It has been nearly four years since dub reggae collective Dubconscious began spreading its bass-tempered sound around the Athens, GA music scene. Since then, that sound has grown louder, and it will soon resonate across the country. In 2003, the band released its debut offering, Word of Life, which received ample response and exposed the rootsy foundation from which the band’s live forays grow. Two years later, the group followed up with The American Dream, a sprawling, 21-song collection bolstered by intoxicating dub, socially conscious lyrics, and a feel-good vibe that has made the band a hit on the club scene across the southeast. This summer, Dubconscious will spread its wings, boarding its biodiesel-fueled tour bus and embarking on a tour that will deliver its first performances on the west coast, including The High Sierra Music Festival and a show in Taos, New Mexico, where the band will play on a solar-powered stage. They’re also nearing the official release of yet another side of their personality, the live show. Live from Tree Sound Studios will be released on Tree Sound Records this spring, adding live energy to the mellow compositions that have kept fans lapping up the reverb-laden rhythms.
Glide recently had the opportunity to speak with keyboardist and melodica player Jerry Hendelberg about the band, its origins, and its intentions.
Coming from Athens, GA, an area rich in musical history, Dubconscious stands out in that it defies a lot of the styles that the area has spawned. What drew the group to reggae and dub?
Reggae and dub music is the thread that binds all of the members of Dubconscious. We all have our different backgrounds and various upbringings, but reggae music is the true music link for us. We all love Athens for so many different reasons. It is where we all live, and we are very proud to be from Athens. The main thing that drew us to reggae was the positive vibration of the music combined with very relevant, prophetic and soulful lyrics. The melodies are incredibly infectious, and the simplicity of the music is so powerful. The dub element in reggae is so attractive to us because of the ethereal effect it has with the reverb and delay elements.
How did the band originally come together?
Dubconscious was formed in April 2002. We are a full-on crew of eleven people now, but at that point there were two groups of three playing reggae music together. James Keane (lead guitar and vocals), who was working at Big City Bread in Athens, was approached by Adrian Zelski (rhythm guitar and lead vocals), and the two hit it off immediately. Very soon after that, the two groups of three came together, and so Dubconscious was born with the six of us. Not too long after that, Roger Levine, our tour manager/soundman/occasional bassist/photoshop extraordinaire and full-time comedian, joined on. To follow was a 40-foot tour bus with full-time bus driver, head of the promotional team, and environmental specialist, Josh Mansfield. He has been crucial with getting biodiesel incorporated into our touring regimen. Colin Williams and Shawna Mulkey also became essential ingredients, taking on stage production and heading up merchandise, respectively. Shelley Olin is the newest addition to Dubconscious. She is a small girl with an incredibly powerful voice and amazing stage presence.
While popular, reggae and dub seem to be less prevalent on the live music circuit. How has the audience reception been over the band’s tenure performing together?
We feel incredibly lucky to be playing the music that makes up the Dubconscious sound. Audience reception has been unbelievable and continues to blow us away. We just played our first New Year’s Eve show, which was at the Melting Point in Athens, an incredible new venue, and the show sold out. I think audiences are really into our music because we bring a newness to reggae that combines all the favorite elements we have, as well as incorporating other styles of music into the reggae format, such as hip-hop beats, funk and jazz. For instance, one year ago we played a live show that was recorded at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, and we played a song that developed out of a live improvisation called “Hallelujah.” This particular night, the song went on for 19-plus minutes. I have never heard a reggae song that goes on for that long. That live show at Tree Sound Studios will be a two disc CD set that we will be releasing under our label which we signed with called Tree Leaf Recording label, part of Tree Sound Studios. We are very lucky to be a part of a label and recording studio that is so well rooted in environmental awareness. We also have a love for Afro-beat and have started incorporating that style into our live show as well. One song called “The Man” will be on our next studio album called Uncovering the Mystery.
Have you encountered any preconceived notions, since you are an American band from the south playing essentially Jamaican music?
So far, being an American band playing music that was born in Jamaica has not been an issue, other than the fact that we are incredibly proud to be from Georgia playing music that is very progressive, political and earth conscious. We are finding that the concepts that reggae artists in Jamaica were singing about hold very true and can be applied to this particular time and space being in America. That is definitely one of the things that we love about reggae is that the lyrics were used in Jamaica, but these lyrics hold the timeless quality that can be used in this day and age and will hold true in any age or place.
How does the songwriting break down within the band?
This band currently has eight songwriters, five of which consistently write songs. Personally, I feel like the songs that I have written are OK. But the beautiful thing is I will present the idea to the band and after a couple of minutes and a little magic here and there, Bam! – this idea I had has turned into the most beautiful, powerful song that I could have possibly hoped for. There is so much talent in this band, and it really blows me away. Our way of songwriting is rapidly evolving as well. We now have Pro Tools and are beginning to incorporate that into our songwriting process.
Is there a prevailing goal of the band, through music and intention?
Our goal through music and intention is to spread positivity wherever we go and bring people together that desire to be proactive in their lives. The music and this process is helping us understand ourselves better and the world we live in. We want to be active in every realm of environmental awareness, social and political awareness, bringing all people together for the greater good. I have been to other bands’ shows recently where there are people going to the shows that are more about destruction these days. We encourage people to attend shows with the idea of expansion. It is not about getting wasted at a show, it is about the celebration of life and love, and good people coming together to share ideas and the love of music. We hope the use of biodiesel in our bus is just the very beginning of what can be accomplished in terms of progressive action.
While the group has focused on the southeast for much of its career, your summer tour has you heading west to the High Sierra Music Festival. Is this your first West Coast jaunt?
This will be our first trip out west, and to say we are extremely excited is a huge understatement. We have gone as far north as D.C. to be a part of a 300,000 person protest about the current administration in office and the war. We have gone as far south as Key West. The trip out there is forming right now, and a stop in Taos, N.M. to play on a solar stage is going to be a part of the trip.
You’ve released two albums over the last two years. How would you compare or contrast the band that went into the studio to record Word of Life to the band now, both musically and organizationally?
Musically and organizationally we are evolving so fast. Thank God we have members of this band that push us in both of these realms. I am so proud of where we are now, and next month, when the Live at Tree Sound double disc CD comes out, will be a tremendous celebration, but we are very excited about going into Tree Sound Studios and recording a major studio CD.
What are your future plans, hopes and dreams?
We would love to see how far we could evolve musically and see how far we can spread this music. We are very excited about going out west and look forward to northeast and midwest runs. As far as big hopes and dreams, we would love to be a part of and see alternative forms of energy step to the forefront. If we treat the earth good, the earth will treat us good. It is that simple, and people will be so much happier and healthier. Also, the legalization of all good things needs to happen. Fear must give way to all the gifts that are here for our use, not abuse.
