Beginning as reggae enthusiasts in the college town of Santa Barbara, Rebelution quickly grew to become a modern music success story, playing over 100 shows a year around the world, owning stages at major music festivals, and selling out renowned venues such as Red Rocks and the Santa Barbara Bowl.
The most impressive part of all this is that they’ve achieved all of this without backing from any major label. Now Australian fans will have a chance to see a truly remarkable and independent group do their thing on Aussie stages, including a very special performance alongside reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.
To celebrate their visit down under we chatted with the band’s drummer Wes Finley about some of the records that changed his life, and they’re not what you’d expect! Check the list out below and if you can’t make it to Bluesfest 2015, be sure to catch one of the band’s sideshows when they roll into your town.
Dredge – El Cielo
2002, Interscope
El Cielo was a defining album for me. Not only did it change the way I listened to the flow of an album, it painted a picture through instrumental interludes to create an epic – an experience that takes you on an audible journey.
Dredge quickly became my favorite band and their drummer my greatest influence. It ties in ideas of sleep paralysis and inspiration from Salvador Dali and was recorded at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch.
Armor for Sleep – What To Do When You Are Dead
2005, Equal Vision Records
This album really taught me what a concept album could be. It tells a story that follows a person’s death and their journey through the afterlife as they witness their loved one carry on without them.
This was released when emo was in its heyday, but don’t let that fool you. The music is very dynamic and I really like the drummer’s style. Our guitarist appreciated the guitar work on this album as well and took a couple licks from it.
Circa Survive – Juturna
2005, Equal Vision
Never have I been more amazed by a vocalist than by Anthony Green. His register is so unique that it begs attention, and the music he makes even more so. They never limit themselves and on this first full length the band really make a statement.
The drummer Stephen Clifford has a weird style unto himself as well that really brings it all together.
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
2010, Reprise
Diamond Eyes is the first album following the loss of their bassist Chi Cheng to an auto accident. To me this album culminates all of their hard work up to this point – it is a clean, veteran, heavy sound that they arrived at after many years as a band.
Vocalist Chino Moreno massages the listener with his melodic lines tied in with screaming exclamations at the right moments, while drummer Abe Cunningham manages to lay down the heaviest grooves imaginable. This album showed me a side of metal I didn’t know was possible.
Radiohead – In Rainbows
2007, Independent
Although OK Computer was their first work to grasp me, this album came to me at the right time in my life.
We toured Europe extensively for the first time and this was my soundtrack, both melancholy and uplifting. We had also toured with a great hip-hop group called Zion I whose deejay Amp Live remixed the album which I love to play alongside the original version.
Thrice – The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV
2008, Vagrant
Following this band is a lesson in maturation. From their starting days as a punk band to this release as a four part epic, the band has really stretched its legs and pushed their music to its corners.
This series of short albums is represented by the four classical elements of fire, water, earth, and air. Each part has six songs written in the inspiration of that element, which I thought was an incredibly thoughtful idea. The songs themselves range from metal, to electronic, to acoustic, and everything in between.
Alexisonfire – Crisis
2006, Distort Entertainment/ Vagrant
Once again stepping into the heavy, post-hardcore world is this album by the now defunct group Alexisonfire.
Besides the great instrumentalism, the group features three very different singers: one melodic, one screaming, and the other a raspy middle ground.
Each of their differing styles fits into different sections of the songs which is compromising and unique. The melodic singer would go on to create City and Colour, a folky spinoff that also tugs at my heart strings. Canadian music at its best.
Brand New – The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
2006, Interscope/ Tiny Evil
Another group to flourish in the emo days and now experiencing a great comeback, Brand New has always had a cult following.
The vocal style somehow reminds me of a new-age Morrisey, the lyrics are truly poetic and the music thoughtfully fitting to that.
The album will take you from emotional screaming sections to a very simple groove with soft singing above it, quite the roller coaster ride. It’s like an action movie that makes you constantly turn up and down your volume knob if you can’t discern the extremes to which this album takes you.
2015 Rebelution Tour Dates
Thursday, 9th April 2015
The Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
w/Jimmy Cliff
Also appearing at Bluestfest: Thursday, 2nd April – Monday, 6th April 2015 Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay NSW
