Wow it's been a long time since we rapped at ya .. But things are still happening ... Next couple weeks we're gonna be up on this BLOG ish quite a bit .. Some new tracks, some previews of other new tracks, some upcoming shows, solo tours, yeahhhhhh ya know!

And so to start it off we got a brand new mixtape for ya'lls ... A special collaboration with Chicago's 'Simmer Down Sundays' ( Our friends Akasha's free reggae night held every last Sunday at the Double Door). Simmer Down Sundays features a rotating cast of selectors, deejays and bands is arguably the most important reggae happening in the city. Drastics drummer Anthony (aka King Tony) has dropped his 'live-dub-via-cassette' performance there a couple times now, and collaborated with The Blends on this new mix .. Reggae Synthesis .. It's ya know, like, when the guy (or gal) in your band gets a new pedal or new percussion toy and just throws-up all over the track using it to death? Well this mixtape is orta like that, but with rastas and synthesizers.

Stream It
MOOGS & BINGHIS


Download It
ARP ODYSSEYS & CHALWA


Track List
Introduction - The Blends
Spying Glass - Horace Andy
Willow Tree - Black Uhuru
Accept My Apology - B.B. Seaton
Interlude 1 - The Blends
Tell Them A Ready - Barrington Levy
Lazer Eyes - Sly & Robbie
How Could I Live - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Social Justice - Mighty Two
Unknown - Unknown
Take Care of the Youths - The Viceroys
Mackarus Serenade - Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Interlude 2 - The Blends
Single Barrel - Dave and Ansil Collins
Time of Decision - Ken Boothe
Roots Train - Derrick Harriott
Star Trek - The Vulcans
 

Hey YO!

This Thursday the Drastics will be sharing the stage with Cincinnati's finest the Pinstripes!

March 1, 2012

Township, Chicago (2200 N California)

NEVERMIND WHAT DEH POSTER DEM SAY!

We'll be playing strictly instrumentals, and almost all new ones ... So come on out if you wanna hear some fresh music for once in your life!!!

It's unfortunate that this is even an issue ... but it is really important. Watch the above video so you don't sound like an idiot when someone asks you why you support Anti-SOPA initiatives. It's great to get behind causes and get swept up in the passion but be INFORMED. This could be serious.

An easy analogy from Cory Doctorow ...

"If I turned up, pointed out that bank robbers always make their escape on wheeled vehicles, and asked, “Can’t we do something about this?”, the answer would be “No”. This is because we don’t know how to make a wheel that is still generally useful for legitimate wheel applications, but useless to bad guys. We can all see that the general benefits of wheels are so profound that we’d be foolish to risk changing them in a foolish errand to stop bank robberies. Even if there were an epidemic of bank robberies—even if society were on the verge of collapse thanks to bank robberies—no-one would think that wheels were the right place to start solving our problems."

THEN SIGN IT

First off, a huge 'WORD' to everyone out last Friday night at our Martyrs' show ... with the help of Environmental Encroachment & BS Brass Band we nearly sold the place out! We have our next show lined up and confirmed with Cincy bredren The Pinstripes, March 1st at Pancho's (soon to be TOWNSHIP) in Logan Square / Chicago. Details to come.

Now some recent press stuff for posterity's sake ...

Want to give a special thanks/shoutout to Newcity & Dave for the generous review...
Check That Here

Also about a month ago Drastics' dummer Anthony got to spit some thoughts at the Reader about reggae... Big thanks to John Ciba (record people: if you ain't been to Johns shop 'Logan Hardware' you are missing out!)
Peep Dat Hear