Passafire

Last updated

Passafire
Passafirefield2020.jpg
Left to right: Ted Bowne, Will Kubley, Mike DeGuzman, Nick Kubley
Background information
Origin Savannah, Georgia, United States
Genres
Labels Easy Star
Members
  • Ted Bowne
  • Will Kubley
  • Mike DeGuzman
  • Nick Kubley
Past members
  • Adam Willis
  • Tom Heet
Website passafire.com

Passafire is a reggae rock band based in Savannah, Georgia. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Formation and Self-titled album (2003–2006)

Passafire was founded in 2003 by Savannah, Georgia natives Ted Bowne on vocals/guitar and Nick Kubley on drums who at the time were students attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). [2] Adding Tom Heet on bass and Adam Willis on keyboard, Passafire became a quartet. Their debut self-produced, self-titled album Passafire was released on August 29, 2006.

Submersible (2007)

After Heet's departure from the band, Passafire added Nick's brother Will Kubley on bass and additional vocals. Their sophomore album, Submersible was released on September 18, 2007. It was recognized by iTunes as one of the "Top 10 Best Reggae Albums of 2007".

Everyone on Everynight (2009)

Passafire's third album, Everyone on Everynight, was released on September 15, 2009, on Pepper's recording label, LAW Records.

Start From Scratch (2011)

Their fourth album, Start From Scratch was released on their on record label FlameGuy Records. It was produced by Paul Leary [3] and debuted on September 27, 2011. The album reached #1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. [4]

Start from Scratch marked the departure of original keyboardist Adam Willis from the band in 2010. It was the first album to feature Mike DeGuzman on the keys, who was discovered after playing with The Expendables in Chicago during the 2010 Winter Blackout Tour. [5] Adam Willis had left the band for personal reasons after the decision to not continue touring and parted ways with Passafire amicably. [6] [7]

They also released Remixed From Scratch in 2012, which featured dub music mixes and remixes of their songs from the previous album.

Passafire at The Cali Roots Festival: Carolina Sessions in 2013 Passafire-102613-WilmingtonNC-CaliRootsCarolina.jpg
Passafire at The Cali Roots Festival: Carolina Sessions in 2013

Vines (2013)

In 2013, Passafire signed with NYC's Easy Star Records, who welcomed them to the Easy Star family. [8] [9]

Passafire's fifth album, Vines, was released on November 11, 2013, and ranked at #1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. [10] This came after working again with Paul Leary, who also worked alongside Sublime, Pepper, U2, Slightly Stoopid, and several other successful groups. [11]

Passafire performing at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA on January 28, 2014 Passafire-012814-SantaAnaCA-ConstellationRoom.jpg
Passafire performing at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA on January 28, 2014

Interval EP (2015)

The band released their EP, Interval on March 24, 2015, which featured four new songs that continued their sound in new directions into "progressive reggae". [12]

Longshot (2017)

On May 12, 2017, the band released their sixth album, Longshot, along with a 2-song Longshot B-Sides EP on June 28, 2017, which included bonus track left off the LP. [13]

A year later, Passafire released their latest live album Live in Atlanta on November 2, 2018. In 2019, they were also featured on Sugarshack Sessions Selects Vol. 1 with a live acoustic single of their song "Submersible".

Passafire was featured as one of many reggae bands on Collie Buddz riddim album, Cali Roots Riddim 2021 with their single, "Waste No Time", which was produced by Buddz and mixed by Stick Figure's touring guitarist, producer Johnny Cosmic.

In 2021, Passafire was one of several reggae and punk bands on The House That Bradley Built, a charity compilation honoring Sublime's lead singer Bradley Nowell, helping musicians with substance abuse. They covered Sublime's song "Greatest Hits".

Strata (2021)

Passafire recorded their seventh album, Strata which released on Flame Guy Records on September 17, 2021. "The first three singles on Strata ("Keepin' On", Sleepless", and "Friends") were written and released before the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowne explains, "The pandemic kinda stopped things. We're all dispersed across the country now so when the pandemic hit we all went back to our home bases. When we were able to get together, we wrote and recorded the last seven songs on the album within a week. We're excited that we're able to tour again and perform our old and new jams. It's touring and sharing our music that keeps our band alive." [14]

Remember a Time (2023)

On October 20, 2023, Passafire released their 8th full-length studio album titled, Remember a Time. It features 9 tracks which includes musical artists, Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey's McGee, reggae rocker Joe Samba, and rap duo Little Stranger. [15]

Tours

Passafire has been regularly touring, playing shows with bands such as 311 (on the 311 Cruise in 2012 & 2019), [16] Pepper (playing on the LAW Records Tour in October 2008), Rebelution, Matisyahu, Michael Franti and The Wailers. They also toured with Slightly Stoopid at the end of December, 2013. [17]

Passafire with a fan on the 311 Cruise in 2012 Passafire.JPG
Passafire with a fan on the 311 Cruise in 2012

Musical style

While earlier work mostly fits within the reggae-rock genre, the band's sound has taken on many forms since their self-titled release. Elements such as intricate lead guitar and unexpected instrumental breakdowns are reminiscent of progressive rock. [18] This and other alternative influences are evident as early as their 2007 release, Submersible. In 2011, Start from Scratch explored more organic textures [19] that touched on folk rock. The use of banjos, mandolins, acoustic guitar, and melodica (most notably on the album's title track, performed by new member Mike DeGuzman) were a temporary shift in sound that would influence later releases.

Other projects

In the fall of 2023, Passafire collaborated with Wise Man Brewing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for a West Coast Pilsner Style Lager called "Stash Pils'" named after their single, "Stash". It's a "classic brew giving it a fresh spin" by dry-hopping it with Citra and Mosaic hops. [20]

Lineup

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

Passafire Chart History
YearAlbumLabelBillboard peak
2006PassafireSelf-produced
2007Submersible LAW Records
2009Everyone On EverynightLAW Records
2011Start From ScratchFlameGuy Records
2013Vines Easy Star Records #1
2017LongshotEasy Star Records
2021StrataFlameGuy Records
2023Remember a TimeFlameGuy Records

Live albums/EPs

Passafire Chart History
YearAlbumLabelBillboard peak
2010Live From The Road Vol. 1Self-produced
2011Live From The Road Vol. 2Self-produced
2012Remixed From ScratchFlameGuy Records
2015Interval (EP) Easy Star Records
2018Live In AtlantaFlameGuy Records

Singles

TitleRelease DateAlbum
"Feel It"2006Passafire
"Workingman's Song"2006Passafire
"Rude Boi"2006Passafire
"Laquiji"2006Passafire
"The Breeze"2006Passafire
"Ghost Man"2007Submersible
"Kilo"2007Submersible
"Unfamiliar"2007Submersible
"Mr. Massive"2007Submersible
"Leave The Lights On"2009Everyone On Everynight
"Here in Front of Me"2009Everyone On Everynight
"Keeping in Touch"2009Everyone On Everynight
"Carouser"2009Everyone On Everynight
"Dimming Sky"2011Start From Scratch
"Start From Scratch"2011Start From Scratch
"Kiss My Head"2011Start From Scratch
"Earthquake"2013Vines
"Same Old Story"2013Vines
"All in Our Minds"2013Vines
"Wheels of Steel"March 24, 2015Interval EP
"Finding Me"March 24, 2015Interval EP
"Longshot"2017Longshot
"Growing Up"2017Longshot
"Tacoma"2017Longshot
"Rapunzel"2017Longshot
"Fireside"2017Longshot
"One Blink"2017Longshot
"Gone Yesterday"2017Longshot
"Drifter"2017Longshot
"Would Have Known"June 28, 2018Longshot B-Sides
"Call It What It Is"June 28, 2018Longshot B-Sides
"Submersible" (Live Acoustic)May 10, 2019Sugarshack Sessions Selects Vol. 1
"Keepin' On"November 1, 2019Strata (Single)
"Sleepless"January 31, 2020Strata (Single)
"Friends"June 12, 2020Strata (Single)
"Feel It" (Umberto Echo Dub)July 3, 2020(Single)
"Greatest Hits" (Sublime cover)January 15, 2021The House That Bradley Built (Single)
"Waste No Time"May 28, 2021Cali Roots Riddim 2021 (Single)
"Down That Road"September 3, 2021Strata (Single)
"Watchful Eyes" (feat. Joe Samba)April 26, 2023Remember a Time (Single)
"Offer"June 16, 2023Remember a Time (Single)
"Stash" (feat. Little Stranger)July 14, 2023Remember a Time (Single)
"16 Beat"August 24, 2023Remember a Time (Single)
"Ocean Floor" (feat. Brendan Bayliss)October 20, 2023Remember a Time (Single)

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Permanent Waves</i> 1980 studio album by Rush

Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on January 14, 1980, through Anthem Records. After touring to support their previous album, Hemispheres (1978), the band began working on new material for a follow-up in July 1979. This material showed a shift in the group's sound towards more concise arrangements and radio-friendly songs, though their progressive rock blueprint is still evident on "Jacob's Ladder" and the nine-minute closer "Natural Science." Bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee also employed a more restrained vocal delivery compared to previous albums. Permanent Waves was recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec with production handled by the group and Terry Brown.

<i>No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls</i> 2002 studio album by Simple Plan

No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls is the debut studio album by Canadian rock band Simple Plan. Formed by members of Reset, Simple Plan spent over a year recording their first album with producer Arnold Lanni. It is a pop-punk record that revolves around being an outcast, drawing comparisons to Blink-182, Good Charlotte and New Found Glory. After signing with major label Atlantic Records, "I'm Just a Kid" was released as a single in February 2002, with No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls following on March 19. It received a mixed reaction from music critics, with some commenting on the lack of originality and others praising the production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otep</span> American nu metal band

Otep is an American nu metal band. The band was formed in November 2000 in Los Angeles by frontwoman Otep Shamaya. The band is noted for their style of "art-house nu metal", and their strong political stances. Throughout the course of several lineup changes over the years, Shamaya has remained the only constant member in the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepper (band)</span> American reggae rock band

Pepper is a three-piece reggae rock band originally from Hawaii, now based in San Diego. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams. Since the band's formation they have released eight studio albums, as well as two live albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eternal Flame (song)</span> 1989 song by the Bangles

"Eternal Flame" is a song by American pop rock group the Bangles for their third studio album, Everything (1988). The power ballad was written by group member Susanna Hoffs with the established hit songwriting team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Upon its 1989 single release, "Eternal Flame" became a number-one hit in nine countries, including Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Since its release, it has been covered by many musical artists, including Australian boy band Human Nature, who reached the Australian top 10 with their version, and British girl group Atomic Kitten, who topped four national charts with their rendition.

<i>The Warning</i> (Queensrÿche album) 1984 studio album by Queensrÿche

The Warning is the first studio album by American heavy metal band Queensrÿche, released on September 7, 1984, and reissued on May 6, 2003, with three bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beautiful Girls</span> Australian roots band

The Beautiful Girls are an Australian roots music group founded in Sydney in 2001 by Mat McHugh, Clay MacDonald, and Mitchell Connelly. They have released three extended plays, Morning Sun (2002), Goodtimes (2002), and The Weight of the World (2004), plus five studio albums, Learn Yourself (2003), We're Already Gone (2005), Ziggurats (2007), Spooks (2010), and Dancehall Days (2014). The last four albums have all peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Spooks and Dancehall Days also debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Independent Chart and No. 7&5 on the American Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, respectively. Their single "I Thought About You" reached No. 60 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stick Figure</span> American reggae and dub band

Stick Figure is an American reggae and dub band founded in 2006 and based in Southern California. The group has released seven full-length albums and one instrumental album, all of which were written and produced by frontman and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff. The live band consists of vocalist, producer and guitarist Scott Woodruff, keyboardist Kevin Bong (KBong), drummer Kevin Offitzer, bassist Tommy Suliman, guitarist, keyboardist, and backup vocalist Johnny Cosmic, and percussionist Will Phillips. Cocoa, an Australian Shepherd, often joins the band onstage and has accordingly been nicknamed Cocoa the Tour Dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Savannah</span> 1990 single by Erasure

"Blue Savannah" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure from their fourth studio album, Wild! (1989). Written by members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song was released as a single in Japan on 25 January 1990 and was issued in the United Kingdom the following month. Alfa Records released it in Japan as the album's lead single, Mute Records released it in Europe as the album's third single, and Sire Records released it in the United States as the album's second single. Considered one of the band's signature songs, the duo still perform it regularly in concerts. It has been described as an uplifting love song; the instrumentation is crisp and heavily synthesized, accented with sweeping, programmed piano.

<i>United Abominations</i> 2007 studio album by Megadeth

United Abominations is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. Released on May 15, 2007, United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records and, with the exception of the band's frontman Dave Mustaine, was recorded with an all-new line-up. It is the first album since The World Needs a Hero (2001) to be recorded by a full-time line-up as the previous studio album The System Has Failed (2004) was recorded by Mustaine alongside session musicians. While touring to promote the album, guitarist Glen Drover left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Chris Broderick, leaving this as the only Megadeth studio album to which he contributed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hed PE discography</span>

The discography of Hed PE, an American rock band, consists of twelve studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums, four extended plays, seventeen singles, and fourteen music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Flames discography</span>

The discography of In Flames, a Swedish heavy metal band formed in the early 1990s, consists of fourteen studio albums, two live album, eight extended plays, thirty-one singles, two video albums, and forty-six music videos. Signed with Wrong Again Records, In Flames released their full-length debut, Lunar Strain (1994), followed by the EP Subterranean (1995). After signing to Nuclear Blast, they released The Jester Race (1996). The following year, they issued their second EP, Black-Ash Inheritance, and the full-length album Whoracle. The band's fourth studio album, Colony (1999), reached the top 30 in Sweden and Finland. Clayman followed in the same vein the next year, reaching the top 20 in the same countries. The tour to promote it was released as The Tokyo Showdown (2001) live album, which also charted in Sweden and Finland, breaking the top 40. Reroute to Remain (2002) peaked at number 5 on the Swedish and Finnish charts, and number 10 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. The album was accompanied by the band's first single, "Cloud Connected", which failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Brown Band</span> American country music band

Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown, Jimmy De Martini, John Driskell Hopkins, Coy Bowles, Chris Fryar (drums), Clay Cook, Matt Mangano, Daniel de los Reyes (percussion), and Caroline Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Un Poco de Amor</span> 1996 single by Shakira

"Un Poco de Amor" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, taken from her third studio album Pies Descalzos. It was released on May 16, 1996, by Sony Music and Columbia Records as the fourth single from the album. The song was written and produced by Shakira and Luis Fernando Ochoa. "Un Poco de Amor" is a Latin pop song that incorporates reggae elements. Lyrically, it states that Shakira is waiting to find someone who loves her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iration</span> American reggae/pop band

Iration is a reggae/pop group from Santa Barbara, California. All members originally hail from Hawaii. They play a mix of reggae, dub, pop, and rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)</span> 1994 single by Dawn Penn

"You Don't Love Me " is a song by Jamaican recording artist Dawn Penn, released in February 1994 by Big Beat as the first single from her first studio album, No, No, No (1994). The song's lyrics are credited to Penn, Bo Diddley and Willie Cobbs, and production was handled by Steely & Clevie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballyhoo!</span> American reggae rock, punk band

Ballyhoo! is an American reggae rock and punk band from Aberdeen, Maryland. The group has sold over 30,000 copies of its five albums and more than 200,000 digital tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy Star Records</span> American independent record label

Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and dub.

Of Good Nature (OGN) is an American band based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their music blends foundations of many different genres including alternative, funk, pop, soul, and reggae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highly Strung (song)</span> 1984 single by Spandau Ballet

"Highly Strung" is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released as the third single from the 1984 album Parade. In their native UK, the song reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, and critics had a variety of responses to it. The music video used the population density of Hong Kong to demonstrate the song's emotional themes.

References

  1. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Passafire – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network . Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Kevin Jackson (October 3, 2011). "Passafire starts at the top of the Billboard chart". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  3. Michael Duncan (August 7, 2011). "Passafire - "Start from Scratch"". Rock Edition. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  4. "Reggae Album Chart". Billboard. October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. "Start from Scratch" (Media notes). "Passafire". Flame Guy Records. 2011. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. "A Letter to the Fans from Adam". Facebook . March 14, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  7. "Interview: Passafire". April 12, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  8. "Easy Star Records Signs Passafire". August 13, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  9. "Easy Star Welcomes Passafire to the Family". August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  10. "Reggae Album Chart". Billboard. November 30, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  11. "Vines Debut". March 20, 2010.
  12. https://www.passafire.bandcamp.com/album/interval
  13. "Passafire's 'Longshot' | Album Out Now". Grateful Web. May 12, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  14. "Passafire returns to Savannah".
  15. "Remember A Time". ffm.to. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  16. "Ballyhoo and Passafire on the 311 Cruise". Law Records. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  17. "Vines Debuts at Number One on Billboard Reggae". Easy Star Records. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  18. "About". Passafire. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  19. "Passafire - Start From Scratch CD". Leeway's Home Grown Music Network. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  20. https://bevana.com/product/passafire-stash-pils-west-coast-pilsner/
  21. 1 2 "Vines" (Media notes). "Passafire". Easy Star Records. 2013. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. "Submersible" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2007. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. "Start from Scratch" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2011. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. "Everyone On Everynight" (Media notes). "Passafire". LAW Records. 2006. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "Passafire" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2006. p. 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)