous studio releases under their belt, including recently released Rugged Road, the next logical move for the band was a compilation of their favorite songs recorded live from recent shows at The Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA and The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Unleashed Live Vol. 1 features songs from all four previous studio releases plus a version of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Banana” by the legendary reggae artist, Roy Ellis. Release date will be announced sometime this fall and available digitally worldwide and in select retail outlets nationwide.
The Aggrolites have a specific way of making music. They don't over think it, they don't obsess over pop culture demands, they walk onto a stage or into a recording studio and let "it" happen - a culmination of inspiration - from the road, from playing alongside legends, and from the energy and motivation of their die hard fans.
The Aggrolites are Jesse Wagner (vocals, lead guitar), Roger Rivas (organ), Jeff Roffredo (bass) and Alex Mckenzie(Drums).
They have five other full-length albums to their credit -- Dirty Reggae (Axe, 2003), The Aggrolites (Hellcat, 2006) and Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat, 2007), IV (Hellcat, 2009) and Rugged Road (Young Cub, 2011) “A glorious, surprising treat. Ideal for your next soul shakedown party,” raved Peter Relic from Rolling Stone. In 2007, the band also collaborated with Rancid front-man Tim Armstrong on his solo A Poet's Life (Hellcat 2007) CD/DVD release.
The Aggrolites are well represented in film, television and video games. Their songs have been featured in NBC's Friday Night Lights, MTV's The Hills, Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba, USA's Dr. Steve-O, MavTV's Rad Girls, the award-winning surf film The Pursuit, and Australian video game Cricket. The Aggros-backed, Tim Armstrong and Skye Sweetnam duet, "Into Action," is featured in Dream Works Pictures' Hotel For Dogs and Summit Entertainments "50/50" featuring Joseph Gorden-Levitt and Seth Rogen. Their renditions of The Specials' "Ghost Town" and Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie" will be heard in the upcoming teen surf comedy Endless Bummer, and "Free Time" will be in Walden Media's musical-romantic comedy Band Slam.
The Aggrolites have shared the stage with Social Distortion, Rancid, Flogging Molly, 311, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dropkick Murphys, Against Me! and Gogol Bordello. They have graced the stages at such notable events as Vans Warped Tour, SXSW, Coachella, Fuji Rock in Japan, West Coast Riot, Open Air St. Gallen, Pohoda Festival, Rebellion Festival, Chiemsee Reggae Festival, Couvre Feu Festival, among numerous others around the world.
Out of the Los Angeles school of hard knocks, The Aggrolites have earned a Ph.D in "feel good music." On the road they educate with the thunder and punch of the reggae drums and bass, the ripping, soulful melodies of the organ and guitars, and Jesse Wagner’s voice - a gift from the heavens, a perfectly intact gift from Otis, Sam, Ray and Wilson.
After eight years of touring the globe, The Aggrolites are proud to reveal their first live album, Unleashed Live Vol. 1. With five previous studio releases under their belt, including recently released Rugged Road, the next logical move for the band was a compilation of their favorite songs recorded live from recent shows at The Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA and The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Unleashed Live Vol. 1 features songs from all four previous studio releases plus a version of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Banana” by the legendary reggae artist, Roy Ellis. Release date will be announced sometime this fall and available digitally worldwide and in select retail outlets nationwide.
The Aggrolites have a specific way of making music. They don't over think it, they don't obsess over pop culture demands, they walk onto a stage or into a recording studio and let "it" happen - a culmination of inspiration - from the road, from playing alongside legends, and from the energy and motivation of their die hard fans.
The Aggrolites are Jesse Wagner (vocals, lead guitar), Roger Rivas (organ), Jeff Roffredo (bass) and Alex Mckenzie(Drums).
They have five other full-length albums to their credit -- Dirty Reggae (Axe, 2003), The Aggrolites (Hellcat, 2006) and Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat, 2007), IV (Hellcat, 2009) and Rugged Road (Young Cub, 2011) “A glorious, surprising treat. Ideal for your next soul shakedown party,” raved Peter Relic from Rolling Stone. In 2007, the band also collaborated with Rancid front-man Tim Armstrong on his solo A Poet's Life (Hellcat 2007) CD/DVD release.
The Aggrolites are well represented in film, television and video games. Their songs have been featured in NBC's Friday Night Lights, MTV's The Hills, Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba, USA's Dr. Steve-O, MavTV's Rad Girls, the award-winning surf film The Pursuit, and Australian video game Cricket. The Aggros-backed, Tim Armstrong and Skye Sweetnam duet, "Into Action," is featured in Dream Works Pictures' Hotel For Dogs and Summit Entertainments "50/50" featuring Joseph Gorden-Levitt and Seth Rogen. Their renditions of The Specials' "Ghost Town" and Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie" will be heard in the upcoming teen surf comedy Endless Bummer, and "Free Time" will be in Walden Media's musical-romantic comedy Band Slam.
The Aggrolites have shared the stage with Social Distortion, Rancid, Flogging Molly, 311, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dropkick Murphys, Against Me! and Gogol Bordello. They have graced the stages at such notable events as Vans Warped Tour, SXSW, Coachella, Fuji Rock in Japan, West Coast Riot, Open Air St. Gallen, Pohoda Festival, Rebellion Festival, Chiemsee Reggae Festival, Couvre Feu Festival, among numerous others around the world.
DJ HydroPhonic
Vlad Hydrophonic's sets are a blend of Drum'n bass, Reggae, Soul, Funk, and Hip hop, all liquefied for your listening pleasure.
Expect to hear tunes that you have never heard before, as well as many old school favorites.
All selection are made for their positive impact on the audience, and, of coarse, their heavy sub-bass pressure.
From deep, heavy rollers to ragga/dancehall anthems, the music will keep you on the dancefloor, and screaming for more.
HydroPhonic started out playing Reggae in 2003 while living in Ithaca, NY, and being exposed to the rich Roots Reggae heritage that bands like John Brown's Body, Dub Astronauts, and I-Town Records established in that area.
He then took his love of reggae over seas to Rome, where he was embraces by the colossal Reggae scene, and educated in true Roots culture at the Mystic Dread Culture Shop and the Reggae Roots Sound Sytem.
The more he learned about Reggae culture, the more he began to appreciate its influence on other genres that were so dear to his heart. From Hip-Hop, to Drum & Bass, Dubstep, or Ragga Jungle, reggae's role in the orgins of the styles and culture cannot be denied. This is where the HydroPhonic sound really flows from.
Expect to hear tunes that you have never heard before, as well as many old school favorites.
All selection are made for their positive impact on the audience, and, of coarse, their heavy sub-bass pressure.
From deep, heavy rollers to ragga/dancehall anthems, the music will keep you on the dancefloor, and screaming for more.
HydroPhonic started out playing Reggae in 2003 while living in Ithaca, NY, and being exposed to the rich Roots Reggae heritage that bands like John Brown's Body, Dub Astronauts, and I-Town Records established in that area.
He then took his love of reggae over seas to Rome, where he was embraces by the colossal Reggae scene, and educated in true Roots culture at the Mystic Dread Culture Shop and the Reggae Roots Sound Sytem.
The more he learned about Reggae culture, the more he began to appreciate its influence on other genres that were so dear to his heart. From Hip-Hop, to Drum & Bass, Dubstep, or Ragga Jungle, reggae's role in the orgins of the styles and culture cannot be denied. This is where the HydroPhonic sound really flows from.