Pato Banton

Born in 1961 as Patrick Murray, Pato Banton is a reggae singer an toaster. Pato Banton was born in Birmingham England, to a DJ’ing Father from Jamaica. Banton began recording in 1982, and guest appeared on a UB40 album in 1985.

Banton’s solo debut was in 1987.

Pato stands for “Wise Owl” - a name Banton was given by his father, and Banton is disc jockey slang for “Heavy Weight DJ.”

Banton was part of a local UK reggae band for a short time called Crucial Music - as a singer, songwriter and manager.

Banton won the title of #1 MC in Birmingham seven years in a row. His lyrics most often surround the topics of social issue and spirituality.

In 1996 Banton joined forces with Sting on a reggae remix of “This Cowboy Song.” The two also collaborated on a re-make of the Police sng “Spirits In A Material World,” which was used in the Jim Carey movie “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.”

Banton has volunteered his time as a mentor, teacher and public speaker. In 2002 he started the Shool of Musical Arts And Technology (SMAAT).

1987 - Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton
1988 - Never Give In
1989 - Visions Of The World
1990 - Mad Professor Recaptures Pato Banton
1990 - Wize Up! (No Compromize)
1991 - Live & Kickin’ All Over America
1992 - Universal Love
1994 - Collections
1996 - Stay Positive
1997 - Reggae Giants
1999 - Live In Brazil
2000 - Life Is A Miracle (UK Edition)
2001 - Live At Maritime Hall
2002 - The Best Of Pato Banton
2006 - The Words Of Christ
2007 - Positive Vibrations

Smoking Popes

 

In 1991, in Chicago, Illinois, three brothers decided to begin an American Rock/Punk/Pop band - the Smoking Popes. Josh Caterer was the groups lead vocals, with brother Matt on bass and Eli on guitar. The three band mates recruited drummer Mike Felumlee.

 

Josh, Matt and Eli have been playing together since 1980, when the three all purchased instruments. Introduced as Speedstick, the group later changed its name to Smoking Popes – “Smoking” because of Matt and Josh’s penchant for smoking, and “Popes” from the movie “The Pope Of Greenwich Village.”

 

In 1994, the Smoking Popes with their up-tempo rock sound mixed with laid-back vocals, opened for Green Day. The band also toured with the Goo Goo Dolls and Tripping Daisy.

 

Disbanding in 1998, the Smoking Popes reunited in 2005, and in 2006 went on tour with Bayside. The group has a new drummer, Neil Hennessy – of the Lawrence Arms.

CDs:

1993 – Get Fired

1995 – Born To Quit

1997 – Destination Failure

2000 – Live

2001 – The Party’s Over

2006 – At The Metro

2008 – Stay Down

Groundation

From Sonoma, Northern California, Groundation blends roots reggae with funk, dub and jazz. The internationally-known group was started in 1998 by members Harrison Stafford, Ryan Newman and Marcus Urani.

In 1999, Stafford worked with Kris Dilbeck to found the independent, Indie record label Young Tree Records. Young Tree released Groundation’s first CD, titled “Young Tree,” that same year.

Groundation is known for their high energy shows. Check them out at Harpers Ferry on July 5, 2008.

Band Members:
Harrison Stafford – vocals/guitar
Ryan Newman – bass
Marcus Urani – keyboards
David “Diesel” Chachere – trumpet
Kelsey Howard – trombone
Paul Spina – drums
Kerry Ann Morgan – chorus
Kim Pommell – chorus
Mingo Lewis Jr. – congas/timbales/percussion

Albums:
1999 – Young Tree
2001 – Each One Teach One
2002 – Hebron Gate
2002 – Young Tree Remastered
2004 – We Free Again
2005 – Dub Wars
2006 – Upon The Bridge
2008 – Rockamovya (side project featuring Will Bernard and Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace – now available for pre-release at www.rockamovya.com )

Listen to Groundation on Myspace.

Agent Orange

Started in Placentia, California in the 1980s, the group Agent Orange is considered the pioneer of the skate-punk music scene. The band has also had an overwhelming influence on the punk and hardcore music scenes. Agent Orange was discovered by the public when they released the song “Bloodstains” on an Orange County compilation CD.

Agent Orange has had numerous changes in band members, but one original member, Mike Palm, remains. Each of the groups members lends their vocals, while Palm plays guitar, Perry Giordano plays Bass and Dusty Watson is on drums.

LPs:

1981 – Living In Darkness

1986 – This Is The Voice

1996 – Virtually Indestructible

2003 – Sonic Snake Sessions

EPs:

 1982 – Bitchin’ Summer

1984 – When You Least Expect It 

AZ

Anthony Cruz, a.k.a. AZ, was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1972. AZ was discovered by the public in 1994 when he performed on the artist Nas’s album titled Illmatic. AZ had a part in the song “Life’s A Bitch;” he was the only guest emcee to appear on the CD. Nas fans loved AZ because of their similar sound and style.

In 1995, AZ was signed by British record company EMI, and later by EMI’s sister label Noo Trybe Records when EMI shut down. AZ released his first album “Doe or Die” in which he rapped about street life in the city.

AZ reached outstanding commercial success with the albums lead single “Sugar Hill.” The song reached the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

AZ is best-known for his multi-syllable rhyme schemes, unconventional rhyming and for using a large vocabulary.

From 1996 to 1998, AZ was a member of a music group called The Firm, which included artists AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown, Escobar, and Nature. The group released a CD in 1997 titled “The Firm: The Album.”

In 1997, AZ and Nas appeared together in a Sprite soft drink commercial.

Albums:

1995 - Doe or Die

1997 - The Firm: The Album

1998 - Pieces of Man

2000 - S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ)

2001 - 9 Lives

2002 - Aziatic

2004 - Decade 1994-2004

2005 - A.W.O.L.

2006 - The Format

2007 - The Memphis Sessions

2008: Undeniable

Listen to AZ on Myspace, or Score Tickets To His Upcoming Show.

Flawless Escape

Started in College Station, Texas in 2005, Flawless Escape is an experimental rock band that sings songs about life and love with the intention of inspiring hope in the audience listening. During their shows, the band strives to take listeners to a different place, almost as an out of mind experience, by painting a mural of music and lyrics.

The whimsical group entertains audiences not only with their sound, but with their energy and antics. AJ “AJae” captivates on-lookers not only with his soulful lyrics of “philosophical depth and face value fun,” but also with his signature back flips. AJ is a talented poet who brings a great deal of artistic value to Flawless Escape.

Ryan “Riz” Vyner is the band’s drummer. Vyner has been playing drums for 18 years and brings nothing but perfect drum beats to the band’s music.

Flawless Escape has another music veteran, Scott Willson, who has 13 years of experience playing guitar.

The band also includes Kurt Willson on bass, Asaad Gomez on guitar and Jeremy Thorpe (DJ Sol-R) who is a jack of all trades, including Mix Master, Sax Player and BMX Shredder.

Flawless Escape is touring New England early next week! Listen To Their Music and Buy Tickets to the show.

Matt Shwachman

Artist: Matt Shwachman

Influences: Bob Marley, John Mayer, Ben Harper, 2pac, Pearl Jam, Howie Day, John Butler Trio, State Radio, Bob Dylan, Cold Play, Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311, Sublime

Matt Shwachman is a Boston-based musician. His interest in music began at age 5 when his mother bought him the Beastie Boys Licensed To Ill cassette. Matt’s music sounds like a mix of Dave Matthews Band and Bob Marley with his acoustic guitar driven blend of pop and rock with heavy lyrics that tackle difficult philosophical questions.

Matt’s first finished song reached listeners across the country with its play time on the television hit series One  Tree Hill. Matt said about the song, titled “Side of the Road,” “When I wrote ‘Side of the Road’ it was a moment of liberation for me…It was the first time that I really felt passionate about something. It’s a song about finding your own way in the world, chasing your dreams, and not letting what everyone else thinks get in the way of that.”

After graduating from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2001, Matt released his first album 3 years later titled A Night in the Life of Shwach. The CD is a mix of full of upbeat reggae music with insightful and reflective lyrics.

Matt’s recently released album Uncharted Territory “is a journey about the process, not the end result…We are all ever-evolving, changing and growing people. It is the growth process that brings fulfillment, and in order to attain any sense of it, it must be earned.” This album is Matt’s personal account that speaks to love and relationships, existentialism, spirituality, and transformation.

Matt is currently on tour to promote Uncharted Territory with his recently recruited band members:

Bass: Hugh Allen

Guitarist: Mike Forey

Drummer: Dana Bonardi

Listen to Matt Shwachman on Myspace or buy tickets to his upcoming show.

Eek-A-Mouse

Artist: Eek-A-Mouse

Influenced by: Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway, Patsy Cline, The Beatles, Marty Robbins, and Sam Cooke

Born in Jamaica on November 19, 1957, Ripton Joseph Hylton (Eek-A-Mouse), grew to become a 6 foot 6 inch tall, international reggae phenomenon. In 1979, Eek-A-Mouse chose his name from a horse that he often bet on that never won - except for the one time Eek-A-Mouse didn’t bet on him.

Eek-A-Mouse has been producing music since the 1970s, when he released music under his legal name. His first release was produced by his college math teacher.

The song “Wah Do Dem” in 1980 made Eek-A-Mouse a household name in Jamaica, but the song was deemed too controversial to make it to international radio stations.

Eek-A-Mouse is regarded as the originator of Sing-Jaying - a mix of singing, DJ-ing and boastful catch phrases. Eek-A-Mouse has a distinct way of using his voice as a musical instrument to add to the strong messages he sings about which relate to current events in the world. He is known for his ability to freestyle lyrics and his nasally vocal style.

While touring, Eek-A-Mouse performed over 200 shows a year in the United States, Germany, The United Kingdom, The West Indies, and The Netherlands. He has collaborated with artists including POD, Papas Culture, MC Torch, Cocoa Brovaz, and BranVan 3000.

Eek-A-Mouse also had a small role in gangster film New Jack City.

CDs

1980 - Bubble Up Yu Hip

1981 - Wa-Do-Dem

1982 - Skidip!

1983 - The Mouse and the Man, The Assassinator

1984 - Mouseketeer, Live At Reggae Sunsplash

1985 - The King and I

1987 - The Very Best Of, Mouse-A-Mania

1988 - Eek-A-Nomics

1991 - U-Neek

1996 - Black Cowboy

1997 - Ras Portraits

2001 - Eeksperience (First Full-Length CD), Greensleeves Wa-Do-Dem

2003 - The Very Best Of Vol. 2

2004 - Mouse Gone Wild, Eek-A-Speeka

Listen To Eek-A-Mouse or Buy Tickets for his current tour!

Mark Bryan

Artist: Mark Bryan

Influenced by: The Replacements, Cowboy Mouth, Fishbone, Led Zeppelin, The Who

Guitarist and song writer of the multi-platinum group Hootie & The Blowfish, Mark Bryan recently embarked on a side solo career in 2000. Bryan’s first solo CD was titled 30 On The Rail, coinciding with his age of 33 at  the time.

Born in 1967, Bryan’s two favorite bands are Led Zeppelin and The Who.

Recorded in his studio just outside of Charlestown, South Carolina, Bryan’s newest solo CD, released in Mark, is titled End of the Front. The CD includes 12 songs varying from punk to pop, rock to bluegrass. Bryan sees the eclectic collection of sounds as a positive feature of the CD, stating, “I don’t think about the formats when I write…I write lyrics from the heart, and hope that the music matches the emotion. I think that the format diversity is one of the strengths of this project.”

Bryan recorded the album with the help of his friends on some of the vocals and instruments, and 3 of the tracks feature co-producer Fred LeBlanc - the drummer and lead singer of Cowboy Mouth.

Bryan’s 3 piece band, The Occasional Milkshake, also played a part in the completion of his newest solo collection. The Occasional Milkshake includes himself, Hank Futch from the Blue Dogs and Gary Greene from Hootie And The Blowfish.

Bryan continues to record and perform with Hootie And The Blowfish, but also enjoys his strong solo career.

Listen to Mark Bryan at Myspace or Buy Tickets for his show.

Hemlok

Band: Hemlok

Sounds Like: Rush, King Crimson

Hemlok is a mix between alternative hard rock and old school prog. The group is known for their chaotic lineup changes and dramatic live performances. Their influences include: Alice in Chains, A Perfect Circle and Pink Floyd.

John McGrath - Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Double Neck Guitar, Theremin, Violin Bow, Devices

John constantly works to make his guitar sound like anything but a guitar. However, don’t let that make you think he doesn’t appreciate a good melody when he comes across one. Some of his favorite artists include: King Crimson, VAST, Generator, Muse, Van Der Graaf, Genesis, and Rush.

Chris Whittier - Vocals, Guitar, Screams

Chris released a CD on his own in 2005 under the name Seeking Quiddity. His trademark is his ability to take simple songs and mix them together with powerful emotions to create a unique compilation.

Jay Myers - Electronic Percussion, Drums

Jay grew up in a supportive, musical family. He became interested in drums at the young age of four, however it wasn’t until the third grade that Jay graduated from his children’s toy drum set to taking drum lessons.  Jay is influenced by Phish and Rush, and is the coolest member of the group because he loves Spaghettios.

Brianne Alves - Keyboards, Electric Violin

Brianne is the soul provider of Hemlok’s estrogen. Her great-grandfather played the violin, motivating her to follow in his footsteps. Brianne attended college for music with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She is influenced by (…well, is there anyone she is not influenced by?) : Bach, Sarah Vaughn, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Debussy, Duke Ellington, Sondheim, Dave Matthews Band, Alice in Chains, Sarah Brightman, Faure, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, and Toad the West Sprocket.

Learn more about Hemlok’s band members or buy tickets to their show.