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Echo Squad

you are now experiencing the original sounds of...

About Me


Originally out of San Antonio, Tx, the Echo Squad has existed in one form or another since late '98 early '99. Although their members seem to change from show to show, their sound has become a rock around which the local ska scene shifts. As other bands come and go, they always remain, standing strong. When they first started the local scene had pretty much died. Their first few years were played in small bars by themselves, cause no club would book ska anymore and there weren't any other bands to play with. As MTv put it, " Ska is Dead!". Determined to prove them wrong, the Echo Squad pushed their way in, knocking down doors for all the newer bands to come. With sheer determination and filled with a true love for the style of music they play, they survived and thrived, building a scene in a city where one no longer existed.In 2003 they won Best Ska/ Reggae Band in San Antonio in Edge Magazine's "Best Of" Reader's Poll. They won 3rd place the following year. Since 2004, they've been helping to represent Texas Ska and Reggae out of Austin, as well as keeping their roots in San Antonio. Different members live in both cities and come together for shows all over Texas.
In their time together they have gone through up to 20 different members, while still keeping their "Original Sound". A sound which comes from there many influences in and out of ska and reggae music. Depending on what song they're playing, they will go from a "Traditional" Ska sound all the way through "Two-tone" and "Third-Wave", always coming back to a more "Roots/Reggae" influenced style. Add dancehall, dub, rock, punk, jazz, blues, a little hip-hop and swing, and you have the beginning of their sound.
In 2003, after many years of requests to purchase something from them, they released the first of 3 live cd's called "Live at the Lounge". Audio was taken from a handheld camera and wasn't that great, but it sold/gave away more than 300 copies and introduced a larger audience to their unique style. Later that same year they were asked to play live on the local college radio station, 90.1 fm KSYM in San Antonio, and "Live on KSYM" was recorded. Once again, more than 600 cd's were sold/given away over the next few years. After their move to Austin in 2004 and a few new songs written, they recorded live again at the Ruta Maya World HQ and "Live at the Ruta Maya" was born. It, like it's 2 predecessors, sold/gave away more than 700 copies. In late 2007, after a little over a year in the studio, they released their first 9 song studio cd, "the Original Sound" on their own record label, Squadroom Records. It's at about 200 copies sold since the Cd release in August of '07 and climbing. Echo Squad plans to be back with a new 14-16 song cd before the end of 2008, so keep on the look out!!
In their time together, the Echo Squad has been honored and lucky enough to open for such great bands as the Slackers, Rx Bandits, the Aggrolites, Big D and the Kids Table, MU330, Mustard Plug, Voodoo Glow Skulls, I Voted 4 Kodos, 33 West, Shakedown, Allister, Tsunami Bomb, No Motiv, Maxeen, the Dead Pets, the Independents, the Culprits, Liquid Cheese, BPM, 6 Pack Deep, One Night Band, the Expos, the Eyeliners, Dynamite Boy, Cruiserweight and many other great local and national acts.
They live for their live shows, and the fans who come out to see them. Please help them spread their name and music, and thanks for your support!!!!! SEE YOU AT THE SHOWS!!!!!


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for contact or booking, you can reach us at [email protected] or call vincent at: 210-462-6128
ATTENTION!!!! We now have new t-shirts, stickers and buttons for sale!!!!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/27/2005
Band Website: This is it!!!!!!
Band Members: Current Members:::
Vincent Macias-vocals (1998-present)
Ignacio Macias-lead/rhythm guitar (2003-present)
Jacob Pyor-bass (1998-2003, 2007-present)
Jason Valdez-rhythm guitar (2006-present)
Robert Calonge-lead/rhythm guitar (1999-2002,2003,2007)
Mark Gonzales-drums (1998-2003, 2006-present)
Daniel Aranda-drums (2003, 2007-present)
Benny Pizana-drums (2008)

XXX(Tended) Family:::
Gary Ruiz-lead/rhythm guitar (1998-2002)
John Cortez-rhythm guitar (2003)
Holly Miller-back-up vocals (2003, 2004, 2006)
Manny Rodriguez-sax (2003)
Dave Hedberg-drums (2004-2005)
Ethan Ford-bass (2004-2005)
Bill Geoghegan-keys (2004-2006, 2007)
Annette Priest-back-up vocals (2004)
Matt Robinson-bass (2005)
Michael Van Horn-bass (2005-2006)
Nico Martinez-drums (2005-2006)
W.J. Robinson-drums (2006)

Influences: Skinnerbox Stubborn All-Stars the Pilfers the Slackers the Police the Clash the Specials the Toasters the Scofflaws the SKATALITES!!! the Aggrolites the Dualers Hepcat Rancid Bob Marley Pietasters Rx Bandit Streetlight Manifesto King Django Matisyahu Long Beach Dub All-Stars the Mighty Diamonds Barrington Levy Laurel Aitken King Chango Buju Banton Sizzla Toots and the Maytals Beenie Man Charlie Chaplin Desmond Dekker Millie Smalls Doreen Shafer
...all our Texas friends--
Kevin Goes 2 College Uptown Creepers Indofin 23 in the Pants Channel One Contra Coup the Raspas Ryan Scroggins and the Trenchtown Texas Felipe Galvan y Sus Carnales Capt. Bringdown & the Buzzkillers Royal Customs Mr. Brown & Dub Kids Grimy Styles Dec 45 Sun Salutation Tri-opus Liquid Cheese Monkies Doin' It Coxcomb Spies Like Us (R.I.P.) Resistors (R.I.P.) the Go Go Gadgets (R.I.P.) Time of the Month (R.I.P.) Five Ton Chicken (R.I.P.) the Mint Flames (R.I.P.) Los Skarnales (R.I.P.) the Easytones (R.I.P.) Heptic Skeptic (R.I.P.) Commonwealth (R.I.P.) ...and many many more!!!

Sounds Like:
New CD NOW AVAILABLE!!!!! Get your own copy!!!

Representing 100% Texas Ska and Reggae since 1998
Beautiful Girl

Movin' On

Just Another Day

Policeman-'06

Record Label: Squadroom Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Echo Squad on Myspacetv and YouTube

We are now on MyspaceTv and YouTube!! If you want to check out our Myspace videos, you can just click on our vidoes link located under our main pic. If you want to check out our YouTube videos go here...
Posted by Echo Squad on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:07:00 PST

Attention: If you want to add us, please read this!!!

I've checked and re-checked all our settings and don't know why, but apparently when you send a friend request to us you're being asked for a last name or e-mail address. If you're still having proble...
Posted by Echo Squad on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:09:00 PST

Echo Squad on 90.1 KSYM-TODAY between 1-3!!!

So I made a mistake. You cannot request us on the Third Coast Music Network, but you can on KSYM.This is the info sent us and starting next week you can call KSYM and request a song or two to be playe...
Posted by Echo Squad on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:56:00 PST

Echo Squad is looking for new band members!!!

If you hadn't noticed, we aren't playing that much right now. The few shows we have been doing lately have only been possible with the help of old and good friends. For them we are totally thankful!!S...
Posted by Echo Squad on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 10:52:00 PST

It is Official!!!!

..> The cd is now and forever DONE!!! In one week we will have them hot off the presses and in our hands. The show in August is now offically our "Cd Release" show!! Come one, come all down to Sa...
Posted by Echo Squad on Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:17:00 PST

Call this a rumor!!!

..> What up!!!!First off....GO, SPURS, GO!!!!!So, as of right now, we may be playing this coming June 18th in San Antonio, down at the Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar on Ave B. We'll be opening(for the se...
Posted by Echo Squad on Sun, 27 May 2007 08:25:00 PST

Recording update.

Yesterday we spent all day in the studio. We recorded Movin' On, the last song for the cd. We also put the keyboards and guitars on No Cry and Don't Be Rude. All that's left is to ...
Posted by Echo Squad on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:31:00 PST

Thanks and Respect!!!

To everyone who made it out to any of our shows in the last 2 weeks and all the bands we've shared the stage with in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Many, Many Thanks go out to the p...
Posted by Echo Squad on Mon, 04 Sep 2006 12:49:00 PST

New Guitarist!!!

Just want to share some Squad News with you all.We've been needing to find someone new to help fill out our sound ever since we lost our friend Bill on keyboards. After talking alot about the band, Na...
Posted by Echo Squad on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 02:14:00 PST

Recording time again!!

So if you hadn't realized, we had to put our cd on hold again. We were hoping to have it done by the end of summer, but because of scheduling conflicts and a lack of funds (I'm paying for the whole th...
Posted by Echo Squad on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 10:40:00 PST