GO!
Tropidelic is from chilly Cleveland, but as the band’s name implies, this crew traffics in warm, groove-heavy sounds.
The group — Roads (vocals), Chris (guitar, backing vocals), J$ (drums), B. Flapjacks (bass) and DJ Mekadog (turntables) — mixes reggae-rock and ska-punk with hip-hop and dub to come up with a unique danceable sound. The results seem ready made for summertime, but it’s also the kind of aural concoction that can transport listeners to a warmer mental climate during the long, cold winter.
Roads took time out recently to discuss the prime directive of Tropidelic, which performs at Peach’s Grill on Friday, Jan. 8.
Q: You added a new guitarist, drummer and bass player into the band in the spring. What was it like trying to find a new crew of guys?
A: It was not easy. It took me a good six months of advertising on the Internet looking for serious guys. We auditioned a bunch of guys and for one reason or another it didn't work out and then I finally came across this group.
Q: What was your biggest concern in assimilating the new players?
A: I knew I wanted to keep the name and the style of music and maintain as many of the fans we have as possible. I wanted to make it seamless going in with new members. You can only do that so much. We're obviously still reggae-rock, and we're still doing the same kind of thing, but it has a little more of a harder edge now."
Q: What was the prime directive once you got the new crew together?
A: We're all vets of the game. We all come from past groups and some of us have had some pretty successful experiences in music, but we all knew it was going to be a good solid year before we could start making some serious headway. It's about a year later now, and we're just getting to that point. The idea was just to do it right. We built the set, got the recording going and started branching out regionally.
Q: How has Tropidelic changed?
A: For a long time our goal was to bring this positive vibe to the Ohio sky. Now it's got a little harder edge. I'm in the inner city getting my window smashed out, so it's hard to play positive reggae all the time. We definitely keep that positive vibe in it, but we bring a little realism in as well.
Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
How to go
Who: Tropidelic
Where: Peach's Grill, 104 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs
When: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8
Cost: $5
For more information: (937) 767-4850 or www.peachsgrill.com
Artist information: www.myspace.com/tropidelic
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