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Artists

	Known to many already in Boston and Miami as a skilled songwriter and street musician, Riki Rocksteady and his band, The Bad Ideas, are quickly broadening their appeal. First noticed nationally with the successful college radio airplay of his song "Crazy Dave" from Spit Shine Records' compilation Leisure Riddims (2002), he has continued to gain recognition with "Going Home Dub" off of the Dubshine Compilation (2003) and caught the ear of European radio stations and Internet sites. Boston's Spit Shine International record label recognized his talent, signed him, and released his first full-length album in the fall of 2004. Entitled, "Your Official Introduction" the album of 12 original tracks enlists some guest appearances by seasoned Boston ska/reggae artists of Bim Skala Bim, The Allstonians, and The Harmonics. Riki Rocksteady's first single off of "Your Official Introduction" is "Wrong Place, Right Time" a danceable number that will also be featured in his first music video produced by Ketchabrick Media. Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas are headlining clubs and festivals as well as supporting major acts from Portland, ME to San Diego, CA and everywhere in between. From their first soulful reggae number to their last sweaty dancehall encore, Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas are definitely worth the price of admission. Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas website \| Myspace page
	Paddy Keys, Paulie Thunder, and Diesel Dennis have been playing together since the turn of the millennium. They've known each other since the early '80s, when they were wee tykes in Dorchester. And the music they play has roots considerably deeper than that. Boston natives, the lads' forebears came from Ireland, an island with a musical tradition centuries old. Growing up, they learned the rebel songs, the drinking songs, the romantic ballads, and the jigs and reels of that tradition by accident. The music was one part of their real-life soundtrack as youngsters, heard on the Irish Hour on local radio, on record albums by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and played live at church variety shows and family gatherings. (Brothers Paddy and Paulie, nee Patrick and Paul Kennedy, have a ton of musician relatives, including an uncle, Bob McCarthy, who has regularly toured with Tommy Makem.) One cold night in December 1999, Dennis and Paddy rolled to BC to catch the Prodigals, an Irish rock band based in New York. Halfway through the set, a light bulb exploded over Dennis' head and he exclaimed: "We should start an Irish band." Before long, they recruited Paulie to play bass, formed a band called the Bogtrotters, and (despite Paulie being 19) wowed the crowds at downtown bars for months. For various reasons, that band came to a halt in early 2001. Now bandless and bored, Paddy talked his brother into playing bass again -- perhaps"begged" is the best term -- and in 2003 the Larkin Brigade was born. They took their name in honor of Big Jim Larkin, a labor-union founder who took part in the fight for Irish freedom in 1916. This time, Paddy was not only playing piano, but singing lead -- an activity much more in keeping with his not inconsiderable ego. Furthermore, he began writing a few of his own songs for a change, rather than strictly ripping off the Pogues and the Wolfe Tones. The three-piece went through a series of fiddle players --Smokin' Joe Kessler (whose claims to fame include a stint with Page & Plant, making the Larkin Brigade two degrees of separation to Led Zeppelin), Big Paul Harty, and Christie Catastrophe. In spring 2005, Dynamite Jack was called into service to stick it to the Man as a negotiator for the UAW, headquartered in Detroit. Things looked grim for the Larkin Brigade until their old friend Diesel Dennis blew the dust off his sticks and began pounding the bejeezus out of the drums once again. Soon after, thanks to their hanging out in the local ska scene, the three old friends found a new fiddle player: Heavyset Joe. Nee Joseph Wyatt and raised on the icy, snowy plains of Wisconsin, Joe brought a tremendous versatility and musicianship to the band, not to mention complex musical glossary terms they had never heard before, such as "verse" and "A minor." Today, the Larkin Brigade is ready to rock your socks off. They sing the songs they remember hearing around the house as kids, and they sing their own songs that they intend as part of that tradition. Some of the songs are serious in subject, many less so. They appeal to punk rockers and to old fogies. But no matter what, the energy and power of their live show is a shot in the arm for everyone who likes a good night out in a loud pub. The Larkin Brigade website \| Myspace page
	Someone forgot to tell The Harmonics that rocksteady music died in the 60's. With a solid line-up of three-part vocal harmonies, smooth horn-driven melodies, and creatively-crafted rhythms, this five-piece is looking to start a rocksteady revolution. It all started in the 90's when Kurt (bass), Mike (drums), and Tom (vocals and tenor sax) got together to play original ska music. Eventually they became known as Green Island, dipping in to the musical pools of ska, reggae, rocksteady, and dub. Featured on a number of compilations and their full length release "Hit 'em Soft and Slow" on Spit Shine Records, Green Island toured the country, sharing the stage with such talented acts as The Slackers, King Django, The Amazing Crowns, and The Toasters (to name a few). After the departure of their lead singer, Green Island decided to combine their remaining talents, bringing Tim (vocals and guitar), Ben (vocals and trumpet), and Tom to the forefront to sing dense, flowing vocal harmonies. The end result-- the champions of 60's Jamaican music, The Harmonics. Their debut release, an 8-track EP named "You're Wrong," is currently available on Spit Shine Records, and material is currently being completed for a full-length sophomore effort. One is hard-pressed to find in popular music today a band playing the kind of quality tunes that this band embraces, and perhaps the triumphant resurrection of rocksteady is not such a diffcult concept to realize with the arrival of Boston's own, The Harmonics. The Harmonics website \| Myspace page
	1998-2003 Green Island is now The Harmonics. Joe left to focus on his family and his new son. Chris is serving the country in the Marines. Our best goes out both of them. The Harmonics have brought Tim, Ben, & Tom to the front for full 3 part vocal harmonies, hence... The Harmonics. Look for a new Ep out now on Spit Shine Green Island's follow-up CD to 'The Better Days'. From Trad Ska to Skinhead Reggae. Featuring '6-64' a tribute to the Skatalites and a cover of Ken Boothe's ‘Old Fashioned Way’..*** Over an hour of music, with great horns, tight riddim, smooth organ, and heartfelt vocals. The hot instrumental, ‘Pedro Martinez’ and the dark reggae of ‘The Line Between’ are both hard hitters.

	Known to many already in Boston and Miami as a skilled songwriter and street musician, Riki Rocksteady and his band, The Bad Ideas, are quickly broadening their appeal. First noticed nationally with the successful college radio airplay of his song "Crazy Dave" from Spit Shine Records' compilation Leisure Riddims (2002), he has continued to gain recognition with "Going Home Dub" off of the Dubshine Compilation (2003) and caught the ear of European radio stations and Internet sites. Boston's Spit Shine International record label recognized his talent, signed him, and released his first full-length album in the fall of 2004. Entitled, "Your Official Introduction" the album of 12 original tracks enlists some guest appearances by seasoned Boston ska/reggae artists of Bim Skala Bim, The Allstonians, and The Harmonics. Riki Rocksteady's first single off of "Your Official Introduction" is "Wrong Place, Right Time" a danceable number that will also be featured in his first music video produced by Ketchabrick Media. Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas are headlining clubs and festivals as well as supporting major acts from Portland, ME to San Diego, CA and everywhere in between. From their first soulful reggae number to their last sweaty dancehall encore, Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas are definitely worth the price of admission. Riki Rocksteady & The Bad Ideas website \| Myspace page
	Paddy Keys, Paulie Thunder, and Diesel Dennis have been playing together since the turn of the millennium. They've known each other since the early '80s, when they were wee tykes in Dorchester. And the music they play has roots considerably deeper than that. Boston natives, the lads' forebears came from Ireland, an island with a musical tradition centuries old. Growing up, they learned the rebel songs, the drinking songs, the romantic ballads, and the jigs and reels of that tradition by accident. The music was one part of their real-life soundtrack as youngsters, heard on the Irish Hour on local radio, on record albums by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and played live at church variety shows and family gatherings. (Brothers Paddy and Paulie, nee Patrick and Paul Kennedy, have a ton of musician relatives, including an uncle, Bob McCarthy, who has regularly toured with Tommy Makem.) One cold night in December 1999, Dennis and Paddy rolled to BC to catch the Prodigals, an Irish rock band based in New York. Halfway through the set, a light bulb exploded over Dennis' head and he exclaimed: "We should start an Irish band." Before long, they recruited Paulie to play bass, formed a band called the Bogtrotters, and (despite Paulie being 19) wowed the crowds at downtown bars for months. For various reasons, that band came to a halt in early 2001. Now bandless and bored, Paddy talked his brother into playing bass again -- perhaps"begged" is the best term -- and in 2003 the Larkin Brigade was born. They took their name in honor of Big Jim Larkin, a labor-union founder who took part in the fight for Irish freedom in 1916. This time, Paddy was not only playing piano, but singing lead -- an activity much more in keeping with his not inconsiderable ego. Furthermore, he began writing a few of his own songs for a change, rather than strictly ripping off the Pogues and the Wolfe Tones. The three-piece went through a series of fiddle players --Smokin' Joe Kessler (whose claims to fame include a stint with Page & Plant, making the Larkin Brigade two degrees of separation to Led Zeppelin), Big Paul Harty, and Christie Catastrophe. In spring 2005, Dynamite Jack was called into service to stick it to the Man as a negotiator for the UAW, headquartered in Detroit. Things looked grim for the Larkin Brigade until their old friend Diesel Dennis blew the dust off his sticks and began pounding the bejeezus out of the drums once again. Soon after, thanks to their hanging out in the local ska scene, the three old friends found a new fiddle player: Heavyset Joe. Nee Joseph Wyatt and raised on the icy, snowy plains of Wisconsin, Joe brought a tremendous versatility and musicianship to the band, not to mention complex musical glossary terms they had never heard before, such as "verse" and "A minor." Today, the Larkin Brigade is ready to rock your socks off. They sing the songs they remember hearing around the house as kids, and they sing their own songs that they intend as part of that tradition. Some of the songs are serious in subject, many less so. They appeal to punk rockers and to old fogies. But no matter what, the energy and power of their live show is a shot in the arm for everyone who likes a good night out in a loud pub. The Larkin Brigade website \| Myspace page
	Someone forgot to tell The Harmonics that rocksteady music died in the 60's. With a solid line-up of three-part vocal harmonies, smooth horn-driven melodies, and creatively-crafted rhythms, this five-piece is looking to start a rocksteady revolution. It all started in the 90's when Kurt (bass), Mike (drums), and Tom (vocals and tenor sax) got together to play original ska music. Eventually they became known as Green Island, dipping in to the musical pools of ska, reggae, rocksteady, and dub. Featured on a number of compilations and their full length release "Hit 'em Soft and Slow" on Spit Shine Records, Green Island toured the country, sharing the stage with such talented acts as The Slackers, King Django, The Amazing Crowns, and The Toasters (to name a few). After the departure of their lead singer, Green Island decided to combine their remaining talents, bringing Tim (vocals and guitar), Ben (vocals and trumpet), and Tom to the forefront to sing dense, flowing vocal harmonies. The end result-- the champions of 60's Jamaican music, The Harmonics. Their debut release, an 8-track EP named "You're Wrong," is currently available on Spit Shine Records, and material is currently being completed for a full-length sophomore effort. One is hard-pressed to find in popular music today a band playing the kind of quality tunes that this band embraces, and perhaps the triumphant resurrection of rocksteady is not such a diffcult concept to realize with the arrival of Boston's own, The Harmonics. The Harmonics website \| Myspace page
	1998-2003 Green Island is now The Harmonics. Joe left to focus on his family and his new son. Chris is serving the country in the Marines. Our best goes out both of them. The Harmonics have brought Tim, Ben, & Tom to the front for full 3 part vocal harmonies, hence... The Harmonics. Look for a new Ep out now on Spit Shine Green Island's follow-up CD to 'The Better Days'. From Trad Ska to Skinhead Reggae. Featuring '6-64' a tribute to the Skatalites and a cover of Ken Boothe's ‘Old Fashioned Way’..*** Over an hour of music, with great horns, tight riddim, smooth organ, and heartfelt vocals. The hot instrumental, ‘Pedro Martinez’ and the dark reggae of ‘The Line Between’ are both hard hitters.