Member Since: 3/9/2005
Band Website: thedrastics.com
Band Members: tom riley
tenor sax, flute, dub fx, convergance of cognition
jeff livorsi
trombone, melodica, baffling salmagundis
brian citro
guitar, ability to limn the un-limnable
bijan warner
keyboard, sand castles
chris merrill
bass, autonomous creations
anthony abbinanti
drums, trencherman qualities
fada dougou
vocals, incorporating simulacrum of thundercats
zulu
vocals, violent dirigibles
Influences: dub, roots reggae, hiphop, dancehall, afro-beat, jazz, soul ...down home music like ... the impressions, fela kuti, lord buckley, bowie, donny hathaway, bad brains, bob dylan, a tribe called quest, marvin gaye, hank williams, tenor saw, stevie wonder, run dmc, roots radics, holland-dozier-holland, sly & the family stone, andrew hill, man or astroman?, larry young, spoonie gee, ween, elvis costello, wu-tang, baby huey & the baby sitters, eugene mcdaniels, stones throw, willie mitchell ... et al ...
Sounds Like: dub: dub: dub: dub: dub: dub: dub: dub:
The Drastics are modern roots music. Their sound fits as easily in a Kingston dancehall as it does in an artist's loft-party in the warehouse district. Though primarily classified as a reggae group, The Drastics embrace many styles of music both live and in the studio. This can be heard in their songs which draw from roots Jamaican music, hip hop, hard-bop jazz, afro-beat, dancehall, as well as folk music from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Take this powder keg cocktail of styles, add the pulse of gritty everyday urban living and you get one explosive sound. Not playing into any gimmicks or compromising to trends ("The Drastics deserve much credit for moving deep into unchartered territories" - allMusic Guide) The Drastics have been consistantly rocking crowds for three years from NYC to LA and everywhere in between ("dub masters, The Drastics ... never fail to put on a killer party" - TimeOut Chicago).
update 05.29.08
NEW TRACK!:
THE DRASTICS + FADA DOUGOU + ZULU
live in st. louis:
PROPHET SONG
... if you ever diss BARACK OBAMA ... YOU DEAD!
special thanks to ron shoemaker of GREEN ROOM ROCKERS for getting this recording to us
listen to anthony's exclusive DJ mix for "Echo Beach" right here ... vintage vinyl + exclusive drastics and deals gone bad dubs ... thanks for the opp terry, nuff niceness !
track list here
---BACK IN THE STUDIO ...
we're hittin' the tape again, most likely for a series of internet only release, more info on that comin soon ...
in the meantime, anthony's been working on a series of dubs/remixes for our chicago musical brothers-in-arms deals gone bad. check out their myspace page for a taste ... "Movin' Dub"
----some crazed fan made a strangely hypnotic fada dougou ytmnd
-----BIG TIME MERCH ... new album, tshirts, hoodies, buttons ...
------OUR THIRD RELEASE "WAITING" IS OUT!
--------we have been all up in the media, so here's the short list ... thanks to everyone out there supportin !!
OH SHNAP! check this out, our good friend and amazing DJ The Graduate remixed "Fidelity" from our album "Chicago Massive" which is now the featured song on a New York Times sports video ... listen/watch it here ... Fidelity Dance Remix
MELTMAG on "WAITING" : 4.5/5 stars
global rhythm magazine liked us enough to include us on a CD with their next issue, check it out!
review of waiting on "music is our occupation"
all music guide calls "waiting", "... the drastics masterpiece"
listen to anthony talk ridiculousy fast on a ska-blah-blah podcast from the knoxville ska-fest ... i swear i don't remember talking that fast
more love from "music is our occupation"
dcska.com got some love as well
listen to tom and anthony banter with richard milne on WXRT (93.1fm) about reggae, creative processes, and our new album ...
bagman productions podcast, interview and in studio performance
some more podcast love from pressuredrop
another great review of "waiting" on soundclash
------OUR NEWEST RELEASE "WAITING" IS OUT NOW ... ALONG WITH SOME NEW WEARABLES AVAILABLE THROUGH THEDRASTICS.COM
-------- * EXTRA SPECIAL GUEST DEPARTURE... kincaid's headin' back to the warm sunshine of california and he will be missed ... take care mang ... thanks for slummin' wit us for a few months ...
Record Label: jump up / self release
Type of Label: None