If you love roots or reggae music, then you probably have your favorite reggae band or performer like the iconic Bob Marley. It always feels good to experience a live performance of a renowned band with very talented members. We all want to know more about our favorite bands or musicians.
That is why we would like to help reggae or roots lovers learn more about the cracker Kiwi Salmonella Dub band. This is a Reggae/Roots /Dub band from Kaikoura, New Zealand. Starting out in 1993, the band gradually but confidently became a real icon in New Zealand music.
As reggae, roots and dub music grows quickly over the years in New Zealand, Salmonella Dub can be regarded a significant influence on the following wave of bands.
Quick Start Guide:
The band was formed 25 years ago. But over time there has been lineup changes with some members joining the band and others leaving. The group now consists of five full-time members with a flurry of part-time contributors. The band’s instruments range from the standard guitar, keyboards, and drums to trombone, trumpet, and sax.
The band’s sound can be described as a hybrid of skankin roots-reggae, low-rolling dub bass lines along with drum n bass breaks with the Pacific flava.
Salmonella Dub’s shows are always full-noise, energetic, at times spiritual affairs, but they’re certain to provide their audience something new or unique. The group has toured widely throughout Australia, Europe, and New Zealand, including the Ireland and the United Kingdom where they have heaps of fans.
Salmonella Dub is a celebrated long-running drum n bass/dub/roots/reggae band from Christchurch, New Zealand. Mark Tyler, David Deakins, and Andrew Penman (all of whom were members of a band known as Golf Course Alligators) formed the band in 1992. They played their debut gig in January 1993 at Westport racecourse.
Their sound has integrated elements of classical, hip-hop, rock, drum’n’bass, and the traditional Pacific island music styles.
The ‘Dubbies’ have rightfully been named the originators and pioneers of a unique Pacific style of drum n’ bass/dub/reggae/groove-based rock and hip hop, along with other seminal 90s bands such as Unitone HiFi, Hallelujah Picassos, Nemesis Dub Systems and to some extent, Supergroove.
The band has issued many acclaimed, best-selling albums in their native country -two of them have topped the charts – and they’ve been influential in the entire Pacific Island music scene, promoting the growth of similar genre fusions.
Salmonella Dub’s music always has a hopeful and positive tone, even as it sometimes drifts off into dub experimentation or ambient space. Also, they are not afraid to indulge in their lively, mischievous character; their name originates from their penchant for “bad taste” cover editions of oldies and creative tunes during their early live gigs.
The band experimented with the simple, homespun sampling effects and techniques instead of a proper recording studio. They started playing gigs in early 1993 and were joined by Conan Wilcox (saxophone, percussion) and Peter Wood (trumpet, keyboard) for the release of their self-titled first album, released by Penman’s Curious Recordings in 1994.
This lineup didn’t change for their first three independent recordings and releases. The group toured New Zealand frequently and teamed up to perform with African Headcharge, Mad Professor, Infectious Grooves and Alex Patterson among others.
A mini-album of the live recordings, Dub for Straights, followed shortly, as did the 1995 EP Dub Tom Foolery. The band worked with the British producer David Harrow (Technova) on the remix EP THC Winter that was released in 1996.
Wood then exited the group, and the band’s live engineer, Tiki Taane, coming on board as a full-fledged member, contributing acoustic guitar and vocals. Full-length album Calming of the Drunken Monkey, covering the production by Tiki Taane and Harrow, was issued in 1997. The band signed a distribution deal with the Virgin and started touring overseas, including regular trips throughout the United Kingdom and the Europe.
During the time of THC Winter release, Pete Wood departed the group to move to Auckland, and their sound engineer David Wernham quitted to work with Shihad. Tiki Taane was the final member to join the group and was fast to learn the Dub ethic stretching the mixing desk further into the realms of various musical instruments. After creating a profile with the group, Taane embarked on a solo music career in 2007.
Career Highlights:
Acts such as Shapeshifter, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Cornerstone Roots, Trinity Roots, and Kora, as well as the new wave of Australian acts such as Rastawookie, Budspells, Red Eyes, King Tide, and others, can all acknowledge Salmonella Dub’s efforts for setting new ground, in an Australasian alternative music scene that was dominated through most of the 90s by electronic dance music, and straight guitar rock.
For several years the group has been linked to the small North Canterbury town of Kaikoura, where they’ve their studio, and where they assisted in establishing the Kaikoura Roots Festival.
The band worked for some time with the MC Tiki Taane, who started mixing their live sets in 1996 and later joined the group onstage to play guitar, sing, and even rap.
Also notable in 2007 was the departure of the saxophone player Conan Wilcox, the author of the dubs horn lines to that point. Other collaborative artists or guest have included Pitch Black’s Paddy Free who produced the latest album release Freak Controller and performed with the group, and guests Hirini Melbourne, Whirimako Black, MC Mana, and Richard Nunns.
The group has also joined forces with the New Zealand Hamish McKietch and Symphony Orchestra. Recent touring backup includes Antsmif, Peter Wood, Steve Jarden (lighting), and Jason Young (audio); guest performers include Paul Buchanan (the Mighty Asterix).
The band released the track: Same Home Town” in 2013 in honor of their twentieth birthday. The song was dedicated to the Dux de Lux, the early Christchurch venue for the group.
Present Status:
The band is touring (when we checked July 2017) so watch out for their gigs.
