8/19/2010
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 17
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DAMN! It's hot up in here for reals. Well, here as promised is yer second installment of Rub-A-Dub Fashion! Got a little more "out" on this one, and there are definitely some tongue-in-cheek selections to prove it ... Including but not limited to 2 different tracks promoting Synthesizers and Computers, a track by Charlie Chaplin which breaks into 80s pop-tune-medleys, Mutabaruka warning on the ills of junk food and a rub-a-dub version of Marvin Gayes "Innercity Blues" ... yowza! The mix "slowly" blends into more .. how should I say.. Jamaican-centric tunes that never gained much popularity off the island. These tracks are definitely "strange" to Americans and people with more of a blues/rock musical background .. bizarre casio-driven riddims with Jamaican cats talking in heavy patois over them.. using slang and describing situations only relevant to native JAers. But it's hard to argue that modern dancehall hasn't had a major influence on modern electronic/dance music (as well as vice-versa).. and these kinds of tracks are the roots. Anyway, if you don't like 'em I ain't gonna be mad at ya. Just gonna put you in the corner with a bag over yer head until you DO!!!!
SPUDS IS ON HIS WAY OVER FROM HIS JAM SESSION WITH MCMAHON!!!!
LIVE in STL THIS FRIDAY!
The Drastics are LIVE this Friday, August 20th at the Gramophone in St. Louis, MO ... gonna be a nite of dub niceness ... Fada Dougou 'pon the mic ... RUFFF!
4:08pm | said Anthony | Third Thursday, The Blends, Reggae, 80s, Live, STL
8/10/2010
Michigan This Weekend & 2nd Tuesday is the New 1st Tuesday
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That's a booya! The Drastics will be heading north into the great Northern Open this next weekend and hitting Traverse City (at The Loading Dock) and Billy's in Grand Rapids! This will be our first time in both these cities so we'd love to see you and love for you to spread the word! We'll have Fada Dougou 'pon the mic spitting hotta flame so make sure you wear yer lil asbestos drawers so ya don't get burnt like Kurt Russell!!!!
OH HEY! Ya know what else is cool? You remixing, re-dubbing, re-working and generally mussing up some Drastic riddims. But ... how? By downloading the newest in yet another new Drastics series ... this time of DIY mix-packs (sort of a series within a series .. this month it's sitting in for our belated First Tuesday release) . Up first we have Fidelity which originally appeared on our "Chicago Massive" album. The free-for-download DIY album contains stereo drums, bass, rhythm, and stereo auxiliary sounds ... Just don't go muxin' or melfin' or mylin' around with these tracks now ... jussamussin ... hit up the lil application below or get to our BandCamp page (thedrastics.bandcamp.com) and git'a'downloadin ...
This is by no means a competition, but we'd love to hear what you do with our tunes, so send any of your re-workings to contact@thedrastics.com.
Our new album is also still in production ... we are back on track after a near-studio-meltdown and are getting all our ducks in a row before pulling the trigger on this one. Best be ready those cause this is gonna be 10 solid shots to the dome kid .. with some very extra-special guests!!
And in super advance warnings, we are going to be traveling EAST the first week of November .. expect to find us in PA, NY, VT and some more of America's classiest states November 2-7.
Oh yeah, AND we're now on the Reverb Nation and can find us at www.reverbnation.com/thedrastics.
4:03am | said Anthony | Live Shows, Michigan, Dub, Reggae, DIY, Fidelity
7/15/2010
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 16
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July is just the gift that keeps on giving! It's like Christmas ... in July. And this month's mixtape is Hotter ... than July. With the passing of Sugar Minott a few days ago, I toyed with the idea of doing a tribute, but the incompleteness of my Minott vinyl made it clear it wasn't going to happen. So instead we are focusing on the whole 80s/Rub-A-Dub style! I think this era of reggae gets a bad rap, but knowing how trends cycle every 20 years (30 for Jamaican trends) it will be popular in about 10 years. This is a real nice mix of both singers, crooners, djs, dubs, live bands, digital productions, etc ... Worth the download just to hear Lee Van Cliff shamelessly ripping off Eek-A-Mouse and Papa Kojie toasting about Nancy Regan sitting on Mr. T's lap! Folks who have collected all the mixes here should also notice a Sly and Robbie version of "Love and Devotion", the first track off the "Anthony Mix" .. And not to worry, the "Jam Rock Dub" is not a dub of the Damien Marley track overplayed by every cd-carrying reggae "DJ" under the sun, but a bizarre little piece on the "Nura" label from '81. The A-Side of the 7" is simply titled "Festival ........ Jam Rock" and is credited to Sam Carty and The Astronauts. Also, "A Horseman Skabay is the new Stylee". Of course old faithfuls like Yellowman, Roots Radics and Freddie McGregor make appearances as well. The mix starts out with a Mikey Dread production of Sugar Minott's "In This Time". And there is a Part 2 coming next month! The tracks are already picked out, so shutup and quit bugging us about it already!!
SWEATBANDS OPTIONAL, BUT NOT FOR REAL!!
3:38pm | said Anthony | Third Thursday, The Blends, Reggae, 80s
7/12/2010
The Drastics in Champaign-Urbana This Thursday!
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You read right. Your friendly neighborhood reggae squadron is heading south to the land of acadème. We'll be at the Canopy on Thursday, doors at 8pm .. a measly 5 bux to get through the door! We'll probably be hitting around 9pm or so ...
Make sure and get there early to participate in our 3rd Biennial "Cluck Out 'Til You Clock Out Cognition Competition". Due to last years unfortunate incidents, this year we begrudgingly are offering seat belts to all competitors. All contestants will be seated in a precarious velocipede and placed on a state-of-the-art rail track (specially built by the Siamese for this year's event!) surrounding the venue. The participant to first succeed in reaching three "Grand Clucks" will receive this years grand prize: a trip to Old Mr. Beederman's Farm and Abattoir where you will be put to work as an indentured servant until the these damn Siamese are paid. Runner ups will receive an assortment of street signs and manhole covers from Orange County.
2:50pm | said Anthony | Live Shows, Champaign-Urbana, Reggae
7/7/2010
The Drastics in Michigan This Weekend!
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Michigonians, Michiganers, Michiganese and Michiganites! We want to see you! But really we want you to see us. Actually, just make sure that you're in the club before you get to the show. And you're gonna wanna make sure that you're still there after you've left. So show up 15 minutes before you leave for the venue and we'll be sure to start playing 38 secon...ds after the music starts. But then again if you stick around after you went home, we'll be sure to be on the road before we leave. Ok, so check it out .. if you're not there after you arrived we'll be sure to wait until BEFORE we get to Kalamazoo to play. Cool?
4:24pm | said Anthony | Live Shows, Michigan, Dub, Reggae
7/6/2010
Plus Two Minus One, Live At The Chopin Theater
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To make up for last month's epic fail of not posting a new tune, we humbly offer you ingrates this ... a free live EP for the downloading. That's about right ... 5 tracks, 2 new compositions and 3 group improvisations all recorded live at Sketchbook X on June 17, 2010.
I brought a portable recorder and a handful of mics to the gig hoping to capture whatever happened, and the result is some pretty electrifying group playing that teeters between the Sun Ra and Lee Perry schools of music. Drastics' Tenorman Tom couldn't make the gig so we asked our good friends Charles Gorczynski and Nate Lepine to sit in. That left us dub-less and forced the focus onto individual improvisation.
Check it out on BandCamp and preview the songs, download individual ones or the whole album! This music is definitely charting some abstract territories so fare-thee-warned it's not for the faint hearted.
Charles Gorczynski: Alto Sax; Nate Lepine: Tenor Sax; Andrew Zelm: Trombone, Melodica; Brian Citro: Guitar; Chris Merrill: Double Bass; Anthony Abbinanti: Drums.
4:54am | said Anthony | First Tuesday, Live At The Chopin Theater, Plus Two Minus One, Reggae
7/5/2010
Dub 'n Naked
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10:01pm | said Anthony | Dub, Naked, BBC, Reggae, Documentary
6/27/2010
Inna (80s) Dancehall Style
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Years ago, my boy Marty hooked me a sampler called "A Fashion Statement" .. basically a label sampler from "Fashion Records" .. served as a good introduction to the world of British/Jamaican DJs and the style of the era. This track is on it and up until today had no idea there was a sweet video for it ...
The boys in The Pinstripes posted this video a few weeks ago, but it's still some awesome footage .. Tippa Irie and Saxon Sound live on British TV .. not sure what program ... Worth it just for his little dance everytime the chorus drops!
Toyan, Josey Wales, Lee Van Cliff rockin' the mic at the infamous Skateland in Jamaica .. this is crucial footage!
Sleng Teng performed on some sort of dijeridoo live in Brooklyn circa '87!
Ninjaman VS Supercat .. I've had the bootleg audio of this for a while and never knew there was accompanying video .. I love Ninjaman, and he comes pretty correct in this battle ... the crowd definitely thinks so ... Supercat definitely "fights" dirty calling Ninjaman a pussy over and over again while Ninja takes the higher route .. I know its from '91 but it's still a killah!
4:14pm | said Anthony | Riddim, Video, Battle, British, Reggae
12/18/2009
Happy Holidays from The Drastics
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We had opportunity to record a 'lil end-of-the-year jingle for WXRT, 93.1fm in Chicago. So we did a reggae version of Winter Wonderland as the backdrop. Click the link below to get the dub and vocal version. Trust us, even if you hate holiday music .. it's worth it.
Happy Holidays everyone, hope your 2009 was everything you wanted.
AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT
3:51pm | said Anthony | Holidays, Reggae
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 10
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Well, its 6am and I still haven't gone to sleep so technically it's still Thursday and so I'm in time for our Third Thursday Free Mix ... Our 10th Mixtape! Good God, we actually made it to double digits ..... My brain is fried right now so pardon the brief description .. This month we present Potluck as the finger in the fjord of your ear canal. So put on your wooden shoes and get ready for the storm.
Except for the self-contained Christmas-themed Mini-Mix at the end, this collection makes almost no sense. We got soul into hiphop into latin into downtempo electronic into ska ...
Eclecticism is the theme.
Happy Holidays ya'll.
We're gonna have aother download for you either this afternoon or Monday. Another holiday treat from The Drastics. So put that in yer stocking/menorah/kinara/hoa mai/yule log/boxing day gift/festivus pole and smoke it.
Track List
Proud Mary - Ohio Players
Proceed (Roy Ayers Mix) - The Roots
El Negro Bembon - Cortijo Y Su Combo Original con Ismael Rivera
Ya Mama (Cosby Mix) - Pharcyde
I Miss You (Remix) - Bjork
The Bridge Is Over (X-Rated Version) - KRS-ONE
Jericho Skank - Jackie Mitoo & Ernest Ranglin
Beatstumental Mix
The Prunes - D.S.B. Style
The Khromozomes - Seein'
Art & Science - Communication
DJ Vadim - Ghetto Rebels (Inst)
Palmskin Productions - Slipper Suite
Southside Crew - Time To Rock The Party
We'll Be There (10 second Remix) - People Under The Stairs
Spread Love (2:20 Remix) - Bozo Meko
Enamorado - Oscar D'Leon
Back Door Santa - Clarence Carter
Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
Christmas Time Growing Up
Christmas In The Stars
Beach Boys
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
The Drifters
The Jackson 5
The O'Jays
The Ventures
Dodie Stevens
Miss Piggy
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow
GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS
6:11am | said Anthony | Third Thursday, The Blends, Reggae, Soul, Hip Hop, Holidays
11/19/2009
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 9
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Yes yes ya'll and ya don't stop! To the beat ya'll and ya don't stop. We got the rhythm that'll make ya body rock.
Aight, now that we got that out the way, welcome back, and please to be considered for you prompt consideration ... another Third Thursday, another Mix Tape for ya courtesy of The Blends! This month's collection is titled "Cornucopious" as a sort of early Thanksgiving treat for ya'll good lil pilgrims out there. The tracks are mostly dubs and versions of pretty chilled out reggae joints, in some cases we've included the original and the version for contrast .. but there's no "Mayflower" or "Turkey" themes on any of these tunes ... just hard hittin reggae jams for ya lil cranberry sauce filled earholes!!
Track List
Intro - King Stitt
Rock and Groove - Bunny Wailer
Dub and Groove - Bunny Wailer
Hap Ki Do Version - Augustus Pablo
You Rest On My Mind - Naggo Morris
You Rest On My Mind Dubwise - Bullwackie
Look Out For The Devil Version - Junior Dan
Juggernaut Dub - King Tubby
Third World Shuffle - Mercenarys
Natty Dread A Weh She Want - Tappa Zukie
Rub A Dub A Weh Them Want - Musical Intermidates
Our Man Flint - Lloyd Young and Augustus Pablo
Harvest in the East - Tommy McCook and The Impact Allstars
Heavenly Dub - King Tubby
Dub Along the Shore - Dr. Ring-Ding & Victor Rice
Rasta Locks - Derrick Harriott
Touch A Dub - Phyllis Dillon
One Way Love - Barry Brown
One Way Dub - Scientist
WORTH 23 DOLLARS OF TRINKETS!
3:14am | said Anthony | Third Thursday, The Blends, Cornucopious, Dub, Reggae
10/15/2009
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 8
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And here we go once again ... gonna keep this entry short and sweet cause I gotta finish squeezing the OJ. So this month we place on the altar of your aural consciousness; Instajam! This is the first mix up here that isn't strictly reggae .. it's a collection of some of my favorite tunes, plus tracks that just make ya nod ya head ... nawsayin? Now drink the whole thing or you don't get none of Uncle Abbinanti's famous chocolate covered biscuits n gravy for dessert!!!!
If the download link stops working, drop us a line and we'll try to get it back up and running
Track List
Intro - Reiner & The Blends
Comin' On Strong - Hepcat
Snatching It Back - Clarence Carter
Magic's Wand - Whodini
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
Compared To What? - Roberta Flack
Jokes Fro Redd - Redd Foxx
Dig On It - Jimmy McGriff
Oh My God - A Tribe Called Quest
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Time Tough - Toots & The Maytals
I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
Day To Day - Apani B
Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
Alone Again - The Slackers
Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
PART OF A BALANCED BREAKFAST
4:28pm | said Anthony | The Blends, Instajam, Reggae, Soul, Third Thursday
9/17/2009
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 7
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Well here we go! Back to our regularly scheduled program so put your little busted-ass Speak 'n Spell down and take that damn Play-Doh out ya mouth! I know it says it ain't toxic but what if someone else wants to play with it? Ever think of that? Nah, you didn't did ya? Cause yer too busy practicing yer long division on yer damn Speak n' Math while shoving yer lil bitch mouth full of Mallomars like it's goddamn Halloween! Now listen up ... it's another Third Thursday and YES, it's time for another Free Mix ... Part 7 in our series.
Finally had a minute to get a new mix together and so this month we are taking a hard look at long-standing Drastic hornsman Tom Riley. For some reason I always associate ol' MushMouth Riley with Studio One, ethereal whistling, and instrumentals ... Tom is also a big fan of the ska-steady beat ... that kind of ska that's so slow as almost to be rocksteady, but it's definitely NOT rocksteady ... well, if you don't know what I'm talking, check out the later half of this mix and then go watch some Golden Girls reruns for christ sake. I didn't even tell ol' T-Bot Rizzle that I was doing this so he'll probably be just as surprised as you! So this one goes out to the White Larry Bird of the Tenor ... Uncle Term Rerry.
If the download link stops working, drop us a line and we'll try to get it back up and running
Track List
I'm Sweaty - Tom Riley
Tommy's Rocking Vibration - Tommy McCook
Love Devine - John Holt
Jah Rock Style - Jackie Mittoo
When Revelution Come - Big Youth
Cool Down The Pace - Gregory Isaacs
Close To Jah - The Skatalites
Rocking Time - Burning Spear
Pepper Rock - Prince Jazzbo
Stick By Me - Dennis Brown
Ghost Capturer - J. Gibbs Allstars
Sweet Loving - Lennie Hibbert
Don't Rock My Boat - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Dinah - J. Higgs
Here I Stand - Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
Come Running Back - Ken Boothe
Come Running Back Version - Coxsone Dodd
Occupation - Cedric Brooks & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari
SKY HOOK STYLE
3:31am | said Anthony | Tom, Third Thursday, The Blends, Reggae
8/21/2009
Third Thursday, Free Mixes, Part 6
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Well ... I am back-dating this post, but don't you judge me!
We teamed up with our friend Andrew Barker over at Musical Occupation to host this month's free mix tape! If you're not familiar with Musical Occupation, they put up a consistent amount of great content: ska/reggae news, interviews, podcasts, etc ... check 'em out!
This month I had to dig deep into the vaults as I was overwhelmed trying to finish up our MJ A Rocker project in-time for MJs birthday. So after perusing the warehouse I decided to dust off the very first mix I ever made .. Reggae House Party! These tunes are like a slow cooker, perfect for chillin' out too, or (if the feeling's right) gettin' up and shakin' it to .. ! I'm pretty sure this dates back to 2006, and for those of you who have collected the previous 5 mixes, you'll probably notice a few rough edges on this one, but it's still a solid play!
Track List
Dust A Soundboy - Super Beagle
Bam Bam (Version) - Techniques Band
Walk Away From Love - Bitty McLean
You've Changed - Al Campbell
Go If You Want - Buju Banton
Take A Ride - Al Campbell
The Rights - Johnny Osbourne and Buru Banton
Bad Boys - Barry Brown
The Big Match - Lone Ranger
Bobby Babylon Pt. 2 - Freddie McGregor
Why Keep A Good Man Down - The Immortals
Why Keep A Good Man Down Dub - The Immortals
Sing Along - Scotty
Guidance - Derrick Harriot
Badness A Madness - Yellowman
Isso (Victor Rice Dub) - Strikkly Vikkly
Till Sun's In Our Eyes (Version) - DJ Vadim and Demolition Man
No More Crying - The Slackers
Are You Satisfied? (Instrumental) - J-Live
East Of The River Nile - Augustus Pablo
YEEHAW LIL DOOGIES!
(hosted at Musical Occupation)
3:25pm | said Anthony | Reggae, Third Thursday, The Blends
7/6/2009
42 Reggae Album Covers
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Cool post with some awesomely strange Jamaican album covers.
my personal favorite .....
2:20pm | said Anthony | Reggae, Album Art
and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ... and i find, the drastics be the ill funk freakers ...