Dub Apocalypse ft. Carlton Livingston

$18 ADV/$25 DOS//18+//8pm Doors/9pm Show

Dub Apocalypse is an instrumental dub reggae band from Boston, MA. Band members are Tommy Benedetti-drums,Van Martin-guitar,Johnny Trama-guitar,Aaron Bellamy-bass,and Timo Shanko-sax/bass. The band came together in 2007, led by drummer Tommy Benedetti and guitarist, Johnny Trama.Tommy Benedetti is one of the founding members of American Reggae Pioneers,John Brown's Body. He brings a wealth of experience from the reggae/dub scene to the table,having recorded albums for the legendary Shanachie Label,John Zorn's Tzadik Label (mixed by Bill Laswell),and is currently with John Brown's Body on Easy Star Records. This history is combined with almost 2 decades of International touring,as well as backing some of the giants of Jamaican music,including The Meditations and Justin Hinds.

Guitarist Johnny Trama adds a soulful blues touch to the Dub Apocalypse signature sound.Trama has spent time on the road with the great Ron Levy, BB King's organ player, as well as many other regional rock and soul/r&b acts. Not long after Dub Apocalypse came together, longtime friend Timo Shanko entered the fold.A dual threat on both bass and saxophone,Shanko is a veteran of the blues and free jazz scene.He spent many years on the road with Blues legend, Eddie Kirkland, as well as with G. Love and Special Sauce. Shanko is also a prolific composer,and his improvisational stylings are an integral part of the Dub Apocalypse sound. Although DA started out as more of a collective,in the past few years the lineup has solidified with the addition of bassist Aaron Bellamy and guitarist Van Martin. Bellamy is a longtime fixture in the Boston funk scene,and in combination with Benedetti ,they form the deep,militant sound at the core of Dub Apocalypse.

Originally hailing from Chicago,Van Martin rounds out the lineup on guitar. Martin has much touring experience as well, including appearances with Bernie Worrell and Big Daddy Kane. His sonic textures,adventurous playing and songwriting have helped Dub Apocalypse take their sound to a new level. The DA sound is an evolving mix of original compositions and their own interpretations of classic Jamaican and UK songs and dub plates. Heavy hitting drum and bass grooves set the table. A twin guitar attack, with Trama's rhythmic anchor,and Martin's dub sonics, swirl in and out in tandem. These pieces, combined with Timo Shanko's Coltrane inspired sax approach, give Dub Apocalypse a sound that is truly their own.

The band has appeared at many clubs and festivals throughout New England.They've won a Boston Music Award,were named "One of 10 Local Acts You Need To Hear Now" by The Improper Bostonian,and have one of the most popular and longest running weekly residencies in Boston.Dub Apocalypse released their first cd, "Road To Oblivion" in March 2015.The cd release will be followed by an International release on vinyl through Mnemonic Dojo Records out of the UK.

Carlton Livingston is a Jamaican-born reggae vocalist and songwriter who was born in 1962 in St Mary. His mom was active in the local church choir, and it wasn't long before Livingston followed in her footsteps.

Greatly inspired by the likes of the legendary Bob Marley, he started a harmonious sound system called "Fantastic Three" with Anthony Alphonso, AKA Lone Ranger, which eventually became known as Knowledge. They were discovered and invited by Tony Walcott to record with him.

Tony Walcott was Livingston's break into the music industry that ultimately led to his first recording.

After his time at Channel One, he moved on to Studio one and waxed lyrical with tunes such as "Why" and "Here I Stand."

Fun fact: Livingston has an LP produced by Thrillseekers titles Soweto - a name synonymous with a well-known underdeveloped town in South Africa.

With no shortage of big names in the Jamaican music industry, he went on to work with the likes of Winston Riley, Clive Jarret, sly & Robbie Coxsone Dodd, and King Jammy.

In 1982 he went on tour, covering the United States and Canada, with artists like Lone Ranger, Tristan Palmer, and Sammy Dread.

Livingston rose to fame in the island music world with his 1984 hit, "100 Weight of Collie W**d", through which he clearly stamped his mark on the music industry. This was produced by Hyman Wright and Percy Chin on the Jah Life label.

"100 Weight of Collie W**d" was featured on Livingston's next album, Fret Dem a Fret.

He is renowned worldwide for his excellent vocals, as well as his extraordinary songwriting abilities.

Clearly, not all bad moods are bad news.

He recorded his self-produced album titled Emotions in 1994 under the Grapevines label. He struck gold in the international industry when he subsequently recorded "Rumors" with Shabba Ranks in the late 1990s, which Bobby Digital produced.

Livingston released six albums and ten singles, with a bunch of compilations under his belt.

Acclaimed artists have since covered his music like Gregory Isaac, Dennis Brown, and Shinehead.

Livingston appeared at the Reggae Geel Festival in August 2012.

He relocated to the United States of America in the 1980s and continues to record and tour with backing bands.

His songs have been used by the likes of Ja Rule and KRS One, and his killer dubplates are still highly in demand. He is rightfully acclaimed as another pioneer in the dancehall scene, having been amongst the first to bring this genre to life.

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