What the critics are saying ... "This is bumper music for a hard day's work, and in the spirit of the Specials, Prince Buster and Lee "Scratch" Perry, it goes down like a frosty cold one. Frontman Jesse Wagner's ferocious vocals lend a punk edge to the grooves, but over the course of "IV," the star of the show might be organist Roger Rivas, whose vintage keys get you out of your seat faster than a hotfoot." - Kevin Bronson, buzzbands.la (June 2009) "A feel-good summer record... IV is chock-full of variety." - Alternative Press (June 2009) "The Aggrolites from California have delivered delicious reggae with raw vocals for seven years, and now on their fourth album with the creative title IV they just keep on doing so." - Dutch Metro (June 2009) "Like a Dap-Kings for late-'60s reggae with some Meters-style funk thrown in, L.A. 's organ-pumping Aggrolites have been mastering a musical moment for many years longer than that moment actually lasted - namely, the raw and jumpy period of Black Power awakening between rock-steady's last sigh in '68 and the roots deceleration of '71." - Peter Scholtes, Minneapolis City Pages (June 2009) " The Aggrolites are like a summer holiday that doesn't seem to end" - fileunder.nl (June 2009) "Loose but firmly entrenched in the pocket, The Aggrolites strike me as what might have been the result of David Ruffin fronting Booker T. & The M.G.'s as they try their hand at ska during an after-hours studio party. What allows The Aggrolites to transcend the style where so many others have trafficked in carbon-copy bar-bandness is the combined power of whiskey-soaked soul in Jesse Wagner's vocals and the Stax-like limberness of the band." - Dave Gebroe, livedaily.com (June 2009) "And although it has this laid back attitude, there still is this energy hidden in the songs. The songs are all played by experienced musicians and a singer with a voice of gold." - Aslce Ezine (June 2009) "The Aggrolites use bowel-loosening, burbling bass; optimistic organ; compact, rim shot-punctuated beats; and Jesse Wagner 's warm, brotherly-lurve vocals to create something that's earthy and earnest yet utterly danceable." - Paul Rogers, LA Weekly (May 2009) "Proving they could keep up with the hipsters, the Aggrolites drew a sizeable crowd during their mid-day set on a side stage at this years' Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio. Most of the crowd was on its feet, singing and dancing along. When the band closed with a cover of the Beatles "Don't Let Me Down," the audience continued to roar out the chorus long after the group exited the stage." - Kelli Skye Fadroski, OC Register (May 2009) "Through sheer force of will (not to mention grooves so enticing you can't help but fall into them), this quintet simply commands you to buy into their music, which they call "dirty reggae." It's rock-steady with a punk-funk edge, with frontman Jesse Wagner's white-soul vocals and Roger Rivas' crazy organ lines giving it a party-or-die feel." - Kevin Bronson, buzzbands.la (April 2009) "Trust me folks: As far as party bands go, they're about the best you'll see. Plan on having at least three Red Stripes , and I can pretty much gaurentee you a great time." - Martin Cizmar , Phoenix New Times (April 2009) "With swirling organ, soul-testifying vocals, and a back-breaking rock steady beat, the Los Angeles-based quintet had everyone there moving, and caught a little off guard. The music had swagger and energy. The crowd went wild." - Rochester City Newspaper (March 2009) "The group's upbeat, soul-infused reggae attack puts the rock back in rocksteady. Mixing ska, Motown and punk-rock energy with Jamaican rhythms, The Aggrolites tear it up with the intensity of The Clash and the heart of the Caribbean." - Ink Magazine (February 2009) "The quintet's "dirty reggae" sounded like Kingston via Aztlan, or Los Lobos paying tribute to the Specials, sans horns. The band's not-so-secret weapon was organist Roger Rivas, who propelled the most numbers with his mighty B3." - Kansas City Star (February 2009) "They switch genres at the drop of a hat, often mid song and appear to have more energy than Eastern Europe...I'd recommend these guys to anyone!" - eGigs.co.uk (November 2008) "Touring with bands like The Aggrolites, Sick of it All, Against Me!, Agnostic Front, Bouncing Souls, etc., have inspired us to play as hard as we can every night regardless of circumstances." - Matt Kelly of Dropkick Murphys, Saints Don't Bother Blog "The Aggrolites kept things pretty fast-paced all set, with their bouncy energy and punk-infused sound. The group played Warped Tour this past summer, which no doubt had something to do with the loyal fans singing along all night. " - MTV.com (October 2008) "The Aggrolites is one of the most unique bands out there today. In an era where way too many groups sound the same, it's nice to have a group that is like a breath of fresh air. Their tunes can turn any bad day into a good one and their lyrics will have you singing along in no time. You will definitely want to check out these guys." - Quinnipiac Chronicle, Hamden, CT (October 2008) "Locally, The Aggrolites and Ozomatli have become L.A.'s de facto house bands..." - August Brown, LATimes.com (October 2008) "...I can't help but think of the Four Tops playing with a reggae band when listening to The Aggrolites...Don Cornelius would be so proud...One of the best reggae albums I've heard in a long time!" - ReadJunk.com (Oct '08)"Los Angeles' Aggrolites brought some much-needed veteran reggae power to the afternoon's events, which were dominated mostly by loud-and-fast upstart punk groups." - RollingStone.com (July 2008), about Vans Warped Tour " The Aggrolites , decked out in matching blue Dickies that suits their working-class music to a T, probably won a few fans of what they call "dirty reggae." In fact, it was almost as if front man Jesse Wagner was willing the crowd to warm up to the reggae. And they seemed to." - LATimes.com (June 2008), about Vans Warped Tour "Other standouts on the same stage where (Katy) Perry appeared included the reggae-soul of the Aggrolites." - Darryl Morden, Hollywood Reporter (June 2008), about Vans Warped Tour "They have everything I like in a band, a mix of The Untouchables, The Specials, Fun Boy Three, Madness and a lot more...This is one of the highlights of the summer, and I hope you enjoy this band as much as I do." - Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour Founder "...the amazing Aggrolites from L.A., who blended reggae, Latin, soul, rockabilly and organ. It was Toots & the Maytals with the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" to a reggae beat, the Clash with the syncopated rhythm knob turned to 11." - Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (July 2008), about Vans Warped Tour " The Aggrolites brought soul to the festivities during a little-publicized unplugged performance in a merchandise tent. A cover of Motown classic "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" impressed, but a bigger treat was Korey Horn's reggae snare drum played in an intimate setting." - David Lindquist, Indianapolis Star (August 2008), about Vans Warped Tour "This L.A. outfit keeps the riddims pure on its latest album, "Reggae Hit L.A.," demonstrating that Jamaica isn't the only place to incubate loping beats, and that Toots & the Maytals isn't the only reggae act that knows how to inject a bit of soul and funk into the reggae template." - Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times (May 2008) " The Aggrolites are certainly rooted in tradition, but there's a soul that permeates through the group's music and keeps The Aggrolites from being a genre rehash." - LATimes.com (January 2008) "The band has a secret weapon in their singer, Jesse Wagner. Whether he knows it or not, he is an authentic R&B torch. His unlikely voice has the explosiveness of a Jackie Wilson with the growling soul grind of a Bobby Womack." - North County Reader (December 2007) "Then the Aggrolites , head-to-toe in red Dickies, riled up a West stage crowd with their relentlessly tight dirty reggae, delivering the best set I saw during the daylight. Jesse Wagner and crew are serious." - Kevin Bronson, LATimes.com (October 2007) " Reggae Hit L.A. is a dazzling album from start to finish. The Aggrolites have carved out their niche in the music community and planted their flag in a hybrid territory made up of some of the most soulful music around, and in doing so have crafted the perfect summer album." - Punknews.com (2007) " Reggae Hit L.A. swaggers right off the grooves, and (is) so full of fun that it's a party in itself." - All Music Guide (May 2007) "...this swift gem really should have been called Tim Armstrong and the Aggrolites ...Armstrong's first self-titled foray be little more than a swell batch of buoyant little ditties about love and strife without the uncanny instincts and expert Jamaican grooves of The Aggrolites." - Ben Wener, OC Register (May 19, 2007), about Armstrong's A Poet's Life "Heart pounding, soul pumping pure reggae brilliance. Pure grit and soul set to killer reggae rhythms." - KLXU 88.9FM LA (2006) "Think of Otis Redding fronting The Meters." - LA Weekly (November 2006) "The Aggrolites are a truly funky band, full of reggae, surf and island influences with more flavor than Tower of Power and more funky shit than Rick James." - Modern Fix (2006) "This quintet plays with an amazing regard for the roots, yet systematically crafts a sound that is entirely their own." - Outburn (#35) "Rootsy, analog-dirty ska that not only ranks among the new school's best; it also sounds like it was beamed in from 1960s Jamaica." - Alternative Press (Volume 21, Number 216) "They're a wicked mix of Toots & the Maytals, Wilson Pickett, The Clash and War." - Reggae Nucleus (Summer 2003) "A glorious, surprising treat. Ideal for your next soul shakedown party." - Pe ter Relic, Rolling Stone (2003) " It reminded me of the old days. I can't believe that this young band from America could play my music just as good as the day it was recorded. " - Ska icon Prince Buster THE AGGROLITES New Album IV Coming June 9 "Through sheer force of will (not to mention grooves so enticing you can't help but fall into them), this quintet simply commands you to buy into their music, which they call "dirty reggae." It's rock-steady with a punk-funk edge, with frontman Jesse Wagner's white-soul vocals and Roger Rivas' crazy organ lines giving it a party-or-die feel." - Kevin Bronson, buzzbands.la (May 5, 2009) After a successful Coachella performance and debut tour in Brazil, The Aggrolites now gear up for the release of their album IV , due June 9, 2009. IV is a definitive chapter in The Aggrolites journey with 21 original and self-produced tracks - each one a story of their determination and quest to spread soulful "dirty reggae" around the globe. The first single, "The Sufferer," can now be heard online at www.MySpace.com/TheAggrolites and www.Hell-Cat.com . It has received airplay on two popular Southern California radio stations - 98.7 FM in Los Angeles and 94/9 FM in San Diego - as well as KTLA Morning News during The Aggrolites on-site interview at Coachella. In the U.K., BBC Radio 1 's Punk Show with Mike Davies has also shown love with some spins.
Southern California Shows Added The Aggrolites will soon hit the road for three months of touring through North America, the U.K., Europe and Japan. Their first hometown IV album release show is May 15 at the historic El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles with special guests Latin soul outfit Boogaloo Assassins and all-star reggae collective The Lions , in what is being called "A Triple Threat of Reggae & Soul." On May 16 , they will make a triumphant return to The Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA, joined by ska veterans The Upbeat and The Lions. Singer Jesse Wagner admits, " It's funny to see how fast time flies when you are constantly on the road touring. We're more than excited to hit our two favorite cities once again. It's going to be nice to see some old familiar faces in the crowd. Get ready So Cal, we're gonna keep you up all night!" The Aggrolites will also perform at Brixton's South Bay on June 6 , making their first appearance in Redondo Beach. Fans who attend any of these album release shows will have the opportunity to purchase IV prior to the official release date of June 9 . Festival Time Again The Aggrolites added two of England's biggest festivals to their summer schedule - Leeds and Reading - joining headliners Radiohead , Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys . Other rock-oriented festivals that will showcase their soul-infused reggae include England's Isle of Wight with Neil Young and Prodigy, as well as Germany's Vainstream Rockfest with Suicidal Tendencies and Gogol Bordello . Sticking to their roots, The Aggrolites will also play a handful of reggae and ska festivals, including Rototom Sunsplash in Italy with Bunny Wailer and Michael Franti & Spearhead ; Nowa Reggae Festival in Spain with Alborosie and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra; and Festival Betes de Scenes in France with U-Roy and Pablo Moses . Endless Bummer & Nitro Circus The Aggrolites contribute two songs to the upcoming National Lampoon Presents Endless Bummer movie and soundtrack, released on Blackheart Records. The teen surf comedy, starring Matthew Lillard and executive produced by Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, will feature The Aggrolites' renditions of The Specials' "Ghost Town" and Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie." Both '80s classics have been updated with The Aggrolites' signature style, and "Pass the Dutchie," features legendary Jamaican DJ General Smiley of Michigan & Smiley fame. The soundtrack will be released on June 23 followed by the movie this July. Visit www.endlessbummerthemovie.com and www.blackheart.com . Also, "Work To Do," "Sound of the Bombshell" and "Mr. Misery" were recently featured in MTV 's new hit reality series Nitro Circus . Created by Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine of Jackass fame, Nitro Circus is centered on one of the world's premier freestyle motocross riders Travis Pastrana and his crew of top action sport athlete buddies. THE AGGROLITES are more than a band - they are a movement unto themselves. They carry a banner - one created with their own hands. This banner reads, "Dirty Reggae," and represents their signature fusion of reggae, soul, grit and determination. For 7 magnificent years, this dirty reggae bunch has rolled from city to city, across the pond and up main street USA. They are Jesse Wagner (vocals, lead guitar), Roger Rivas (organ), Brian Dixon (rhythm guitar) and Jeff Roffredo (bass). Out of the Los Angeles school of hard knocks, The Aggrolites have earned a Ph.D in "feel good music." On the road they educate with the thunder and punch of reggae drums and bass, the ripping, soulful melodies of the organ and guitars, and Jesse's voice - a gift from the heavens, a perfectly intact gift from Otis, Sam, Ray and Wilson. Over the course of their career, they have shared the stage with Social Distortion, Madness, Rancid, Flogging Molly, 311, Dropkick Murphys, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Vandals, The Skatalites, The Aquabats, Hepcat, Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan. The Aggrolites have performed at such notable events as Vans Warped Tour, Coachella, Bumbershoot, SXSW, CMJ, Sundance Film Festival, Sunset Junction, Detour Music Festival and KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta. Their last album, Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat Records), was released in June 2007.
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