Chris “Limey” Welsh is the band’s cultural historian, born and raised in Brighton, South London, England. He was sixteen when ska came through “town” the last time. He lived in Brixton, the largest Jamaican community off the island itself, between the riots of ’81 and ’82, sponging Jamaican culture, as well as the mod and ska movements of both the sixties and the eighties. And at 5 foot 20 inches, it’s a good thing he ducks as he shuffles and shimmies on stage. His songs reflect the historical perspective of the ‘rudies’, ‘riots’, and other such social ills so prominent in this genre’s content.
Jeffrey Haycock is one happy frontman. An ex-original member of Boulder’s own Acoustic Junction from ’89 through ’92, one of our main songwriters and resident Elvis (the angry one) fanatic. His songs mix social commentary with an optimism that broadens the spectrum of this band’s lyrical conscience.
Scott “Skoob” Wilson is just a frustrated horn player blowing lines through his Telecaster. He performed as a solo singer, songwriter with main stage performances at The Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the RMMA MusicFest, and the ’94 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. He’s the sole family man of the group, and his songs about babies, love, and war-wounds of the soul fill out the lyrical spectrum of this band’s content.
Evan Eisentrager has been a hand drummer and percussionist with The Samples in ’88 and ’89, the original percussionist for Acoustic Junction from ’89 through ’91, and the hand percussionist for African dancer and teacher Wyoma for the past six years. A solid, seasoned, but incredibly fresh perspective makes him the band’s cornerstone, both in sound and in sanity. He also provides lyrics that sting and bite at this country’s political bolemia.
Drew Keene has been a horn player for decades - a seed that falls off the tree of the Denver Symphony Orchestra’s French Horn blower - there’s nothing Drew loves more than a good marching band. If he’s not regurgitating ‘core hip-hop, rap and other lyrical smack, he’s playin’ his horn like he drives his North African rally race ‘El Saab #1.’
Grant “Grande” Rieder is weird, wild, wacky stuff. Slav-rish-sudameri-moor-ican - he dips his keys in all seven seas. Ex of the punk/folk trio Three Fisted Lullaby, he has how many songs? 800? He joined the band in its fifth month, and while filling out the horn section with thoughtful harmonies and left-brain rhythms, he also adds vocals and other cacophonous expulsions.