Mento, Calypso, Americana, Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady, Blues, Country
What the press is saying about RokkaTone:
"Songwriting is up to the task creating smooth, intoxicating melodies and the same kind of simple romantic lyrics old ska was known for. The musicianship wisely lets the songwriting take the lead and does not stand in the way by doing unnecessary things. I don’t think these guys are trying too hard to please the purists, but if any kind of ska is your thing, these guys are for you." - Austin Daze
"Natürlich wird die Musik von Rokkatone wohl keinen Nighter mit Dance Smashern anheizen, dafür sind die rootsigen Sounds natürlich viel zu emotional, sanft und vor allem alles andere als treibend-tanzbar." - Allska.de
"RokkaTone's 13 originals boast an ease with the form straight out of Studio One." - Austin Chronicle
Sounds Like
Lord Flea, Mighty Sparrow, Bob Dylan, Laurel Aitken, The Wailers, Desmond Dekker, Neil Diamond, and Patsy Cline together at last.
RokkaTone is acoustic roots rocksteady. It's the R&B pulse reminiscent of the 1960's Wailers, the straight-ahead acoustic blues like 'Exile on Main Street,' and the folk songwriting tradition of Greenwich Village. It's five young Austin musicians setting aside their separate "steady" gigs -- reggae, alternative, bebop, and country bands -- and wielding instruments you'd find in a Jamaican street band: steel drum, melodica (a hand-held keyboard), acoustic guitar, upright bass, trombone, hand percussion, and a sparse drum set that includes three soup cans strapped to the piccolo snare drum.
Born in 2002 in a coffeehouse in South Austin, RokkaTone has built a dedicated audience through monthly shows at Flipnotic's Coffee House, showcases at rock clubs like Emo's and reggae/world music venues like The Flamingo Cantina, and various private events and benefits. RokkaTone's sound is as vogue-retro as the well-worn snap-button shirts hanging in Austin's vintage clothing shops. It's a befitting tip of the hat to the pioneers of Jamaican and American roots music, detailed with the band's own modern stamp. RokkaTone is acoustic roots -- a young band with an old soul.
If art is communication and craft the means, these songs are both.
- Victor Rice on "In This Life"
Hailed by The Austin Chronicle as one of the "local bands that won't stay under the radar much longer," (Christopher Gray vol.23 no.18) RokkaTone is surely on the move. Their debut LP "In This Life" was released nationally and internationally in 2006 on Ska In The World (Japan) and Grover (Europe and the United States). Be sure to visit www.rokkatone.com for more information.
The Slackers on tour! Check out the slackers on tour for their new cd, "Lost & Found" available through www.interpunk.com and downloadable at www.whatevski.org
Dec 3 - San Antonio - White Rabbit Dec 4/5 - Austin - Flamingo Dec 6 - Houston - Meridian Dec 8 - New Orleans - one eyed jacks Dec 9 - Tallahasee - Engine Room Dec 10 - Tampa - Crowbar Dec 11 - Miami - Churhills Dec 12 - Orlando - The Social Dec 18/19 - Brooklyn, NY - - Knitting Factory Dec 20 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
Hola ROKKATONE, grazie per l'ADD e tanti auguri a tutti per i 25 anni di SKA IN ITALIA. Sarà un 2008 tutto da festeggiare. SKA PROUD A MANETTA! Finiremo nel tuo TOP? Baci SKANDI
