The Suspects broke up in August, 2002, played reunion shows in January and December 2007, but are now back. For real.
The Suspects formed in Houston in early 1993 and played their first show in October of the same year. Multiracial and multicultural, The Suspects quickly became the top ska/reggae band for the high school and college crowd in the greater Houston area. The first seven-inch single was recorded in 1994 at Austin's Sweatbox Studio, and was quickly followed by a debut CD recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston.
Only a month or two after the release of their first CD, lead vocalist Chris Kendrick (now fronting Houston's Igents) chose to leave the group. Tomas Escalante joined and stayed through the life of the band. Moving from a black skinhead rudeboy with a punk rock pedigree to somebody who looked like a frat-boy record store clerk in the vocalist position caused the band to lose a lot of fans, but Tomas's superior vocal abilities won over just as many.
Over the next six years The Suspects did everything a band should: they won "Song Of The Year", "Best Ska/Reggae Band", and "Best Horn Section" awards from the local music papers. They toured up the mid-west (hello, Wausau, WI!), played with all the touring bands that came to Houston, and recorded a small handful of Cd's that all most nobody listened to.
In 2002, with interest in ska music having faded (both with the public and inside the band), The Suspects played their last show with their good friends Middlefinger at their unofficial home, Fitzgeralds.
Things are different now. People and attitudes change, but the music can/will stick around forever; why not jump up on stage and play that music? See you at the show!
The Suspects - A Houston Ska Band's Friend Space (Top 12)
The Suspects - A Houston Ska Band has 462 friends.
i just moved freom california to houston and the ska scene in CA is gigantic and your guys's stuff sounds really sick. PLAY IN HOUSTON! im trying to skank my ass off!
man, i'm lookin forward to seeing you guys tomorrow night. i've been a fan for yrs so it's cool to be playing on the same bill as you guys.
2 shows this weekend.
show #1 friday night, march 20, House of Blues is having a spring break reggae / ska showcase with my band IDIGINIS The SUSPECTS and DR. KING COBRA with the TEXAS DUB CRUSADERS. show is like $10.
this is IDIGINIS first real headlining show so come hang out and have some fun. come say hi if you have a chance. thanks for the support.
show #2 sat night march 21 at meridian. Martin Atkins (Invisible Records) The Queers (Asian Man Recrds) Los Skarnales SiNDADDY (feat. Members of SKREW, REVCO, Dead Horse, Deth Kultur BBQ, Skate Nigs, and more!!!!) The Hickoids! Bozo Porno Circus (Reunion Show!!) Joan Jett's newly signed artists: THE CUTE LEPERS Scorpio Rising (feat. Wunderbred & Madame Scorpio from Retarted Elf!!!!) The Trian WoodBurns (feat. Members of The Flamin' Hellcats, Simpleton and Donkey Punch!) Chant Plus special guests 2 stages!
Tickets are $12 - Show starts at 7PM free lecture at 6pm from Martin Atkins.
Blessings and respect from Houston's own conscious roots reggae act IDIGINIS. If you haven't checked us out yet, it's time to feel the irie vibes and powerful Rasta message! We got a big show tomorrow - 12/11 @ Warehouse Live with NYC's amazing DUB TRIO. We got on @ 8PM SHARP! Please come out and show some love, it would mean a lot, and please tell the box office you're there for IDIGINIS so we can represent for H-TOWN.
Thursday was awesome! Drove up from Corpus to see y'all. If you guys get the gigs goin, you have to come down here and show these Corpitos what ska is!
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