Who would have thought that reggae rock was a genre we’d be writing about more than once this week? A brand of music all too forgotten in the local scene, we first got to sing the praises of Alterna-Reggae Chicagoans Jackpot Donnie this week, and now here we are again as Long Islanders The Roast Beef Curtains bring us The Pleasure EP. Now before anyone rolls his or her eyes at the notion of this style or the bodacious bawdiness of such a band name, we have to go ahead and say that the RBC are as legit as they come. Clean vocals, just the right rhythms, and some Satana like guitar solos make up their formula for the exclusive punk/dub/reggae style they play.
The Pleasure EP is five tracks without fanfare or over-production, just straight beats with hints of rock and roll laced in their guitar riffs. From the more chill, straight reggae tracks like ‘L.I.B’, and ‘5th Base Girl’ we get a nice ‘take it easy’ vibe with a few brief solos and some spacey fills. ‘Rabbi David’ is the most punk song on the EP, complete with tongue in cheek lyrics, garage guitars and rapid percussion.
The Roast Beef Curtains even take a surprising shine to Weezer in their opening song ‘You’re Great’, which has the same slightly spoken chorus of a simple statement like, “You’re a really great person, you just don’t know it yet”, unpolished guitar, and high hat found all over Weezer’s songs pre-Make Believe.
Vocally The Roast Beef Curtains remind us a little of Reel Big Fish and Sublime, with just that hint of classic rock behind their punk/reggae persona.
We weren’t huge fans of the pace behind the previously mentioned ‘L.I.B’, and kept feeling like the build into something a little faster was just around the corner, but were sadly disappointed. The ending instrumental track ‘Salty Vile Dub’ also left us wanting more, mostly because it sounded all too similar to the instruments we’d been hearing for the whole album- The Pleasure EP would have sat better with us if it had gone out with a little more bang.
Nonetheless, if you’re in search of a new reggae/dub/punk band to strike your fancy, The Roast Beef Curtains could very well be it. You can find them rocking out the beaches of the east coast pretty much any given day, and if you’re headed out to Bonnaroo in June, they’ll be there too.
Two of the three fine men that make up the RBC took the time to talk with us recently. Check out what front man Andrew Gedacht and drummer Mike Celano had to say as they sat in our hot seat.
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to as of late?
Andrew: When we’re not gigging, we are either practicing or recording. At the moment, we are keeping our local Long Island thing strong while taking the RBC dub party to New York City, Brooklyn and beyond!
Mike: The band has been balancing many different responsibilities, including playing gigs, writing new music, recording new tunes in the studio for our full-length record… keeping everything in check for Bonnaroo this June!
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any three bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Andrew: Ween - so beautifully weird and perfect; Mad Professor – ‘seen what he can do live and would love to have him dub with us; Bad Brains - just to watch them dub and thrash from all angles!
What are your top three musical influences?
Andrew: You could say the three artists just mentioned, but beyond that, dub producers and pioneers like King Tubby, original studio reggae bands like The Roots Radics, and hardcore punk groups like Minor Threat.
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Andrew: As a Weird Al fan, I think it would be cool to shred on the accordion. Plus, I could rock out some klezmer with my dad on his clarinet
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Andrew: I’ve been digging a lot of post-hardcore stuff. It’s almost dub-like when the grooves are stripped down…Fugazi, Refused…and I’ve rediscovered my love for the Gorillaz dub album, Laika Come Home.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Andrew: Mike Watt, for sure - great musician and even better attitude towards people and music in general.
Mike: I’d have to say Iggy Pop…although I might just end up partying with him instead….
Reviewsic: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Andrew: I might have seen Madonna back in the day, but I think I repressed that memory.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Andrew: There are some cool Long Island bands like “Royal City Riot”, but to branch out to all of NY, I would have to mention “Says She’s Ms Blat” out of Brooklyn, and “Drunk Driver” out of NYC.
Reviewsic: What’s the back-story on how the band came to be what it is today?
Andrew: John (bass) and I have known each other since grade school and were playing in bands together since middle school. The bands all had different names and revolving doors as far as personnel (except the two of us). We came to the realization, only recently, that people were leaving because we’re nuts. Anyway, we both went to Hofstra University and worked at the radio station there, where we met Mike (equally as nuts) and it seemed to just fit. We played all over and discovered what we wanted to do through it all. The approach was - and is - to do real-time live dubs and dub effects onstage and mix it with the punk stuff we’ve always loved. And about six months ago, The RBC became even stronger when Jimmy McGerald (melodica/guitar) became the official forth member of team RBC!
Reviewsic: Tell us about the EP- is there a particular concept or direction behind it? What was the process of making the album like?
Mike: We wanted an authentic, yet versatile blend of reggae/dub/punk rock music that would most accurately capture what we’re about. We thought a five track EP would be a good taste-test for people to start out with…and we could build from there. The great thing about reggae/dub music is that you can have a polished studio CD of your original tunes, but live it can be a completely different experience, whereas in rock music, a lot of bands usually have to replicate their albums live. RBC’s live dub show is so unique and in your face that a studio CD might not do one justice for the true RBC experience. The purpose of our first EP was to simply convey our versatility enough to intrigue the listener to come out to a show… whether it was the reggae, dub, or punk. But once the dub is in their face, they are hooked! We are now in the process of recording a full length.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?
Andrew: It’s night and day, really. It’s not that I’ve personally progressed on my guitar so much, it’s more that we’ve connected as a group and are really good at knowing each other. Plus, part of our instrumentation is our live effects and we’ve all got a million times better at knowing how and when to use them.
What are some of your favorite cities to play?
Reviewsic: Mike: Long Island is really a beautiful place in the summer. Nothing beats playing reggae music on the beach by the water - the Hamptons, Fire Island, south shore or north shore - we are really blessed.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Mike: The best moment would be our upcoming performance at Bonnaroo 2010! Thankfully, I can honestly say we haven’t really had many “worst band moments,” other than a few health issues that sidelined us at times. It seems like our positive mental attitude doesn’t allow for bad moments.
Reviewsic: Individually, how did you get your starts in music?
Mike: To be honest, you’d never guess how I started playing the drums. My father, ironically, played drums growing up when he was my age, but believe it or not, that wasn’t what got me started. My younger sister originally wanted to start an all-girl band with her friends, so they all pitched in and bought practice equipment. That was very short lived…when I eventually took it upon myself to take up the drums! It was the most intriguing instrument to me. And once I saw the kit, I had to play! Ever since then, I taught myself by listening to a lot of my favorite CDs and practicing along to them on my boom box. I then took lessons, and I’ve never put the sticks down since….
Reviewsic: What are three words you’d use to describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?
Andrew: Filthy, overpowering, dub…if we can add a forth word to that line, I’d make sure to include “pleasure.”
Reviewsic: If The Roast Beef Curtains were comic book characters, what would your superpowers be, who would be your arch nemesis, and what would happen in the first issue?
Andrew: Excellent question for the nerd in me. I envision us as the Green Lantern Corps, using the strength of our will power in the form of music (rather than the rings). I guess our enemies are the 5,000 Long Island Billy Joel cover bands that have plagued our existence since the beginning of time. First issue, we start our assault….
Reviewsic: If What are your plans for your music in the next year?
Mike: To keep on playing, recording and wanting more out of the experience. The best thing we got going for us is our love for the music, and if you make that top priority, everything else will follow. Within the year, the band plans to hit the road and tour! Keep a lookout for The RBC to hit a town near you!
