Celebrating twenty years as a pioneer band, John Brown’s Body has regained their seat at the top.
John Brown’s Body is a seminal roots-reggae band that has influenced many of the biggest contemporary American reggae acts of our time. Formed in Ithaca, New York in 1996, at a time when there wasn’t popular demand for reggae bands to tour in the United States, John Brown’s Body was one of only a handful of American based reggae bands that began to tour nationally.
With two-decades of experience, John Brown’s Body has achieved numerous accolades throughout their career, and the latest one being, recognized as Billboard’s #1 Reggae Album.
Beginning in 1996, the band’s first album All Time was featured as one of “Top 10 Indie Records List” according to Rolling Stone.
Twenty years later, John Brown’s Body is still earning widespread recognition for their tireless effort and pure musicianship.
Continuing to ride the wave from Kings and Queens (2013), and the subsequent remix album, Kings and Queens in Dub (2015), JBB has remained relentless on the road, performing throughout the United States, the UK, Europe and New Zealand over their career.
Now, as the veteran band has reached the commemoration of 20-years, with perhaps more trials and tribulations than one would describe as typical, including a death of one of the founding members, John Brown’s Body has released their latest studio effort, Fireflies, a celebration of their 20th anniversary. The new album, released on September 9, 2016, via Easy Star Records, an independent reggae label based out of New York, was instantly named the top album within the reggae genre upon its releae.
John Brow’s Body originally premiered the track “New Fashion” on Billboard. In an interview with Billboard, lead singer Elliot Martin described the depth of the latest song as, “about nostalgia and looking forward at the same time. There’s a ton of references to old songs and dances; Lots of words and phrases from 80’s dancehall songs. It’s hoping for peaceful fun in the dance, and a wish to bring some of the old-style good vibes to the modern listener.”
For the band’s 11th studio album, John Brown’s Body enlisted the services of Craig “Dubfader” Welsch and recorded Firflies at Welsch’s Rear Window Studio in Boston. JBB and Welsch have worked together previously under mutual side project, 10ft. Ganja Plant, which features many musicians, past and present, from John Brown’s Body.
Currently, John Brown’s Body has embarked on a nationwide tour, which began on September 9th. Some of the tour stops will include, Atlanta, multiple dates in Florida, Chicago, Cleveland, eight shows up and down the California coast, and the tour finale in the band’s second home of Boston.
In total, John Brown’s Body will be touring from September all the way through January 2017. So, fans of the new album and classic tracks will have the chance to hear their favorites at live show in their respective neck of the woods in the near future.
For more details on John Brown’s Body, the new album, and all upcoming tour dates, follow the links below.
John Brown’s Body Links
Website
Facebook
YouTube
Tour Dates
Video: John Brown’s Body – “New Fashion” (Live at Reggae on the Rocks)