The 808 Band

Bio:

View The 808 Band's EPK 808 Music announces the release of the new album from The 808 Band with Robert Herrera, “Natural Selection.” A solid sound-scape of reggae, soul and break-laced grooves, “Natural Selection” features the heartfelt harmonies of Santa Rosa-soul crooner, Robert Herrera, teamed up with the versatile reggae, hip hop and soul instrumental group, The 808 Band. In stores June 23, 2009. “Natural Selection” features Robert Herrera’s soulful songs, a vocal cameo from Deuce Eclipse, and mixing by Bicasso of indie hip-hop super group, Living Legends. The 808 Band is Gabriel “Big G” McDowell (drums), Josh Barrett (bass), Eric “E-Dogg” Sajovic, Daniel Savio (keyboards). The album was recorded at Coyote Creek studios in Sebastopol, CA and The House in Santa Rosa, CA and mixed at The House and at the Eastside Cultural Center in Oakland, CA. It was mixed by Bicasso and produced by Gabriel “Big G” McDowell. “ The album’s called “Natural Selection” because it arose from a chance meeting of musical minds in Sonoma County. 808 Music will be hosting two Sonoma County release parties; Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Russian River Brewing Co, and Friday August 7, 2009 at Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol. For more information, please visit www.808music.com, myspace.com/robertherrera, myspace.com/808eternal THE STORY It all started back in 1994 in Arcata, Humboldt County, CA. Drummer, Gabriel “Big G” McDowell and Robert Herrera were in the pioneering live hip hop band, Critical Measures, featuring Bicasso on mic and turntables, along with Robert Herrera on guitar, bassist Matt Robinson (now of West Coast jam band vets Wasabi), Clinton “Bar” McKinnon of Mr. Bungle on tenor sax and jazz-guitarist Isaac Vanderveer. The Group’s 1995 EP “Hip Hop Heritage,” also featured Mr. Bungle Baritone Saxophonist Theo Lengyel. Fast forward a decade later, Big G is promoting club events in the Bay Area, while djing at top venues like Club Six, Milk, Poleng, 111 Minna, Elbo Room, The Oasis… A chance move from to Sonoma County ushers in the new era for The 808 Band, when Big G found him self relocated to his wife’s child hood home in Sebastopol with their toddler son. Meanwhile, Robert Herrera had built up a solid reputation and hearty song catalog as a solo performer, performing throughout Sonoma County- a modern day griot with a honey laced voice and strumming skills that would make Richie Havens proud! It was his up-tempo mix of reggae and soul that would provide the perfect compliment to drummer, Big G’s live break beat sound, and the collaboration of The 808 Band and Robert Herrera was born. The duo performed around town, with weekly gigs at Jasper O’Ferrall’s and the 505 Club, and others around town. Gradually, musicians would come and sit in, and a fresh, free form approach to music emerged, with new songs being created on the spot. Fueled by the relentless ‘808 bump’ and funky breaks provided by Big G and Robert Herrera’s optimistic guitar plucking and silky vocals, the group grew to include a guitarist Eric “E-Dogg” Sajovic, and bassist Josh Barrett, along with the latest edition, keyboardist Daniel Savio, who also played in popular Sonoma County jam/dance band Plum Crazy. Since then The 808 Band with Robert Herrera has performed throughout Sonoma County including the Mystic Theater, Jasper O’Ferrall’s, Hopmonk Tavern, 505 Club, Russian River Brewing Co, Sebastopol Brewery, Last Day Saloon, The Sweetspot, Stout Brothers, as well as many Bay Area venues, such as The Elbo Room, Club Six, Milk, Poleng Lounge, Mingles, Blake’s, La Pena, VooDoo Lounge, Spy Club, 111 Minna. For more information, please visit www.808music.com, myspace.com/robertherrera, myspace.com/808eternal ABOUT THE 808 BAND The 808 Band is a collective of the area's dopest musicians that backs independent artists and performs original break-based compositions. The name "808" comes from the legendary Roland TR808 drum machine, used in countless Hip Hop songs throughout history. Big G plays a custom drum kit built by the African American Drum Company, designed to sonically mimic the famed Roland TR808 Drum machine, creating the bumping bass that has been a fixture in Hip Hop since the genesis. With a special technique, Big G is able to create this sound 100% natural, playing "the world's only acoustic 808 drum." Bubblin up from mid-90's Oakland, Cali, The 808 Band began with Big G performing on drums with The Living Legends Crew, consisting of Mystik Journeymen, MURS, The Grouch, Eligh, Bicasso, Arata and Asop. The 808 Band soon expanded to the trio of Big G on drums, Jeremy Mage on Keyboards and DJ Raw B on the tables. From there, the duo of J-Mage and Big G put in work in the bay as house band at La Pena's legendary Collective Soul series, backing such artists as: Zion I, Planet Asia, Goapele, Destiny Wolf, Aya De Leon, and recording with Pep Love, The Grouch, Deuce Eclipse, Bicasso and Maya Azucena. The 808 Band has also backed Azeem, Andre Nickatina, Bicasso, Maya Azucena, Deuce Eclipse, Lost Souls. Big G is heard playing drums on SonicBloom's fresh new release "Paradigm Lift." The 808 Band can be seen (and heard) most recently backing Sonoma County's smooth, soulful crooner with a west coast reggae swing, Robert Herrera, along with Big G, guitarist Eric Sajovic and bassist Josh Barrett, and Daniel Savio on keyboards. Catch the crew at a show near you!

Member Since:

February 12, 2008

Members:

THE CORE: Gabriel "Big G" McDowell (Drums), Jeremy "J-Mage" Mage (Keyboards), Josh Barrett (Bass), Robert Herrera (Guitar/Vocal), Daniel Savio (Keyboards), Eric Sajovic (Guitar), Vandeveer (Guitar), Bryan "Moose' McFaddin (Bass), Dublin (Vocal). AFFILIATED: Maya Azucena, Bicasso, The Grouch, DJ Raw B, Adam Theis, Joe Cohen, Toho Saunders, Deuce Eclipse.

Influences:

James Brown, Elvin Jones, Studio One, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Run DMC, Dr. Dre, Sly and Robbie, Roots Radics, John Bonham, 809 Band, NWA, Dennis Brown, Sublime, A Tribe Called Quest, Living Legends, Hieroglyphics, Too Short, Mac Mall, Burning Spear, Beastie Boys, Ice T, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, De La Soul, Cypress Hill, Ghetto Boys, The Pioneers, Leroy Sibbles, U Roy, Big Youth, Lee Perry, Buju Banton, Maceo Parker, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Al Green, Barry White, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, P-Funk, Luther Vandross, Tupac, Biggie, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Ziggy Marley, KRS ONE, Scott La-Rock, Mantronix, Luke, Easy E, Devo, Art of Noise, Kraftwerk, Mary J Blige, Primo, Ali Shaheed, Dilla, Frosty Brown

Sounds Like:

The 808 Band

Record Label:

808 Music