Top Shelf Music News: Episode 4

Your Top Shelf Music News hosts Matt Cook and Kristy Rose are back for Episode 4… although their sanity is questionable, at best. Under the current COVID-19 circumstances, the music industry has all but ground to a halt, yet these two dedicated news reporters aren’t giving up, assembling what few bits and pieces of music […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Ras Fraser Jr. “Nuh Weh Like Yawd”

Jamaican artist Ras Fraser Jr. couples up his latest single “Nuh Weh Like Yawd” with a brand new music video — both out this week! The infectiously danceable track brightens any day (a much needed break from these trying times), transporting the listener to a party far, far away from reality. How far, you ask? […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Wisdom and Sound “No Negative Vibes”

Reggae music has always been rooted in delivering vital messages of moral principle, preservation and sociopolitical advocacy. These are the ideologies that invigorate the music of Wisdom and Sound, the work of Andrew Mencher, best described as conscious reggae of the modern era. Fusing together the sounds of reggae, hip hop and rock, Mencher’s latest […]

Ben Barbic teams with Craigy-T in “Close 2 Peace” single

Hip hop-meets-reggae anomaly Ben Barbic is back with a brand new single “Close 2 Peace”, featuring the legendary talents of Craigy-T! Best known for his role in the dancehall ensemble T.O.K., Craigy-T has since branched off in a solo direction. Barbic knew Craigy-T’s dynamic Jamaican dancehall would pair well with his American fusion approach, exemplified […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Ghost Rock “Morning Light”

Ghost Rock is a new, up-and-coming three-piece soulful roots reggae band from San Jose, California. Consisting of lead singer Vince Gadduang, lead guitarist Nick Santana and drummer Danny Flores, Ghost Rock puts on a high-intensity performance. They have an astonishing sound, amplified by singer Gadduang. Within the first few seconds of seeing them live, the […]

Introducing, Lucid Phase with debut single “Your Island”

In a time of turmoil, relaxing world music is the way to go. Let your anxieties subside with a little less on your mental plate. Answering the world call for much-needed R&R is LA-band Lucid Phase, a trio of skilled musicians sharing an affinity for roots reggae, dub and blues music. After much preparation, the […]

Siaosi ‘5:55’ EP review

Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Siaosi grew up with influences both in R&B (such as Babyface, Jodeci and New Edition), as well as heavy reggae influences with the likes of Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond and the ‘King of Lover’s Rock’, Maxi Priest. Siaosi’s recently released EP, titled 5:55, has many things going for it. The album’s […]

AZ Roots 2020: Day Two

Bright and sunny, Day Two Arizona Roots Fest 2020 started off with a bang as eccentric reggae rockers of 4th & Orange warmed up the main stage for another whole day of music. Artikal Sound System members, playing later in the evening, greeted festival returnees at front gates, twirling meet-and-greet signs wildly while ZeeCeeKeely kicked […]

TSM #HotList: March 29th, 2020

We’re proud to present Top Shelf Music Artist #Hotlist with your host Alexia Johnson, March 29th Edition! This time, our lineup features Blarre Bianchi & Iam Christarz, DJ Greenguy and Reime Schemes, Fantan Mojah and Rome (of Sublime With Rome) with Duddy B (of Dirty Heads)! With so much going on in the world right […]

Celebrating 311 Day 2020

In what could possibly be the last concert for a long time (with the current COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe and all), diehard 311 fans flocked in hoards to Viva Las Vegas for three full days of 311 performances — complete with pre-parties and after-parties around the casino! An annual tradition, the band has been […]

AZ Roots 2020: Day One

Arizona Roots 2020 almost had a very uninvited guest — rain. Waking up the morning of February 22nd in Chandler, Arizona, attendees of the 2nd Annual reggae rock fest found buckets of rain pouring down from the sky. Not a good sign. An announcement that Day One gates were to be pushed back didn’t help […]

Piper Street Sound releases ‘Small Plate’ EP

How do you describe music which is exceedingly listenable, technically dramatic and just plain soul-level compatible? That would be the brand new EP Small Plate by Atlanta-based producer and musician Matt Mansfield (aka, Piper Street Sound). At face value, it is a humble album, going well beyond the confines of a typical release. With over […]

Top Shelf Music News: Episode 3

Welcome to Top Shelf Music News Episode Three, with your hosts Matt Cook & Kristy Rose. Also making an appearance is field reporters Alexia Johnson, Danny Brophy, a basketball and at least a half dozen Coronas. The current pandemonium with the spreading Coronavirus has led the music industry to be disrupted when it comes to […]

One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2020: Day Two

Day Two One Love Cali Reggae Festival 2020 started out bright and sunny — a perfect morning to return to the Queen Mary Events Park! Sunbeams bouncing off the bay, One Lovers lined the stage for The Expanders, followed by Through The Roots and Arise Roots. Lots of roots. Iya Terra’s prime stage presence mesmerized […]

Roots of Mine chats at One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2020

The amazing SoCal natives band, Roots of Mine, made their One Love Cali Reggae Fest debut this year on the Tiki Stage on Saturday, February 8th. On the heels of their new single (and subsequent video) “Anna” and a sick cover of Bad Religion’s “I Want To Conquer The World”, Roots of Mine had earned […]