Postby TriP » August 5th, 2016, 2:34 am
Local Rock News - 2
1. Orange Sky
Orange Sky celebrates 20 years with new EP & sizzling “Summertime” single
2016 marks the 20th year of the musical journey for Trinidad and Tobago’s island-Rock impresarios Orange Sky.
With 7 full length albums, 3 international recording contracts, 4 major tours, 17 radio hits and over 700 live shows already under its belt, the band commemorates its landmark 2 decade anniversary with the upcoming release of a new album “Sugar” and Summer holiday anthem “Summertime”.
What began as a childhood dream for brothers Nigel and Nicholas Rojas turned into the opportunity of a lifetime for a group of Trinbago ‘island boys’ to embark upon an adventure of travelling the globe to perform and share their original music and unique Southern Caribbean vibe.
In its fulfilling and humbling 20 year journey, Orange Sky, whose influences range from Rock greats Motley Crue and AC/DC to Caribbean music icons Bob Marley, Jacob Miller and Andre Tanker has managed to gain and cultivate a loyal fan base around the world due to its signature Reggae-Rock style. The Caribbean Rock-fusion ensemble has toured extensively around the region, has performed multiple times in every US state with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii and has shared the stage with notable such as Evanescence, Kings X, Kansas, Skid Row, Damien Marley, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest and Beres Hammond.
The band’s new track “Summertime” is written by Nigel Rojas and Dante Pantin and is already being labelled as a July/August anthem by some music fans and industry insiders due to its ‘feel-good’ nature, upbeat rhythm, infectious melody and catchy lyrics.
This latest musical offering is the lead single off the band’s new EP entitled “Sugar” which was produced by Pantin who also serves as the band’s keyboardist and musical director.
Sugar is considered by Orange Sky to be its best production thus far and features a rootsy, melodic, Pop sound with tracks to satisfy all musical palates.
Orange Sky currently consists of Nigel Rojas (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Nicholas Rojas (Bass & Back-Up Vocals), Dax Cartar (Guitar) Anthony Grant (Drums) and latest band member Dante Pantin (Keyboards & Musical Director).
These members view the band’s journey as more of a lifestyle and are presently hard at work in between live shows preparing for the release of the new EP as well as promoting ‘Summertime’ and its soon to be shot accompanying music video.
Possessing an original sound that has influenced the evolution of an entire Caribbean Rock movement and armed with new material, panoramic productions, electrifying performances and an uncanny ability to overcome all obstacles, Orange Sky is poised ride its 20th year in fine style.
2. Jointpop
Caribbean rockers Jointpop combine Mugstock gig with football date
Caribbean rock n’ roll outfit Jointpop might hail from the sunny climes of Trinidad and Tobago, but they can’t wait to get back to Scotland – so they can catch a Falkirk football match.
The fivesome are touring Scotland for the next couple of weeks, including a show at this weekend’s Mugstock festival.
However the band also have a fondness for football too.
“Back in 2008 when we first toured the UK, we made sure we booked a gig in Falkirk, as Russell Latapy (from Trinidad and Tobago) was playing for Falkirk FC at the time,” recalls singer Gary Hector with a laugh.
“So Russell hooked up with us and took us to two matches. Then we went again for one match in 2011, a famous Falkirk win in the league cup against Rangers. After that first experience we became instant Falkirk fans and I still always follow results and watch major games back at home in Trinidad.
“Plus we made very close friends with people at the club and the town also, so we are Bairns!”
The group have a fondness for Scotland as a whole. That’s part of the reason they’re excited to play Mugstock this weekend, where they will perform on Saturday.
The three-day long bash at Mugdock Country Park has an impressive range of acts playing, with former Delgados songstress Emma Pollock, Edinburgh rappers Stanley Odd and indie legends the BMX Bandits topping the bill. Jointpop are looking forward to being part of that crop of bands, which comes as they celebrate 20 years together as a band.
That’s an impressive feat, especially given that their home country is dominated by calypso and soca music, while Gary and company prefer the likes of the Clash, the Sex Pistols and the Rolling Stones.
“We are absolute outsiders all the time,” says Gary, describing the band’s status in the local music scene at home.
“This is our 20th year together as a band and its always the same and will never change. Calypso and soca are the music creations of Trinidad and Tobago, and it’s all good. The carnival and parties are amazing and that’s how it is, we can’t change that, but that’s the main reason we don’t get funding support also as there is a definite anti rock and roll situation there...
“It’s all underground, but that’s just the way it is. That’s why we have to come to the UK when we can.”
Another reason for the group to reach the UK is that they’ve got a new EP, This Is Radio T N’ T out, released through the London label Flickknife Records. The four song collection includes everything from an acoustic-centric tune to some rock n’ roll piano and a cover of the Clash’s London Burning, here renamed Trinidad Burning.
The group got Paul Kimble, of American rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, to produce the material, and it’s a batch of songs that touch on the darker side of life in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Trinidad and Tobago is going through some very strange and edgy times,” says Gary.
“The leaders and so called decision makers are not making things any easier, the island is on a knife edge, or a gun trigger really, and I will express that in lyrics and songs.
“We can’t just dance everyday so we deal with those situations also, and it’s different to the postcard picture of the islands. Yes, we’ve got beaches and it’s all chilled and fun and laid back, but someone has got to tell the story (of what else is happening).
“Plus social commentary is in my blood from the influence of the old time real calypso singers.”
After their Scottish trip the band are hoping to raise enough money to make it to a festival in South Korea, then get to work on a new album.
First, however comes Scotland – even if one of Gary’s earliest Glasgow memories was of someone nicking a T-shirt from a gig here!
“We’ve played venues like Pivo Pivo, Box and the Liquid Ship,” recalls Gary.
“One cool but crazy memory was a man just walking into a venue one night and just grabbing a Jointpop t shirt from the merch counter and running out the venue.
“One of our boys started to go after him and I said leave him alone, let him spread the word!”
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Last edited by
TriP on August 5th, 2016, 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
