We took this and made our own genre, you know,
dirty reggae."
Once signed with Tim Armstrong's label, Hellcat
Records, the Aggrolites played as the backing band
for Tim's solo album. Jesse said that this happened
when they first signed with Hellcat. "Tim called up
and said, 'hey, I want to record some stuff with
you, do you guys have any studio time?'" They
recorded this in the same sessions as their self-titled
debut. "Tim came in and taught us the songs, and
they all sounded like Rancid songs and Tim told us
to make it like an Aggrolites album." This album
didn't end up being released until after their Reggae
Hit L.A. album, and the band didn't even hear the
final mix of the album until it was released.
The Aggrolites' latest album, Reggae Hit L.A. was
released last year, and the band will continue to tour
in support of this critically-acclaimed work. After
Warped Tour, we plan to "go home and shower, and
sleep for ten days. Then we're going to Europe in
September." Jesse proclaims. There is no
headlining U.S. tour in the works, so you have time
to go pick up their albums and learn the lyrics before
they come back around. In a scene with so much
rebellion and angst, The Aggrolites are a refreshing,
feel-good change. Be sure to check out their music,
and definitely, their live show.
dirty reggae."
Once signed with Tim Armstrong's label, Hellcat
Records, the Aggrolites played as the backing band
for Tim's solo album. Jesse said that this happened
when they first signed with Hellcat. "Tim called up
and said, 'hey, I want to record some stuff with
you, do you guys have any studio time?'" They
recorded this in the same sessions as their self-titled
debut. "Tim came in and taught us the songs, and
they all sounded like Rancid songs and Tim told us
to make it like an Aggrolites album." This album
didn't end up being released until after their Reggae
Hit L.A. album, and the band didn't even hear the
final mix of the album until it was released.
The Aggrolites' latest album, Reggae Hit L.A. was
released last year, and the band will continue to tour
in support of this critically-acclaimed work. After
Warped Tour, we plan to "go home and shower, and
sleep for ten days. Then we're going to Europe in
September." Jesse proclaims. There is no
headlining U.S. tour in the works, so you have time
to go pick up their albums and learn the lyrics before
they come back around. In a scene with so much
rebellion and angst, The Aggrolites are a refreshing,
feel-good change. Be sure to check out their music,
and definitely, their live show.
Believe it or not, there are more reggae artists than
Bob Marley. The genre started in Jamaica, but made
its way across the world. The Aggrolites are doing
their part to ensure the next generation knows the
roots of reggae, and the true broad spectrum of its
influence. They take the musical stylings of the
British skinhead reggae and add in a dash of the dirty,
one take recordings of first wave punk to create a
genre they lovingly refer to as "dirty reggae". The
lead singer, Jesse Wagner, explains this term to me,
along with his love for the genre.
Jesse begins the interview by showing his
appreciation for being part of Warped Tour. "We're
excited to be on [Warped Tour] because, the whole
idea of Warped Tour is to have a bunch of diverse
bands, and for people to come out and experience a
whole bunch of music." Jesse continues, "as far as
that goes, we're probably the most oddball band of
this whole tour." "As long as there's people dancing
and having a good time, that's all that matters to us.
The Aggrolites have described their music as "dirty
reggae". Jesse said that the "whole band is inspired
by the '69 through '72 era of skinhead reggae back in
England." What makes it dirty is "the way they
recorded at Studio One or Black Art was that they
have dirty, sweaty days where they would pound out
songs, and they wouldn't overdub it or try to make it
clean and overproduce it. I love the raw energy of it,
Motown did that too in a lot of ways.
Bob Marley. The genre started in Jamaica, but made
its way across the world. The Aggrolites are doing
their part to ensure the next generation knows the
roots of reggae, and the true broad spectrum of its
influence. They take the musical stylings of the
British skinhead reggae and add in a dash of the dirty,
one take recordings of first wave punk to create a
genre they lovingly refer to as "dirty reggae". The
lead singer, Jesse Wagner, explains this term to me,
along with his love for the genre.
Jesse begins the interview by showing his
appreciation for being part of Warped Tour. "We're
excited to be on [Warped Tour] because, the whole
idea of Warped Tour is to have a bunch of diverse
bands, and for people to come out and experience a
whole bunch of music." Jesse continues, "as far as
that goes, we're probably the most oddball band of
this whole tour." "As long as there's people dancing
and having a good time, that's all that matters to us.
The Aggrolites have described their music as "dirty
reggae". Jesse said that the "whole band is inspired
by the '69 through '72 era of skinhead reggae back in
England." What makes it dirty is "the way they
recorded at Studio One or Black Art was that they
have dirty, sweaty days where they would pound out
songs, and they wouldn't overdub it or try to make it
clean and overproduce it. I love the raw energy of it,
Motown did that too in a lot of ways.
| | Home | Contents | Got Issues? | Calendar | Staff | Contact | Employment | |