Tropidelic

Though Tropidelic will be playing Jamestown for the first time this weekend, the band has already heard plenty of good things about the area.

Matt Roads, lead singer for the Cleveland-based band, said that Tropidelic picked up several fans from the area last year when playing at Waterfest in Garrettsville, Ohio. It was also there where the band met local band Green Genes, who connected with them and will be opening for them at two shows this weekend.

''We noticed a lot of Jamestown people coming down there, but this will be our first time out in Jamestown,'' Roads said.

Tropidelic will be playing along with Green Genes at Mojo's on Friday night and at the Road-House Bar & Grill on Saturday night. Roads said that Mojo's is a venue that has gained a reputation in the Cleveland area as a location that is a haven for the type of music the band brings.

''I've spoken with Matt Baxter over there, who does the booking, and they seem to cater to the alt-rock, edgy kind of stuff,'' he said. ''We're looking forward to it.''

Tropidelic's upbeat, high-tempo music draws from genres including reggae, rock, punk and metal, Roads said. The band was formed in 2006 by Roads and a few college friends, but was completely revamped in 2009 when Roads decided he wanted to get serious about making music a full-time career.

Surrounding himself with bandmates set upon the same goal, Roads fronted Tropidelic to its breakthrough 2010 release ''Erie Vibes & Irie Tides.'' The band has reached heights in the past year that it hadn't approached in the years previous, Roads said - playing the Vans Warped Tour and performing with likes of 311, The Wailers, George Clinton, Digable Planets and Sublime, for example.

While Roads said that music still isn't bringing home all of the bacon, as he and other bandmates still hold down other jobs, the groundwork is being laid. The band is playing six to 10 shows a month, he said, getting out of town for up to three or four days at a time. Its fanbase is growing, he added, and though accolades have come, most of the exposure has been by hard work and word-of-mouth.

''We've maybe distributed anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 free CDs over the years, just getting our name out there,'' he said. ''I contribute the success more so to that to any radio play or accolades we receive. It's all about the grassroots movement, for the people.''

Roads said the band has acquired a group of 30 to 50 fans that follows it to many of its shows. In fact, he said, a caravan is planned to come up I-90 for the band's performances in Jamestown this weekend.

''We see people making best friends because of coming to our shows, and that's what makes us feel good,'' he said. ''That's sort of where we're coming from.''

Tropidelic will play in Jamestown at Mojo's, 104 E. Second St., Friday night beginning at 10. Admission will be $3 for the 21-and-over show. Saturday night, the band will be at the Road-House Bar & Grill, 1023 E. Second St., for a free show that will start at 10. - The Post Journal - Jamestown, NY

'Rebel' Rod's Revelations - Tropidelic chosen to showcase at Bamboozle Fest 2011 -

Northeast Ohio Based Indie Funk/Reggae Band Chosen to Play New Jersey Festival


Cleveland, OH—Toiling away on the road is often the best way for an indie act to hone its skills and pay its dues at the same time, and often that opens the doors for bigger opportunities. Such was the case when Northeast Ohio’s own funk/reggae band Tropidelic was chosen to play the prestigious rock festival, Bamboozle, at the end of this month in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tropidelic will be performing on Saturday, April 30.

“It's getting hard to keep my composure with so many great opportunities coming up for Tropidelic,” says drummer $Jay$. “Between Bamboozle and Hookahville we will be performing in front of about 200,000 people within 30 days! We are blissfully excited to be able to share our music with so many people!"

For more information on the event, please visit www.thebamboozle.com

About Tropidelic
The often frigid Lake Erie shores would appear to be an unlikely breeding ground for the warm, funk-infused groove of reggae-rockers Tropidelic, but this Cleveland-based band is determined to crumble the walls of a genre while stimulating a new generation of creative minds. “In today's reggae-rock scene, many acts tend to fall in line,” singer Roads says. “We pride ourselves on our musical diversity and do not compromise what we do or who we are in order to ‘fit the mold.’” That approach recently earned Tropidelic the title of Best Cleveland Area Band from Fox 8’s Hotlist, but Tropidelic has its sights set even higher.

After first teaming with some college friends in 2006 and two years later releasing Tree City Exodus and Rebirth of The Dope, Roads met current drummer, $Jay$. The two overhauled Tropidelic's lineup in 2009 and released Erie Vibes & Irie Tides the following winter. And now, in the summer of 2011, comes the band’s first full length album, the record is a collection of songs that “symbolizes the rise of our country’s lost and disregarded generation,” explains $Jay$. “In today's environment,” he continues, “everyday life can be hard on the young poor or middle class adult. We want to highlight the positivity that can be generated by taking a broader look at your life situation as well as examining the reality of our economic and social climate.”

Tropidelic has been sharing that positive vibe with its growing legion of fans for years, playing at events like Vans Warped Tour, the Florida Music Festival and Midwest Reggae Fest while performing with the likes of 311, Sublime with Rome, The Wailers, Pepper, Digable Planets and Afroman. Along the way, they’ve caught the eye of more than a few critics. “Tropidelic comes across like the ultimate party band,” says MPMF Guide’s Mike Breen. “But there’s a bit more depth going on in Tropidelic’s groove, thanks in part to the sophisticated playing of the musicians and the additives served up on the turntables by Dj Mekadog.” Adds Anthony Cirincione from Buzzbin Magazine, “If Bob Marley could've La-Di-Da-Di'd like Slick Rick, he would have been perfect to open for Tropidelic.”

The band tours regularly through the Midwest and East. Their shows are filled with “raw kinetic energy,” as $Jay$ explains, adding that someone taking in a Tropidelic show for the first time “should expect to dance!” Indeed, the band’s energetic mix of funk, reggae, rock, hip-hop, punk, dub and ska gets people moving and, in addition to taking home Best Cleveland Area Band honors in 2009, Tropidelic’s eclectic party sound has been featured on 96.5 KISS, 92.3 WKRK, 88.9 WSTB, 88.7 WJCU and 91.3 WAPS.

Of course, any time a band brings in new members, some growing pains typically can be expected. For Tropidelic, however, Chris (guitar), Corey (bass), J$ (drums) and Dj Mekadog (turntables) have all fit in seamlessly. “We are now a team of like-minded, experienced musicians who share a common goal: to turn our music into a career,” Chris says. “Many of the problems associated with bringing on new members to the team are avoided when everyone is on the same page from the onset.”

As Tropidelic looks to branch out from their Midwest roots and reach a larger national demographic, they take pride in the fact that they’re one of the few regional bands to experience sustained success in the reggae-rock genre. But they refuse to take that for granted, and instead welcome the responsibility that comes with their achievements. “We are now seeing a surge in young groups forming in this hybrid genre and we do everything we can to help these bands and harvest this movement,” Corey says. “No matter how far our music strays from traditional roots reggae, we maintain the ideals of love and unity and do everything we can to advance the music, not just our group” - From Under The Basement - Blog

The Dirty Heads are currently on their first national tour. Last night, the band visited the House of Blues in Cleveland, along with New Politics and Tropidelic. The show started promptly at 7 p.m., and I joined the party right when Tropidelic went on.

Anyone from Cleveland knows who this band is. Tropidelic has been around since 2006, with the current lineup together for about a year. Many of their songs make you wish you were at the beach, but hey, who from Cleveland doesn’t wish that? Speaking of Cleveland, Tropidelic got the crowd going with the song “Cleveland Stylee.”

Up next was New Politics. From what I had heard about this band and saw through videos on YouTube, I knew they wouldn’t disappoint. There was not one time that lead singer, David Boyd, stopped moving. It was like the Energizer bunny; he just kept going and going. And not to mention, did a little break dancing along the way. The band played popular tracks such as “Dignity” and “Yeah Yeah Yeah.” Of course, during “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” the closing song, Boyd asked for the crowd’s involvement. Even if he didn’t ask, I have a feeling we would have all been shouting it anyways.

Dirty Heads, New Politics, & Tropidelic Live Pics
view gallery
The threesome had a fairly new drummer, Louis Vecchio, who I had the pleasure of speaking with. He said he had been with New Politics for eight months now, and he clearly rocked out on tracks such as “Nuclear War.” The guitarist also threw some vocals down and some good ones at that. He seemed very passionate about his singing, which is one thing that concert goers are hoping to see.
Sadly that set was over, but The Dirty Heads were up next. I was very excited about this band because it took me a long time to figure out that they sang “Lay Me Down.” I would always hear the song on the radio, and I would get so excited, but I would never catch who they were!

When I found out about the concert, I was looking up videos of the band and saw that it was them. Needless to say, I downloaded their CD, “Any Port In A Storm.”

When the band took stage, you could tell by their style they were from the west coast, Huntington Beach, Calif. to be exact. The band’s reggae-rock style reminded me of the iconic band Sublime, a band I’m sure anyone would love being compared to. The performance was about an hour long and they played an array of songs. They played “Stand Tall,” a feel good song about keeping your chin up and knowing things will get better.

The band also did a rendition of “Paint It Black,” which I found surprising, but very cool. Another thing I found to be very cool was the octopus tapestry hanging in the background. It was a black-light tapestry and just really unique. I enjoy when bands take the time to put something cool in the background. It gives you something to look at when bands are between sets and you’re anxious for the next one!

Also, because this was the band’s first national tour, it was very special to them, singer Jared Watson said. They even let a couple audience members come on stage if they could sing every word to a song of theirs. Can you imagine? The whole crowd cheering you on and you’re not even in the band? I thought that was a very sweet thing the band did.

The Dirty Heads closed with an encore including “Lay Me Down,” their first single off the debut album. The next stop on the tour is the Altar Bar in Pittsburgh, PA. Keep an eye out for these guys.

Photo Credit: Carl America



Read more: Dirty Heads, New Politics, & Tropidelic Takeover Cleveland http://radio923fm.radio.com/2011/03/22/dirty-heads-new-politics-tropidelic-takeover-cleveland/#ixzz1HSoBtJX5 - 92.3 FM K ROCK

With the temperature dropping, you can always count on The Union to heat things up, and this Friday they’re doing just that with one funktastic electronic reggae concoction.

The venue will be hosting bands from all over the state as Cleveland’s Tropidelic, Cincinnati’s Skeetones, and Athens’ very own Elemental Groove Theory take the stage.

With the psychedelic feel of Skeetones, the tropical hip-hop tracks of Tropidelic, and the searing sounds of sweet Latin-funk brought to you by EGT, there's no better way to fight off the frigid air.

Tropidelic brings a sound bordering that of Pepper’s and Sublime’s. They "ain’t got no crystal ball," so to speak, but their hip-hop beats fill the air outlined with a tone of sweet reggae euphoria. Their sound will groove you right into the tropidelic state of mind they’re named after and will certainly keep the energy level on the rise.

However, before things get too out of hand, Skeetones are stepping in with music basked in electornica and synthetics that will level out the mood. The Skeetones chillaxed rhythm mirrors the demeanor of dream pop sensation A Sunny Day in Glasgow, and like them, is sure to provide an out of body experience. Their music is light in vocals, but full of fabricated tones that speak for themselves.

Finally we make our way on to the night's headliner, bringing with them a mesh of electric rock bound together by the pure vibe of funk.

You got it. Elemental Groove Theory will take the stage last here in Athens, their home court, and are bound to be as full of life as always.

"We have so much energy when we perform and it really feeds off the audience," guitarist Mark "Mavis" Meredith said. "It's like a cycle that goes back and forth."

Energy will definitely be present Friday, as Meredith also informed ACRN that EGT will be rocking out with some new material, both covers and self-composed, as well as announcing the winner of their on going logo contest.

The doors of The Union are opening at 8 p.m. for this music extravaganza and for the cost of $5, you too can join this event that's heating up the winter in Athens, Ohio.
- ACRN - The Rock Lobster

From the underbelly of Cleveland’s blackened music scene rises a brazen group of innovators on a quest to crumble the walls of a genre and stimulate a new generation of creative minds. Reggae-rockers, Tropidelic, untie the knots of expectation and sow together dance, hip-hop, funk and ska in a seamless display of unbridled realism, pulling from an amalgamation of influence never before seen in the cold Midwest. The end result is an in-your-face party suited for the laid back festival-goer as much as the aggressive listener or seasoned music enthusiast.

Columbus Groove: How/when did Tropidelic first get together?

Matthew Roads: In 2006, myself and my roommates formed the group out of similar musical tastes and the need to feed some positive vibes into our lives living under the gray Ohio sky. We lived in a thrashed old house on one of the big party streets in Kent and practiced in the flooded and graffiti-covered basement.

Columbus Groove: How would you described the bands sound today compared to when you first started?

Matthew Roads: The band’s sound today is a bit more aggressive and soulful. Every position saw member changes in early 2009. The new members come from many different backgrounds of influence so each guy is bringing different vibes to the table. Chris (guitar) came from playing in several successful punk/ska and metal bands. J (drums) had seen more musical success than the rest of us in a large pop-punk outfit. Corey (bass) use to dj drum & bass and skips to the tune of electronic / jam music. Myself and Dj Mekadog are more so the hip-hop heads. All of us love reggae. The music, we fuse it and reuse it.

Columbus Groove: What was the inspiration for the bands latest EP? where was it recorded? who did the artwork?

Matthew Roads: The latest EP “Erie Vibes & Irie Tides” highlighted our life in Cleveland and traveling the region. We recorded it in Chris’ attic in a hundred-year-old house in Lakewood in Cleveland’s West Side. We also did some of the production at Ante Up Studios in the East Side. Dave Maynard @ Black Metal Tattoo Company designed the album art. The insert photo is from inside an amazing but crumbling church in the East Side.


Matthew Roads - Tropidelic
Columbus Groove: What was some highlights for the band in 2010?
Matthew Roads: 2010 was a good year. We are still very much growing but a lot of seeds were planted this year that have already opened doors for us. I’d say some highlights were playing the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and performing at Sublime w/Rome & The Dirty Heads Cleveland stop as well as the 311 & Pepper tour. We spent a lot of the summer at what’s come to be a favorite spot for most of us, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Garrettsville, OH. We also signed to Little Fish Records this past year and hosted a dope night at Beachland Ballroom on New Year’s Eve to end it.

Columbus Groove: What was some of the music that influenced you growing up?

Matthew Roads: I grew up on classic rock and oldies radio until late middle school when hip-hop and a lot of the 90s alt rock filled my brain. The reggae for me came later, after my tastes and skills had developed I dug deeper for the real treasures music had to offer. That was back when Napster was a free for all. I got my hands on a lot of great music early on.

Columbus Groove: Do you remember the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?

Matthew Roads: No I don’t remember specifically. It was probably on WJCU 88.7 or WSTB 88.9. Both stations have embraced us quite a bit over the years.

Columbus Groove: What are some of your favorite places to play in Ohio? outside of Ohio?

Matthew Roads: Nelson Ledges Quarry Park is our favorite place to play and live in harmony. Cleveland mainly sees us at House Of Blues, The Grog Shop or The Beachland Ballroom. We had a great time in Yellow Springs last year and also at Jackie O’s in Athens. Mr. Small’s in Pittsburgh is a favorite of ours. There’s probably quite a few naysayers but The Robin Hood in Kent will always be a favorite of mine.


Tropidelic
Columbus Groove: What other artists are you impressed by?

Matthew Roads: The only time in recent years I can recall being extremely impressed was stumbling onto a Schwartz Brothers ( Glen Schwartz formerly of The James Gang) show at the Beachland. The dude has got to be well into his 70s and absolutely shreds a blues guitar with a wild personality to match. If you sort my Itunes by play count the top 5 right now is The Black Keys, A Broken Social Scene, Slightly Stoopid, Atmosphere and Citizen Cope. I’ve been bumping Alborosie’s “Escape From Babylon To The Kingdom Of Zion” all week and also the new Girl Talk.

Columbus Groove: Do you all still have “day jobs”?

Matthew Roads: Some of us do but all of our jobs are pretty flex to accommodate for dream chasing. We prefer “night” time.

Columbus Groove: Are there any upcoming shows you are excited about?

Matthew Roads: We are looking forward to hitting Rochester and Buffalo later this month. Also we will be supporting Badfish (Sublime Tribute) at their Ohio dates this February, 2/23 Bogarts – Cincinnati, 2/24 House Of Blues- Cleveland, 2/25 Newport Music Hall – Columbus.
- www.columbusgroove.us

Even though rock ’n’ reggae act Tropidelic has been playing the Youngstown area for years, the Cleveland-based band felt as though the set it turned in at this summer’s VexFest really has the outfit positioned for bigger things in the Mahoning Valley.

“That was by far the biggest thing we played in Youngstown so far,” said singer Matthew Roads, a native of Pittsburgh. “It was a good show. We had a decent slot, an almost-evening slot, and there were probably 500 people out there. We’re expecting to see those people again.”

That’s why the band is returning to the area for a Saturday gig at Ace’s Wild Wings in Boardman. The band is supporting its latest EP, “Erie Vibes & Irie Tides,” which was released earlier this year and featured a reggae-rock vibe with a harder edge, realistic twist and darker vibe. Up next is the group’s new EP, “The Working Class Phoenix,” which it hopes to have out soon.

Roads said the new material is inspired by the tough economic times the country is facing.

“More or less, it’s about the rebirth of the working class,” Roads said. “Some of us are still working the day jobs, and it’s obviously hard economic times now. So we’re just expressing the current struggle and finding positivity in it.”


Among Roads’ favorite new tunes are the funky “Rebel Music” and the hip-hop-driven “City Brew.” Naturally when a band announces its rock- reggae sound, instant comparisons come down to either Sublime or Bob Marley.

“Yeah, it’s more Sublime,” Roads said. “I almost don’t like being compared anymore. It’s become clich at this point, but we do more rapping than Sublime does, and we can get harder at times.”

Formed in 2006, Tropidelic averages more than 50 shows a year with a growing regional fan base including Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Atlantic City and Philadelphia. Part of its appeal stems from its unique cover medleys, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio” with Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N’ Nite,” as well as Inner Circle’s “Bad Boys” with Notorious B.I.G.’s “It Was All a Dream.”

Local music fans can expect to hear a jambalaya of sounds and styles at Tropidelic’s upcoming Ace’s Wild Wings show. Speaking of which, what type of wing sauce would best exemplify the band?

“Spicy Cajun or some Caribbean spice or something like that,” Roads said, laughing. “That’s because of the vibe that we bring. We want to get as close to the Caribbean as we can. That’s what we’re all about. If it were up to us, we’d be on a beach right now.”


- www.vindy.com

Not really a reggae rock act, but like most reggae rock bands what is most appealing about Tropidelic is its ability to successfully crossover many musical styles. Even though this is only a six track EP (not including secret bonus track), Tree City Exodus still somehow manages to cover funk, hip hop, rock, and dub.

The glue that holds all this diversity together is the energy and fun this five-piece from Ohio creates, like on the crazy disco of Aquafire. The bubbling bass from Guzba keeps this dance-floor destined gem pulsing. Then at the other end of the spectrum, South Water Dub is a smooth reggae groove with spacey but effective wanderings.

From the Intro to the closing Constant Light Tunnel, all the songs blend seamlessly into another, yet each song at its core is completely unique from the next. This accomplishment is not an easy task and will hopefully be admired by most, but I am sure will also mainly confuse.

With so many musical styles represented it would be easy to get lost in replicating your influences, but full credit must go to Tropidelic for creating an end result that is truly an original sound. For an EP, this curiously took me a little longer to get my ahead around, however it more than proved persisting with - in order to fully appreciate a unique talent. - ThePier.org

A Cleveland-based band blending reggae with a sort of hard-rock, punk-oriented edge will visit Le Grand Fromage in Atlantic City this Saturday night, Oct. 2, along with two southern New Jersey-based reggae fusion groups — Tsunami Rising of Gloucester City and Cheezy & the Crackers of Vineland. The show starts 8pm.

Tropidelic does regular gigs at Cleveland’s House of Blues and has generated a sizable following in that section of the Midwest. Recently it started seeking gigs in other areas to branch out its fan base. The night before its Atlantic City appearance the quintet will play at Philly’s World Café Live (Friday, Oct. 1) with another band that amalgamates different genres, Among Criminals.

Tropidelic originally formed as a group of Ohio college students in 2006. It released two EPs of original songs as that ensemble, then founding member and lead singer Matthew Roads retooled the band with like-minded professional musicians including Chris Dunne (guitar), Corey Harper (bass), Jasen Bakette (drums) and DJ Mekadog (turntablist).

Last winter Tropidelic (myspace.com/tropidelic) released an EP called Erie Vibes and Irie Tides, and its most recent release is a six-song EP called Working Class Phoenix that Roads tabs as “symbolic of the rise of our country’s lost and disregarded generation.” Atlantic City Weekly recently spoke with Roads by phone.

Can you talk a little bit about how Tropidelic came together as a band?

I’m Pittsburgh born and bred, but I went to college in Ohio [at Kent State University] and there I met a bunch of friends and formed a band. It was more or less just fun and games back then, and after graduation a couple of those guys went their separate ways in life. But this is my passion. It took me about a year to get it together but I found some pro musicians that wanted to make this a career, and loved doing what they do as much as I do. That’s where we’re at now. I’ve got an all-star team, if you will.

Is that reggae sound combined with other genres pretty indicative of the kinds of music all the band members grew up loving most?

We’ve all been fans of different kinds of music, but I’d have to say that not one of us would consider [reggae] our main influence. It kind of stemmed from the fact that we all know a lot of different styles and we recognized a niche. I mean, there’s not a whole lot of that type of thing going on out here, and that grew out of the original intention of the group. It was sort of like “Why don’t we do this, there’s not a whole lot of other groups doing it?” So that played into it, but playing the kinds of music we all love certainly factors into it, too. Our guitar player [Dunne] is mainly an old-school punk kind of guy, our drummer [Bakette] is more into alternative rock, I’m sort of a hip-hop guy, so we all kind of make it work into this reggae-rock style. [Bassist) Corey’s the most recent addition; he’s only been with us since about May. And [scratcher] DJ Mekadog uses all original records to create his sound — I think he’s got about 7,000 vinyl records in his basement.

Who writes the songs?

It’s mostly me and Chris, but we’ve all contributed. We try to keep the music upbeat and funky. Even though the content of some of the songs might not exactly be super cheery, we want to portray an upbeat, positive energy when we play, regardless of what’s being said [in the lyrics].

Do you mix covers into your live acts along with the original material?

We mix in some covers, but when we do we generally put original twists on them or switch things up a bit. We like to take old classic rock songs in particular and make them reggae, and mix them in with some newer songs. We do a few medleys, we do Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio” [the song based on what became known as the Kent State Massacre in 1970], we’ve mixed in with Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘n’ Night” [a hip-hop song by a Cleveland-born rapper], “Bad Boys” by Inner Circle [a song by a Jamaican reggae group that gained popularity as the theme song for the TV show Cops], and a few others.

Have you ever performed in Atlantic City?

No. We’ve been doing real well out here [in the Cleveland area], but what kind of got our interest going is that we’re breaking out regionally and we’re trying to see where the pockets of reggae rock bands are on the East Coast. Jersey does have a quite a few. We recently played the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, which was a great time. These bands who are bringing us out here [Among Criminals, Tsunami Rising, and Cheezy and the Crackers] are super cool. They know what they’re doing. They’re cross promoting, which is very cool to see.

Tsunami Rising is bassist Jeff Calhoun, drummer Tom McAteer, guitarist Dave Bakey and vocalist Drew Daniels. Cheezy & the Crackers is guitarist/vocalist Cheezy McNasty, guitarist/vocalist Randy Richardson, bassist Allbert Trionfo, drummer Tom Parker and turntablist Mike Sarkady. Le Grand Fromage is located in Gordon’s Alley between Pennsylvania and Virginia avenues, and Atlantic and Pacific avenues. Call 347-2743 for ticket information. - Atlantic City Weekly

Band of the Week: Tropidelic
The spirit of reggae-rock is a hard one to come by - especially from the depths of the Midwest - but Tropidelic, a Cleveland-based reggae-rock and funk band, breaks all the barriers to embrace this unique genre.
"Everyone in Tropidelic loves this kind of music, and in our home area, there's not a whole lot going on in the reggae respect," says Matthew Roads, vocalist for the band. "We mixed in a lot of our other influences with reggae-rock like punk, hip-hop and indie rock. We want to give people something they don't already have."
As much as Roads and his bandmates work to make their music appeal to wider and wider audiences with every show, they also want to keep their niche group happy with their innovations of the reggae-rock sound.
"We hold reggae-rock down for our region, and we take pride in this movement," he says. "We aren't just out to push our band. We hold the torch high for reggae-rock in the Midwest and out in Pennsylvania."
And coming from that area make the band's Atlantic City show, happening Saturday, Oct. 2, at Le Grande Fromage, the band's southern New Jersey debut.
"We've played The Stone Pony, but that's about it for Jersey," Roads explains. "We're all excited, and we know it's going to be great. We definitely plan to hang out around the venue and have a good time while we're in Atlantic City."
It's not just the "good-times" vibe that excites Tropidelic about visiting the area, but it's also the stellar acts that have invited them to join in on this upcoming show.
"These Jersey bands are so great," Roads says. "Our band is starting to branch out, regionally, and we are always interested in bands that are doing well with the genre. We love promoting each other. Tsunami Rising and Cheezy and The Crackers have been really cool."
What To Expect: "Southern New Jersey can expect a whole lot of energy and whole lot of presence," Roads begins. "It's more than just a listening experience; we're very high energy. We interact with the crowd, and we mingle all night with our fans."
Originals: Tropidelic has three EPs under its belt, and a fourth on the way. "Our next release should be out in the spring, and it's called 'The Working Class Phoenix,'" Roads says. "We're on iTunes, CDBaby.com, and you can buy our albums at the shows."
Roster: Matthew Roads, vocals; Jasen Baskette, drums; Chris Dune, guitar; Corey Harper, bass.
Influences: "The obvious ones are Sublime and 311," Roads says. "It's almost clich? at this point to compare ourselves to them, and I think we are bringing more to the music at this point." Roads also lists Pepper and George Clinton as major influences for the band.
History: "Our current lineup has been around about a year-and-a-half now," Roads says. "Before that, it all started with me and my college buddies. Once everyone moved on, I knew this was my passion, so I found the new lineup. The band originated back in 2006, but the members we have now are so serious about the music and professional. We all want to make it a career; before that it was all just fun and games."
Claim To Fame: "We've had a real busy year," Roads says. "We've played with 311 this summer, and we've done a lot of festivals. In the past, we've played with other big artists like O.A.R. and George Clinton, but what we really take pride in is being ourselves and moving this music forward."
Go See Them: Catch Tropidelic 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Le Grand Fromage, 25 Gordons Alley, Atlantic City. Admission is $7 per person, and all guests must be 18-years-old or more. Call 609-347-2743. - Press of Atlantic City

Reggae, rock and hip-hop may not be the typical genre mix of a band from Northeast Ohio, but Tropidelic is doing it well. A band that started out as roommates at Kent State University is now showing everyone that this warm weather music can bring joy everywhere.

With only one member from the original group, front man Roads, the band has taken a new look while sticking to the original vibe. “Music is more than a hobby to me” Roads tells me about why the group had added new faces. The band which had grown out of Kent kids changed after original members had moved on.

“We have a grittier edge now. There is a punk and metal background with the new members.”

Covering so many types and styles of music might seem hard but when a band is made up of so many diverse individuals the sound that comes from them is simply great. Their obvious influences are Sublime and 311 but they stretch to other genres. Roads says, “For me, Atmosphere is a big influence, along with The Junior Boys, and RJD2.”

One of the great things about this band is that they are a group of young musicians from the Midwest playing surfer music. The band’s style is so different than most of the other local bands. “There is nothing like that going on out here,” Roads says. This style draws people in; from the partiers to the casual music listener who likes upbeat music.

Tropidelic recently opened at the House of Blues in Cleveland for Badfish, a Sublime cover band. Badfish is a pretty big name and to open for them is a big step in the band’s development. “It’s pretty cool. It’s always great to play with them.” They will be opening for them again in Pittsburgh at Mr. Smalls April 11th.

This summer, Tropidelic will be busy with concerts around Ohio and getting the nod on some festival bills at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. They will be playing at the Sublime weekend festival which has Badfish headlining as well as another local favorite, Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band. The second festival they are playing is the Midwest Reggae Festival, which usually features big names in the Reggae industry. Playing at Nelson Ledges is one place that the band loves to play. “The crowd there is so respondive,” Roads says, “You just walk around there and its like ‘Hey, its Tropedlic!’”

The band is making strides to become something big and with the intensity they play and the drive they have this band should be making noise soon all over the country.

Tropidelic has two upcoming shows you should not miss. April 9th they will be playing The Robin Hood in Kent and April 19th they will be at The Grog Shop with Big D and The Kids Table.

Anthony Cirincione - Buzzbin Magazine

Tropidelic's self-proclaimed mission is simple: Bring the sunshine to the gray Ohio skyline.

Mission accomplished.

The band's Tree City Exodus EP is a more refined version of their high-energy, funky reggae-rock-rap. It is a quick, sunny listen that is sure to widen its fan base.

Tropidelic is Kent's own. Any fan of Sublime-esque music with a hip-hop flair should be proud.

The fact that the band spent six months recording the album is apparent. When I saw the band at their favorite venue, the Robin Hood, I danced. And danced. And danced. I couldn't understand the lyrics, nor pick apart the individual instruments; but I knew it was good, happy music. With this album, I can dance and respect the music more.

They still have some progression to make before completely matching their 311, Sublime, Atmosphere and Red Hot Chili Peppers comparisons.

Still, Tropidelic is a local band that one can see going places. Perhaps to the sandy beaches that their music speaks of?

The EP opens with a 30-second intro with guitar and drums catching the beat the background. The music slowly picks up and blends in with the second track, "Crest of the Wave," that has energetic drums and a 311-sounding guitaring of Chevontez.

The vocalist's, Roads, voice is gruff as he sings of catching a ride on a wave.

Guzba's bass is bouncy as "Aquafire" begins. The bounciness continues, and it is almost impossible to not bob your head or tap your foot to the upbeat beat. Interesting qualities of the song, like turn-tables, squealing guitar and a more muted singing, make it one of the best tracks on the EP.

After the feel-good energy pumps, they throw a beautiful stringing at the beginning of the fourth track, "War Cry." Of course (this is Tropidelic we are speaking of), the song picks up with some quick rapping. The song is a social critique and adds depth to the sunny album.

The fifth track, "South Water Dub," is closest to the ska-esque music they are famous for. Tropidelic really nailed this song. In its simpleness, all the instruments blend together into a perfectly happy beach song. The vocals are not as hoarse as the other tracks. Even though "Aquafire" is the single, much potential is wrapped into this four-minute song.

The longest track, "Constant Light Tunnel," starts off slow and pretty. It speaks of stars being scattered, anger getting the best of a person and letting the past be the past.

Listening to Tree City Exodus EP almost seems inappropriate in Ohio, a land of no surf boards. But I guess that's why Tropidelic is Tropidelic: to bring some sunshine to Kent. Lucky us.



http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2008/05/01/Entertainment/Tropidelic.Readies.To.Release.Studio.Debut-3359734.shtml - Daily Kent Stater

Decades ago, Kent State was a melting pot of genuine musical talent, stirred by political unrest and social change that created not only a popular music scene, but a voice and identity for Kent itself.

In recent years, this talent has been put on the back burner, forgotten about by students, left cold under dreary northeastern skies.

But seasons change, and a diverse assortment of bands such as Tropidelic, Winslow, Amplexus, The Speedbumps, NJ's and the Jeff, Lotus Groove, Drop to Zero and others have turned the heat back up on the local music scene.

Tropidelic lead singer Matthew "Roads" Andrle said this is the first time in a decade or two that Kent has had such an atmosphere.

"I really think we're seeing a renaissance in Kent," he said. "And this is just the beginning."....... - Daily Kent Stater

Swirling together Dub, Ska and Reggae into a dynamic, energetic mix that is also heavy on Modern Rock, Hip Hop and Funk, Tropidelic comes across like the ultimate party band. But there's a bit more depth going on in Tropidelic's groove, thanks in part to the sophisticated playing of the musicians and the additives served up on the turntables by DJ Mekadog.
Dig: Gym Class Heroes visits Jamaica and throws one hell of a party. - MPMF

Tropidelic is from chilly Cleveland, but as the band’s name implies, this crew traffics in warm, groove-heavy sounds.

The group — Roads (vocals), Chris (guitar, backing vocals), J$ (drums), B. Flapjacks (bass) and DJ Mekadog (turntables) — mixes reggae-rock and ska-punk with hip-hop and dub to come up with a unique danceable sound. The results seem ready made for summertime, but it’s also the kind of aural concoction that can transport listeners to a warmer mental climate during the long, cold winter.

Roads took time out recently to discuss the prime directive of Tropidelic, which performs at Peach’s Grill on Friday, Jan. 8.

Q: You added a new guitarist, drummer and bass player into the band in the spring. What was it like trying to find a new crew of guys?

A: It was not easy. It took me a good six months of advertising on the Internet looking for serious guys. We auditioned a bunch of guys and for one reason or another it didn’t work out and then I finally came across this group.

Q: What was your biggest concern in assimilating the new players?

A: I knew I wanted to keep the name and the style of music and maintain as many of the fans we have as possible. I wanted to make it seamless going in with new members. You can only do that so much. We’re obviously still reggae-rock, and we’re still doing the same kind of thing, but it has a little more of a harder edge now.”

Q: What was the prime directive once you got the new crew together?

A: We’re all vets of the game. We all come from past groups and some of us have had some pretty successful experiences in music, but we all knew it was going to be a good solid year before we could start making some serious headway. It’s about a year later now, and we’re just getting to that point. The idea was just to do it right. We built the set, got the recording going and started branching out regionally.

Q: How has Tropidelic changed?

A: For a long time our goal was to bring this positive vibe to the Ohio sky. Now it’s got a little harder edge. I’m in the inner city getting my window smashed out, so it’s hard to play positive reggae all the time. We definitely keep that positive vibe in it, but we bring a little realism in as well.

Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.

How to go

Who: Tropidelic

Where: Peach’s Grill, 104 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs

When: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8

Cost: $5

For more information: (937) 767-4850 or www.peachsgrill.com

Artist information: www.myspace.com/tropidelic

http://www.daytondailynews.com/entertainment/music/tropidelic-brings-warmth-to-winter-482269.html - Dayton Daily News

Taking a page out of Sublime's book of ska/rock/hip-hop, Tropidelic gets the party started and then some on this energetic EP. The disc kicks off with "Psycho," a tune that vacillates between wild guitar solos and deft turntable scratches, as singer Matthew Roads raps about a self-destructive paranoia. "Anthem" has a good dub vibe, and "Cleveland Stylee" offers a vibrant mix of old-school hip-hop and ska. Tropidelic are competent at mimicking 311/Sugar Ray/Sublime. The real question is whether they can move this outdated sound forward. — Niesel

Tropidelic perform with Badfish, Scotty Don't and Full Service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, at House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583, houseofblues.com). Tickets: $15 advance, $18 day of show.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/local-cd-reviews/Content?oid=1841567 - Cleveland Scene Magazine

A s another blustery day comes
to light in the chilly streets of
Cleveland, you turn on the radio to
hear the same song you heard
yesterday. The snow falls and the
lake is frozen but one band is
breaking the ice and catching the
biggest wave they can as it rolls
into the Erie shore. Voted 2009’s
Best Area Band by Fox 8,
Tropidelic is a fun-loving group
of Reggae-Rockers who plan to
change the way you think about
music. Combining Hip-hop,
Funk, Modern Rock and Ska
(Caribbean calypso/American
Jazz), how could you refuse this
recipe for a new-age delight?
You may have seen them on the
Warped Tour or caught them performing with
such acts as OAR, Badfish and even
Afroman. You may have heard them on 96.5
KISS or 92.3 WKRK. Either way,
Tropidelic’s new EP will allow you to catch
the tide and take a ride from the 216 to the
440.
This five man band knows how to
hit all the right sounds in the spectrum.
Roads leads the show with his lyricism
which can be considered, oddly enough, laid
back and energetic at the same time. DJ
Mekadog spins the tables while remixing the
lyrics and cutting in some interesting sounds
bytes. J$ serves up the perfect upbeat drum
patterns that mirror Roads’ style while
Bradford (bass) and Chris (guitar) bring in
the tropical tones and vibes that really give
this band it’s character. Their groove is
unique and original, helping to fight off gray
skies with colorful sounds.
Having a chance to listen to the EP,
Erie Vibes & Irie Tides , I really got to see the
diversity behind their music. As the first
track, Psycho, kicks off you can catch Roads
riding the quick drum beats with the ability
to sing and rap as well as solos
on the guitar and tables
to
help introduce Tropidelic.
Songs like Cash (Boom Boom) and Incubo
deliver energy in large amounts that keep
your head bobbin’ while the cut, Steel Ride,
seems to put you on a nighttime cruise down
I-90 through the suburbs of The Land. But I
believe their hit, Cleveland Stylee, is the
band’s biggest achievement, putting you in
the perfect mindset to ignore the icy cold. As
the songs closes, Roads chants “Erie Vibes
and Irie Tides, we’re just trying to stay
alive.” I couldn’t have said it any better
myself.
If you were wondering, Irie is a
Jamaican term that translates to “Being at an
inner peace with yourself and/or with the
world i.e. having no worries.” I think
Tropidelic has found themselves and should
be very happy with the innovation they bring
to the table. As far as worries go, Spring is
on the way and Tropidelic has a great EP for
you to play, so get Irie! You can see
Tropidelic for yourself on Feb 23 @ House Of Blues - By Austin Stouder North Coast Voice Magazine - North Coast Voice Magazine

If Bob Marley could've La-Di-Da-Di'd like Slick Rick he would have been perfect to open for Tropidelic. One listener might go skateboarding down the shore way, another might be drinking in a bar while someone else might be sitting in rush hour traffic. They all will enjoy this music along with the umpteen chicks that show up at Tropidelic shows. Because of this, Tropidelic is our one of our favorite bands that reps Northeast Ohio with pride. And the new album is worthy of representation. The songs that shout "Let's have fun and party" are basically what the band is all about. Forget aggression or angry metal - it's about having a good time. And girlies, lots and lots of girlies. Obviously influenced by Sublime these guys hit the waves and ride them back to shore in each tune. Guys with names like DJ Mekadog and Roads would make Bradley Nowell proud. We're proud too and when Tropidelic is around we're ready to party.

-Anthony Cirincione

http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/news/1765 - Buzzbin Magazine