The Aggrolites

The Aggrolites  played the Murray Theater in Murray Utah January 21, 2010 to an enthusiastic crowd proving that despite popular belief there are Ska fans in Utah. The passionate young crowd sang along to nearly every song. Lead singer Jesse Wagner pictured above danced relentlessly back and forth across the stage belting out stinging reggae infused ska ballads creating what they like to call dirty reggae, a fusion of reggae, soul, grit and determination.

Guitarist Brian Dixon literally never stopped moving during the entire show, bouncing, weaving, swaying, leaping and jumping, Brian provided an interesting and entertaining counter point to Jesse’s more staid pacing.

The Aggrolites are more than a band they are a movement unto themselves. For seven magnificent years, this dirty reggae bunch has rolled from city to city, across the pond and up main street USA. They rally the kids, the parents, the students, the cops, the bosses and the drifters. The people come, they relish in The Aggrolites, the dirty reggae and the joy that comes with it all. The liberating rhythms and catchy grooves demand a return trip.

Out of the Los Angeles school of hard knocks, The Aggrolites have earned a Ph.D in "feel good music." On the road they educate with the thunder and punch of the reggae drums and bass, the ripping, soulful melodies of the organ and guitars, and Jesse Wagner’s voice – a gift from the heavens, a perfectly intact gift from Otis, Sam, Ray and Wilson.

The Aggrolites have a specific way of making music. They don’t over think it, they don’t obsess over pop culture demands, they walk onto a stage or into a recording studio and let "it" happen – a culmination of inspiration – from the road, from playing alongside legends, and from the energy and motivation of their die hard fans.

A new album is due for release in June 2009 and they call it IV. It is a definitive chapter in The Aggrolites journey with 21 tracks; each one a story of their struggle to thrive and their quest to spread soulful music around the globe. So, when you are in the mood to drop your troubles and kick your baggage to the curb, call on The Aggrolites.

The Aggrolites are:

Jesse Wagner (vocals, lead guitar), Brian Dixon (rhythm guitar), Roger Rivas (organ) and Jeff Roffredo (bass).
They have three other full-length albums to their credit — Dirty Reggae (Axe 2003), The Aggrolites (Hellcat 2006) and Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat 2007), featuring the hit "Free Time." “A glorious, surprising treat. Ideal for your next soul shakedown party,” raved Peter Relic from Rolling Stone about Reggae Hit L.A.

Their songs are featured on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour Compilation and numerous Give ‘Em The Boot compilations from Hellcat. In 2007, the band also collaborated with Rancid front-man Tim Armstrong on his solo A Poet’s Life (Hellcat 2007) CD/DVD release.

The Aggrolites are well represented in film, television and video games. Their songs have been featured in NBC’s Friday Night Lights, MTV’s The Hills, Nick Jr.’s Yo Gabba Gabba, USA’s Dr. Steve-O, MavTV’s Rad Girls, the award-winning surf film The Pursuit, and Australian video game Cricket. The Aggros-backed, Tim Armstrong and Skye Sweetnam duet, "Into Action," is featured in Dream Works Pictures’ Hotel For Dogs. Their renditions of The Specials’ "Ghost Town" and Musical Youth’s "Pass The Dutchie" will be heard in the upcoming teen surf comedy Endless Bummer, and "Free Time" will be in Walden Media’s musical-romantic comedy Band Slam.

 
The Aggrolites have shared the stage with Social Distortion, Madness, Rancid, Flogging Molly, 311, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dropkick Murphys, The Vandals, Against Me!, Gogol Bordello, The Aquabats, Hepcat, The Skatalites, Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan.

They have graced the stages at such notable events as Vans Warped Tour, SXSW, Bumbershoot, CMJ, Sundance Film Festival, L.A. Film Fest, Sunset Junction, Detour Music Fest, KROQ’s Weenie Roast, 94/9 Independence Jam and Ragga Muffins Fest. In 2009, they will add Coachella, Fuji Rock in Japan, West Coast Riot, Open Air St. Gallen, Pohoda Festival, Rebellion Festival, Chiemsee Reggae Festival, Couvre Feu Festival, among numerous others around the world to this growing festival list.

The Aggrolites are an amalgamation of two previous Los Angeles reggae and ska bands, the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors. They formed in 2002 as a live backing band for reggae icon Derrick Morgan, and were asked to record music for a new Morgan album. The project was never released but the recording sessions inspired the Aggrolites to become a permanent band. They have served as the backing band for Phyllis Dillon, Scotty, Joseph Hill of Culture, Prince Buster, and Tim Armstrong.

In 2003, the Aggrolites released their debut album, Dirty Reggae, on local reggae label Axe Records. The album was recorded at Signet Studios in Los Angeles in one day, with each song recorded in one take, and with many lyrics improvised on the spot.

In November 2004, the Aggrolites were featured on Hellcat Records compilationGive ‘Em the Boot IV, and were officially signed to Hellcat in October 2005. The Aggrolites’ self-titled Hellcat debut was released on May 9, 2006. In December 2006 they toured the UK as the support band for Madness. The Aggrolites finished a collaboration with Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong for his new solo album, A Poet’s Life. They are providing the instrumentals with Tim as lead singer.

They released a new album on June 5, 2007 called Reggae Hit L.A., which won an IGN award for Best Reggae Album of 2007.

The Aggrolites made an appearance on the Nick Jr. show Yo Gabba Gabba!, created by Christian Jacobs, lead singer of The Aquabats.

In mid-2007, original bassist J Bonner quit the band and played his last show on August 12, 2007 in Washington DC. He was replaced by Hepcat bassist David Fuentes. Fuentes died on September 23, 2007.

The band entered the studio in early 2009 to record their fourth album. It was released June 9, 2009 and titled IV.

The band is kicking off a US tour in October 2009 before joining Slightly Stoopid for a run of dates in November 2009.

Band members

• Brian Dixon – rhythm guitar
• Alex McKenzie – drums
• Roger Rivas – piano, organ
• Jesse Wagner – vocals, lead guitar
• Jeff Roffredo – bass

Past members

• Scott Abels – drums (2005-2006)
• J Bonner – bass guitar
• David Fuentes – bass (2007, deceased)
• Korey Horn – drums

Upcoming Shows
Feb 9 2010
8:00P

The Knitting Factory with Slightly Stoopid
Reno, Nevada

Feb 10 2010
8:00P

Midtown Ballroom with Slightly Stoopid
Bend, Oregon

Feb 11 2010
8:00P

Showbox Theatre with Slightly Stoopid
Seattle, Washington

Feb 12 2010
8:00P

Crystal Ballroom with Slightly Stoopid
Portland, Oregon

Feb 13 2010
8:00P

Senator Theater with Slightly Stoopid
Chico, California

Feb 23 2010
8:00P

The Raggamuffins Festival with Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Tarrus Riley and more.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 9:37 pm and is filed under Live music reviews and tagged with Murray Theater, The Aggrolites. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.