Get Up Edina!

I recently did an interview with Jake, the Percussionist/Manager of this month's featured and purely Skinhead Reggae band, THE SOULSTEPPERS. Jake was GUE's first official interview, and discusses matters having to do with his band, and the scene his band caters to. Read on....

So how did you get into Reggae, and more specifically, skinhead reggae?

I got into skinhead reggae through the usual progression of being a skinhead - listening to Oi!, two tone ska, then traditional ska, after getting into ska, people usually discover skinhead reggae because people think Desmond Dekker and Toots are ska, but really they are reggae...Buying Trojan comps and going from there.

What made you want to play skinhead-style reggae?

Well, I have been a reggae DJ for a long time, and most of the guys in the band were reggae DJ's and collectors. We were doing a pirate radio station - all scene style you name it: ska, Oi, reggae, northern soul, etc...The guys started the band and they begged me to manage for a long time. After I saw a few shows and I saw most of the band beat the shit out of some dirtheads from taft, I thought I would give these dudes my time. A week after I started I talk to Luis in L.A. and he booked us at the Whiskey! We thought this would be style of reggae to play, since nobody was doing it. The Rhythm Doctors were playing reggae, but not skinhead reggae. Theirs was post-skinhead reggae. Plus we had all skinheads in the band they didn’t.

Who are your personal major influences?

Clancy Eccles, King Stitt, The Gaylads, Pama-Style reggae, The Rudies, Dandy...Lots of American soul.

So, what is currently going on with the band?

Are you officially broken up? It 's weird right now...The people need to stay tuned, there is some life In The SoulSteppers.

Do you think the scene that your band caters to has significantly changed since you started getting into it?

Here in town (Bakersfield) it has. The scene just died, and the scene has flourished worldwide.

Who is your favorite producer?

Harry Palmer tied with Clancy Eccles.

Who do you think is the most under rated artist and why?

John Holt by far! I sell a lot of reggae in my record store and turn people on the John Holt. A lot of under rated artists...Everybody just knows Marley.

Who is your current favorite modern day band?

Madness, their new CD is dope.

Who is your all time favorite artist/band?

Cocksparrer.

What do you think of modern day traditional styled bands?

I think they are great, the more the better.

What do you think of today's skinhead and reggae scene?

It's kind of lagging needs a boost of something.

What is your favorite aspect?

I like how the skinhead reggae still sounds fresh and danceable.

What is your least favorite aspect?

That nobody knows about it.

If you could change anything, absolutely anything about it, what would you change?

The rare records on Ebay would be cheaper.

(Don't we all!!)

What record would you recommend to the readers?

Herbsman Shuffle LP by Clancy Eccles and the Dynamites featuring King Stitt...And Lloydie and the Lowbites Uncensored Vol.1 and 2. Funny stuff.

And finally, do you have any words of wisdom to our readers?

Keep supporting The SoulSteppers and beg us to come back in full force and we will get real big and rich and become talk show hosts like Suggs from Madness.

You can find more on The SoulSteppers at Their Website and Their MySpace Profile!