Vocals — Magnus (“they call me Magnus”). Lives and breathes ska. Not only does he sing up a storm but he also has stage charisma. Support from 4 others in the band gives us lots of full vocals.
Our rhythm section—Graeme Fox (drums) keeps us grooving and skanking, Sid Hennessy on thumping bass, Mark Endersby with perfect ska rhythms and Paul Alexander on soulful Hammond and Rhodes pianos.
The horn section—Mark III, a sax machine, “BB” Mann on trom and Desman (trumpet). These are seriously great players and help make our band very different from all the rest.
The DJ—In the true tradition of Ska bands, we always travel with our DJ, Alpha T. Alpha has become one of this town’s top Ska DJs.
Influences
SKA
Reggae
In particular - Specials, Madness, Prince Buster, Skatellites
Sounds Like
Old school Ska mixed with Two Tone. Add in Australian influence and lots of originals
From the start, we wanted to capture the energy and heat of Jamaica and the fantastic Two Tone bands of the UK. Influenced by the bands Madness and The Specials, Special Brew played its first gig on Black Friday 1989 at the notorious Perth pub 'The old Melbourne'. In the next 14 years the band has played almost all the in pubs around town — 'Club Blue Beat' , Willoughbys, The Melbourne, the Underground, the Ozone Bar, the Shenton Park Hotel. Many of these great places have changed or gone, but for those that were there, the memories remain.
With a massive 8-piece line up the band plays a hectic schedule at Perth’s best spots — The Norfolk Hotel, the Bog, the Orient, the Newport, the Indie, Clancys, the UWA Tavern, the Civic, the Seaview, Elephant & Wheelbarrow and the Funk Club — and at reggae and ska festivals like the Bob Marley “Outernational”, RTR’s “Big Party, the Margaret River Reggae Festival & loads more.
Not to mention our new CD, selling like gangbusters since its release in Nov 06.
heya boys! long time no see!!!! dammit- i think it's time i got you to send me a txt message the week or 2 b4 you guys have a gig or i'm gonna miss all of them! ask cookie for my number- or just get him to txt me.... miss you all!!!!! hope the new year is going well for you. see you soon, Luv Loz
howdy to yas all! absolutely wicked gig on saturday night. really enjoyed it.... sorry if my mouth ran away with me a bit over dinner... one liners or comebacks i just never think thru before i speak (it must be DNA!).... but you kno i luv youse all! Anywho, played a couple of your songs tonight on my radio show. need some new material tho! hurry up!!!! :) anywho, speak to you soon. Luv Loz
Hey guys will be down on sat nite but im afraid this will be my last gig with you guys as im going back to the UK il bring the Vespa down with me and maybe get some pics around it and stuff but il c u Saturday nite guys
heya kiddies!! i'm still in the jolly ol' uk at the moment, wont be back til end of november- but i have ure stuff on my iPod, which is keeping me tided over til i get back. ... other than that, having 'brew' withdrawls from not catching up with you at gigs!! lol. keep me posted on what's up, luv Loz xox
HUGE NEWS 420 FANS!!! 2007 AMERICAN MARIJUANA MUSIC AWARDS CONCERT 13 OCTOBER 2007, MCCARREN POOL BROOKLYN!
AMMA WINNERS ANNOUNCED PLUS LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM PATO BANTON, MARLON ASHER, HERBAL NATION, MUCK STICKY, THE INDIVIDUALS, T.H.C- TRUE HIGH CLASS, RICH HARDESTY, BAZIALINI, SUPERDUDE AND MORE! HOSTED BY PAUL BULLOCK, DR JAY 420 AND SAVANNAH 420 - IT'S A 420 FESTIVAL!!!
ALL POT HEAD, BUDDA SMOKING, 420 LOVERS WHO LIKE GREAT MUSIC - THIS IS A DAY TO REMEMBER!!!
