Originally out of San Antonio, Tx, the Echo Squad has existed in one form or another since late '98 early '99. Although their members seem to change from show to show, their sound has become a rock around which the local ska scene shifts. As other bands come and go, they always remain, standing strong. When they first started the local scene had pretty much died. Their first few years were played in small bars by themselves, cause no club would book ska anymore and there weren't any other bands to play with. As MTv put it, " Ska is Dead!". Determined to prove them wrong, the Echo Squad pushed their way in, knocking down doors for all the newer bands to come. With sheer determination and filled with a true love for the style of music they play, they survived and thrived, building a scene in a city where one no longer existed.In 2003 they won Best Ska/ Reggae Band in San Antonio in Edge Magazine's "Best Of" Reader's Poll. They won 3rd place the following year. Since 2004, they've been helping to represent Texas Ska and Reggae out of Austin, as well as keeping their roots in San Antonio. Different members live in both cities and come together for shows all over Texas.
In their time together they have gone through up to 20 different members, while still keeping their "Original Sound". A sound which comes from there many influences in and out of ska and reggae music. Depending on what song they're playing, they will go from a "Traditional" Ska sound all the way through "Two-tone" and "Third-Wave", always coming back to a more "Roots/Reggae" influenced style. Add dancehall, dub, rock, punk, jazz, blues, a little hip-hop and swing, and you have the beginning of their sound.
In 2003, after many years of requests to purchase something from them, they released the first of 3 live cd's called "Live at the Lounge". Audio was taken from a handheld camera and wasn't that great, but it sold/gave away more than 300 copies and introduced a larger audience to their unique style. Later that same year they were asked to play live on the local college radio station, 90.1 fm KSYM in San Antonio, and "Live on KSYM" was recorded. Once again, more than 600 cd's were sold/given away over the next few years. After their move to Austin in 2004 and a few new songs written, they recorded live again at the Ruta Maya World HQ and "Live at the Ruta Maya" was born. It, like it's 2 predecessors, sold/gave away more than 700 copies. In late 2007, after a little over a year in the studio, they released their first 9 song studio cd, "the Original Sound" on their own record label, Squadroom Records. It's at about 200 copies sold since the Cd release in August of '07 and climbing. Echo Squad plans to be back with a new 14-16 song cd before the end of 2008, so keep on the look out!!
In their time together, the Echo Squad has been honored and lucky enough to open for such great bands as the Slackers, Rx Bandits, the Aggrolites, Big D and the Kids Table, MU330, Mustard Plug, Voodoo Glow Skulls, I Voted 4 Kodos, 33 West, Shakedown, Allister, Tsunami Bomb, No Motiv, Maxeen, the Dead Pets, the Independents, the Culprits, Liquid Cheese, BPM, 6 Pack Deep, One Night Band, the Expos, the Eyeliners, Dynamite Boy, Cruiserweight and many other great local and national acts.
They live for their live shows, and the fans who come out to see them. Please help them spread their name and music, and thanks for your support!!!!! SEE YOU AT THE SHOWS!!!!!
