NEW SINGLE
ONLY AVAILABLE MAY 9-18

A SONIC BLACK HOLE (DUMBHOLE)

Through Notes + Bolts Records
Individually Lathed 7" Singles

MORE .. BIG .. CHUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNES!!

Due to the popularity of the our last plastic single Mate Mate (Xanthines) we're gonna do it again .. And doing it and doing it and doing it well. So you know the deal ... it's a limited edition lathe-cut vinyl 7" of another new track 'A Sonic Black Hole (Dumbhole)' .. and it will be available for ONE WEEK ONLY between May 9 (TODAY) and May 18, 2013 through Notes & Bolts Records.

ORDER THE 7" HERE

LISTEN /
GET THAT DIGIKAL

watch a live-alternate-dub off a 4-track cassette machine
King Tony at the controls !


As with our previous single it's only available for one week through pre-order and then never again - not at our shows, not through our website or Notes and Bolts', nor anywhere else. So don't sleep!

Each record will also be packaged in a hand made sleeve made from transparency sheets and personalized with the record's number (13/63, for example) along with the name of the record's owner. These are essentially art objects, which is why they're a couple of bucks more than a normal $5 seven inch.

The Drastics & MC ZULU
PalmDown Sound
Two Sets
Wednesday / May 1
No Cover / 9pm
The Whistler / Logan Square / Chicago

BOOKFACE IT

The Drastics & MC ZULU
Wild Jesus & The Devil's Lettuce
Environmental Encroachment
Saturday / March 30
$10 / 9pm
Reggie's Rock Club / 21^st & State / Chicago

MORE INFO

BOOKFACE IT

MONK WHAT
THE MUSIC OF THELONIOUS MONK INNA REGGAE STYLE
2 SETS / NO COVER

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 / 9:30pm
THE WHISTLER / 2421 N MILWAUKEE / LOGAN SQUARE / CHICAGO

Brian Citro – guitar
Andrew Zelm – trombone
Shane Jonas – trumpet
Chris Merrill – bass
Anthony Abbinanti – drums

Monk What is a project of guitarist Brian Citro, reinterpreting the music of Thelonious Monk through Jamaican, African and American bass music rhythms. The group focuses on many of Monk’s lesser-known tunes, including early pieces like Humph and Hornin’ In. Steppers’, one-drop and rock-steady beats lay dope foundations for Monk’s music. Drummer Anthony Abbinanti and Bassist Chris Merrill, from Chicago dub stars The Drastics, take a tight and agile approach to these and other styles. Trombonist Andrew Zelm and Trumpeter Shane Jonas complete the group, with fresh looks at Monk’s melodic and harmonic structures.

PODCAST INTERVIEW
NOTES & BOLTS 094

DRASTICS TALK TO THE PEOPLE

MUSIC + WORDS FOR YOUR EARS


Check this out ... Chillin at work ? Goin for a ride ? Stuck in traffic ? Heading out on a 4 hour spelunking adventure in the great American Southwest ? Packing for a stint on a oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico ? Spending some time in the earth's lower atmosphere ? Posing nude for 2 hours while a first year art student paints you ? Getting your oil changed at the world's slowest Jiffy Lube ? Entering hour 25 of labor and just running out of conversation to have with your partner ? Just taken a commission on a submerged dirigible or "u-boat" to fight the Ottomans ? Then congratulations! You're a perfect candidate to hear Drastics' drummer Anthony talk about reggae and dub with Kriss from Notes + Bolts for a while !



READ THE NOTES + LISTEN

NEW SINGLE
ONLY AVAILABLE MARCH 6-13

MATE MATE (XANTHINES)

Through Notes + Bolts Records
Individually Lathed 7" Singles

We are super excited to announce that we are finally releasing some new material! And in a cool/unique format ...

Limited edition lathe-cut vinyl 7"s of a new jam 'Mate Mate (Xanthines)' will be available for ONE WEEK ONLY between March 6 (TODAY) and March 13, 2013 through Notes & Bolts Records.

These are like your own likkle dubplate and the third release in a new ongoing lathe series from Notes & Bolts that feature limited edition 7"s by Chicago artists.

Each will be available for one week through pre-order and then never again - not at our shows, not through our website or Notes and Bolts', nor anywhere else. So don't sleep!

Each record will also be packaged in a hand made sleeve made from transparency sheets and personalized with the record's number (13/63, for example) along with the name of the record's owner. These are essentially art objects, which is why they're a couple of bucks more than a normal $5 seven inch.

ORDER THE 7" HERE

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD IT HERE

H.R. of Bad Brains
The Drastics
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8
$10 / 9pm
COBRA LOUNGE / LAKE & ASHLAND / CHICAGO

MORE INFO

BOOKFACE IT

MONK WHAT
THE MUSIC OF THELONIOUS MONK INNA REGGAE STYLE
$5 SUGGESTED DONATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 / 9pm
JERRY'S / 1938 W DIVISION / WICKER PARK / CHICAGO

Nate Lepine – saxophone
Shane Jonas – trumpet
Brian Citro – guitar
Chris Merrill – bass
Anthony Abbinanti – drums

Monk What is a project of guitarist Brian Citro, reinterpreting the music of Thelonious Monk through Jamaican, African and American bass music rhythms. The group focuses on many of Monk’s lesser-known tunes, including early pieces like Humph and Hornin’ In. Steppers’, one-drop and rock-steady beats lay dope foundations for Monk’s music. Drummer Anthony Abbinanti and Bassist Chris Merrill, from Chicago dub stars The Drastics, take a tight and agile approach to these and other styles. Tenor saxophonist Nate Lepine and Trumpeter Shane Jonas complete the group, with fresh looks at Monk’s melodic and harmonic structures.

THE DRASTICS & FADA DOUGOU
URBAN RHYTHM
NO COVER CHARGE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 / 8pm
MAYNE STAGE
1328 W MORSE / ROGERS PARK / CHICAGO

MORE INFO HERE

The Drastics with
MC ZULU and
Fada Dougou


at
The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia Ave / Chicago

Friday / December 21
Drastics Set / 10pm
with Low Down Brass Band
Wild Jesus and The Devils Lettuce

The Drastics with
MC ZULU and
PalmDown Sound Selectors


at
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee Ave / Chicago

Wednesday / December 5
2 Sets / No Cover
All Vinyl Selections Between Sets

THE MEDITATIONS
THE DRASTICS & MC ZULU
DJ CHUCK WREN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 / 8pm
REGGIES
2105 S STATE ST / CHICAGO

MORE INFO HERE

Halloween, 2012
Martyrs Chicago
3855 N Lincoln Ave

So ... if ya don't know, three years ago we took six of MJ's biggest tunes and arranged them inna roots fashion, mashing up Jackson's original vocals over freshly recorded riddims. Exacting the studio arrangements in every detail but transferring the instrumentation to Jamaican appropriate substitutes (strings become melodica, guitar leads become clavinet, etc) ... the album became an instant underground classic, gaining high marks from music blogs across the sonic spectrum. Its limited vinyl bootleg was the number one seller at record shops around the world when released. For the first time ever (and realisically, the only time ever) we'll be doing the album in it's entirety (and more) with help from MC ZULU and the Akasha crew.

MORE EVENT INFO

GET 'MJ A ROCKER' FREE HERE

A while back the guys in Passafire asked us to contribute to the remix version of their album 'Start From Scratch' .. so we did it the only way we know how .. Ruff n Tuff ... We contributed two tunes, turning 'Miss You' into a heavy one drop roots tonic and the title track 'Start From Scratch' into something outta Sly & Robbie's heads circa 1985.  Also dubbed that.

Pon Di Remix

Bijan Warner - Guitar
Gerald Baily - Trumpet
Anthony Abbinanti - Drums, Piano, Percussion, Baritone Sax
Additional Tracking at Dirty North, Chicago

COP IT HERE
 

Wednesday, August 1
Martyrs', Chicago
3855 N Lincoln Ave

Paa Kow's By All Means
The Drastics
Vertikal

Vertikal brings the funk, Drastics bring the dub and By All Means brings the insanely huge band killin it inna African style. Gonna be a sick show, not to be missed.

More Info via The Book of Face
 

Check out By All Means killin it on this live set ..

 

Musicians from all over the Chicago's musical map are gathering to celebrate the life and music of Adam Yauch.

The evening will feature performances by Mr. Greenweedz, The Right Now, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, ShowYouSuck, Rita J, The Drastics, Bumpus, Akasha, Dirty MF, Dan Fernandez of Kings Go Forth, Abstract Giants MCs, Any Kind, DJRC, Lowdown Brass Band, with more to be announced! Local designer, Scott Williams (renowned for his work for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Soul Summit Chicago), worked with Delicious Design to create a poster that will be available for purchase that night, in addition to a raffle, that will benefit Students For A Free Tibet.

A one-night-only, multimedia extravaganza, “Time For Livin” will feature inspired takes on songs from throughout the Beastie Boys legendary career. From the party anthems of License To Ill, the B-Boy kaleidoscope of Paul’s Boutique, to the exhilarating smash-up of live the funk, hardcore, and hip-hop of Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and beyond.

The event will also celebrate Yauch's wider impact through his humanitarian work to free Tibet, expose underground film with Oscilloscope Laboratories, and popularize the term “mullet” via Grand Royal Magazine, while turning everyone on to the funky jams that fueled the dreams of three emcees from New York City.
 

Reggae Takeover
Wednesday / June 27
The Whistler / Chicago
9pm / No Cover

The Drastics
2 Sets / All Instrumental
-PLUS-
PalmDown Sound DJs Nice Up The Dance Inbetween Sets
 

MASSIVE SHOW!

Saturday / June 23
Martyrs' / Chicago

Ralph 'Soul' Jackson
Alabama Love Man' Album Release Extravaganza
backed by The Drastics + Friends

Also Appearing
Adam Fitz & The Part Timers
Al Scorch & The Country Soul Ensemble
Live Tape Dub from King Tony
East of Eden Soul DJs after-show-dance-party

We're thrilled to be part of this show and to have helped in the process of making this long-awaited album ... This is a blow-out-extravaganza of all kinds of different music in celebration of the 'Alabama Love Man' himself and you have our personal guarantee it's gonna be slammin.

And away we go ... Brand new second hand tune from the man JahDan Blakkamoore ... Set to do a dub of the original, we thought it'd be fun to also do a 'lil remix and set the tune in a lovers rock style ... Strikkly just for a bit of fun ...

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!!!

 

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

The Drastics feat. MC ZULU
Live at Martyrs' Chicago
Friday / January 13 / 2012

TELL THE FACEBOOK
OVERLORDS YOUR
COMING

Yes ya'll. 'Tis the season and all that. We've been posting our limited arsenal of holiday material on SoundCloud over the past couple of weeks, and just wanted to make sure you knew. Cause we're sure you're not sick of holiday music yet. So please to enjoy! We offered our dub version of 'Winter Wonderland' as a free download last year and we so no reason to not offer it as a bite sized stocking stuffer this year. It's better than coal!

And in non-holiday related news ... 1.5 shows to announce ... !

Friday January 6, 2012

Resident Drastic selectors Chris & Anthony (aka PalmDown Sound) will be back on the 1s & 2s doing it at The Charleston in Bucktown, Chicago.  All vinyl, no cover.  9:30 to close.  Reggae & International Soul.

Friday January 13, 2012

The Drastics w/ MC Zulu will be at Martyrs headlining with Environmental Encroachment and BS Brass Brand.  Ruff inna second line!

OH SNAP!

Almost forgot, we're also gonna be part of this year's WXRT 'Best of 20' Holiday Spectacular .. where you can hear the tunes below paired with our impeccable wit and ability to write 45 seconds skits featuring drunken Santas, bar-fighting holiday characters and what to tell your cabbie on the way home from NYE. This year will be highlights of the past 20 years and we're honored to be part of it. Tune In!

 

Yo!

So some of you might not know (but now ya know) that Mad Anthony from The Drastics has been doing live dub off a cassette deck (as inspired by the man Dub Robot) at shows and parties over the later part of this year. We've been taking the plethora of riddims recorded over the years at Drastics HQ (aka Dirty North), dumping it onto that sweet 1/8" of tape and bringing the dub-of-many to the masses. It does sound surprisingly fat.

Well here's a snippet of a brand new Drastics track we recorded this fall given the ol' live dub treatment. Dumb Hole (A Sonic Black Hole) features Chris (bass), Anthony (drums, keys) & Luke (guitar) on a hard mixdown mixed with sweet 80s reggae fashion. Literally though, fashion.

SO PEEP IT ALREADY

So I realize it's technically closer to the 4th Thursday, but ... what the hell December ? Five Thursdays in 1 month!? That's some Mayan harbinger of doom-style-shizz! Well, as you may or may have not noticed, we added yet another holiday tune to our big-player-up-top! Auld Lang Syne in a rocksteady fashion! Oh yeah! We used this as the backdrop for our WXRT promo a few years back, but realized we had never put it up as an instrumental ... so please to enjoy!

Anyway, twenty-and-a-half? You may ask yourself? What am I doing here? This is not my beautiful home! Twenty-and-a-half 'cause it's not really a Blends mix and it's not really themed with anything ... As you can read here we took over the airwaves at KDHX in St. Louis a few weekend ago for a guest set on Ska's The Limit. So this is a 1-track mp3 of that set, plus some bonus material we couldn't fit in, and alot of the talkover stuff taken out as well ... there is some blending, but it's mostly just a hard/rare dub/dee-jay mix. Drastics Radio.

10000 WATTS OF MEGAWATTS!

Playlist
The Skatalites - Lon Chaney
Prince Jammy & Black Uhuru - Eden Dub
Jah Batta - Youthman Time
The Senior Allstars - Sniff Dub
Rhygin Rockers - Spooky
Derrick Harriot - Harmony In Dub
The Drastics feat. MC Zulu - Striped Curtain Dub
Prince Jammy - Sleng Teng Riddim
The Drastics feat. MC Zulu - No Lies
Duke Reid & Alton Ellis - Willow Tree Dub
Dillinger - Middle East Rock
Jah Woosh - Danger Man
The Wailing Souls - Jah Give Us Life/Don't Feel No Way
Prince Jammy & Black Uhuru - Firehouse Special
U-Roy - Fire In A Trenchtown
The Skatalites - Lon Chaney

Yeah son, ya heard right. We all up some techmalogies now... get our blog posts delivered to your Google Reader or whatever you read ...

Get yaself subscribed to the Drastics' Blog Feed!  We'll feed ya face.  With OUR MINDS!!!!!!

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