Just before the start of the 2019 and February's One Love Cali Reggae Festival in Long Beach, I sat down with Kyle McDonald of the southern California cative band, Slightly Stoopid. We chatted about how they were discovered by Bradley Nowell of Sublime, their relationship with Skunk Records, their musical influences and their relationship with […]
One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2019 brought a new era of reggae musicians, all bringing back the true roots sound! One such talented artist was the amazing and eccentric Hawaiian native Mike Love. Back in May of 2018, I attended the Trevor Hall show at The Observatory Theatre in Santa Ana; opening for him was […]
Love, Knowledge, Laughter, Joy, Loss, Insecurity, Rage, Respect… The list is thorough for this outspoken middle child raised in the ‘biggest little city’ of Reno, Nevada. As we speak on the phone, the artist Kris Rodriguez (formally known as 'K-Rizz') and myself vibe instantly, going to work on describing a few of his songs as well […]
The band of brothers Good Talk stumbled into my jagged little world one morning and never left. A friend sent one track my way off of their debut album The Arrival; I was drawn into a voice I pegged right away. It was a voice I knew so well, one that I love that has played […]
Ohio-based band Tropidelic has been hustling all year long and with so much going on, we decided it was dire time to catch up with one of the biggest reggae-rock bands on the rise! Following a sit-down video interview at California Roots 9, we here at Top Shelf Reggae were wondering what more has happened […]
Los Angeles-based band The Expanders recently teamed up with renowned EDM artist Walshy Fire (of Major Lazer) to not only put out one rootsy riddim album, but two! With the latest LP release, Thanks For Life, now available on all digital outlets, the band took time to comment on their ever-unfolding career, the experience making the […]
Let me preface with how this think piece originally began in January 2018, while Jackson Wetherbee (vocals, guitar), Johnny “Blaze” Alves (guitar), Nick Asta (drums), Derrick Cabral (percussion), Greg Nectow (keys) and newest oddity to this seamless collection, Matt Link (bass), were down at White Star Sound in Virginia. If this spot sounds familiar, that is normal. It's the […]
They say big things come in small packages. That much is true when it comes to Nirvana Golberdhan, a.k.a Vana Liya: a 5'2″, 24-year-old badass reigning from Deer Park, NY. Now under LAW Records, Vana Liya doesn't have your average entrance story into the mad world of music. After posting a cover of Pepper's “Too Much” […]
Sammy “J” Johnson sits down after his Day One performance on the main Bowl Stage at Cali Roots 9 in Monterey, California to chat with Top Shelf Reggae’s Kristy Rose. Coming off of his Sleepwalker tour, Sammy J chats about his latest Sleepwalker EP, his upbringing, getting back in the studio, his eternal love for […]
This year’s Dry Diggings Festival is vastly approaching. Now, this is not the traditional music festival. According to their website, the Dry Diggings Fest is a weekend of craft beer, music and camping. The three-day experience takes place in a little town in Northern California called Placerville, formerly known as 'Dry Diggings' after the manner […]
Brooklyn-based family band, New Kingston, sits down with Top Shelf Reggae journalist Kristy Rose after they kicked off the Bowl Stage Day Three at the 9th Annual California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey, California. With their dad resting, the three brothers of New Kingston talk about their upcoming European summer tour, the vibes […]
Protoje personal DJ Yaadcore takes a break from spinning the Bowl Stage at Cali Roots 9 in Monterey, California to chat with journalist Kristy Rose of Top Shelf Reggae – all the while smoking a much earned spliff! Being the first to spin Kabaka Pyramid and Chronixx on the airwaves, Yaadcore has quickly become one […]
The Hip Abduction chats with Top Shelf Reggae journalist Kristy Rose after their Bowl Stage performance at Cali Roots 2018 in Monterey, California. With their fourth full-length album coming, The Hip Abduction members chat about their first California show, what’s next for the band, the meaning behind their band name, their ice cream addiction and […]
Kyle Smith and drummer Scotty B sit down with Top Shelf Reggae journalist Kristy Rose Day 2 at California Roots Festival 2018. Kyle Smith won the Pop-Up contest to be featured that weekend on the Weedmaps Stage, so the band talks their upcoming performance, what’s to come this summer and hypothetical collabs. Artist links: Facebook […]
Ska-reggae sensation Tropidelic interviews with Top Shelf Reggae journalist Kristy Rose Day 1 at California Roots Festival 2018. The band started the holiday weekend right by inaugurating the Cali Roots Stage that Friday morning. Fresh off the stage, the band chats about their performance, their latest music, their Freakstomp Festival in the fall and more. […]
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