With their latest EP, Fresh Grounds, Iration’s island sound is brewed with a blend of catchy and soulful harmonic vocals that curl around swells of distorted and aggressive guitar riffs, bumping bass lines, kinky keys and crashtastic drums.
The five tracks the Hawaiian-based rockers included on the EP create a wave-riding listening experience that builds and flows on layers of acoustic melodies, synthesized sound effects and percussion mixes. “All This Time” is a highlight with its raging guitar licks, jamming drums and keyboard play that back expressive lyrics about fulfilling desires. “No Letter” is a swaying, passionate acoustic croon about the end of a relationship and for some reason it gives me this Incubus vibe – a total swoon-tune. My favorite is the final, “Summer Nights,” with its groovin’ tropical riddim and sweet-sounding vocals that create a night-air sonic atmosphere, “It's just one of those days, no it’s not a phase, it's all mentality/ At the liquor store pickin' up supplies, Party all night, waitin' for the sunrise/ And when the world stops catchin' up to me, I take one breath and smile because the mood is right, thinkin' bout those summer nights…”
The new songs are a welcomed installment into the breezy and chillaxed discography of Iration, all of which makes a quintessential soundtrack for the sunshine and beaches of Florida life. Iration’s island pulse is perfect for BBQs, bonfires and, especially, those days spent layin on the beach that somehow or another turn into playful nights. With Fresh Grounds, the Hawaiian musicians show they’re a dynamic group of talent on the forefront of the constantly expanding beach-reggae-rock (or whatever they’re labeling it these days) music scene.
I got to catch up with Iration’s bassist, Adam Taylor, who took a few minutes out before a Virginia performance to have a quick phone convo about the band’s rising success and their genuine enthusiasm to come play their Florida tour dates. Check out the conversation below.
3 ½ Stars
CL: What was the overall intention of the Fresh Grounds EP and what does it say about where the band is musically, at this point?
Adam Taylor: One of the goals with Fresh Grounds was to showcase our musical range and our variety a bit more. Typically, our other releases tended to have a more traditional reggae-rock sound and with Fresh Grounds we did sample different styles. For example, this is the first time we’ve ever used acoustic guitars in songs that we’ve produced as well as some really rockin’ guitars and synthesizers and stuff.
What it says about us musically, at this point, is we don’t just want to be known as a reggae band, but we want to go into mainstream and break into and incorporate other genres as well. We all have a lot of different influences, so the one thing we really don’t want to do is be typecast as just another reggae-rock band. Also, with all the song writing that Micah (Vocals/Guitar) and Kai (Vocals/Percussion) do, there are a lot of pop sensibilities. Right now, the writing style goal for us is to always be listener friendly and to offer something lyrically the listener can identify with, no matter what musical style we are playing with.
CL: So, the last time you guys were in the Tampa area it was in 2010 supporting The Expendables, and you’ve done some headlining, but mostly you’ve supported a lot of other great musicians. How does it feel to get to be the headliner, supporting your own EP? I know the Fresh Grounds tour just started, but how’s it going, how are fans responding to the new tunes in the live setting?
Taylor: It feels really good! We’re from Hawaii, so we had a lot of success on iTunes and stuff, but we didn’t have the touring availability, ya know, because we were from a small island. We’ve done a lot of support-touring of bigger bands, which has really helped us a lot, but being able to go back to Tampa as the headliner, supporting our own music and playing new songs off the EP feels really good, and we couldn’t be more excited to get to headline in Tampa.
So far with the tour, we’ve already had tons of really good sold out and packed shows. One really cool thing is the EP just came out and already the fans know the words, they love the songs and they’re requesting the new tracks. And that’s really a testament to the Internet. Fans have been able to access the music, maybe even before the EP came out.
CL: While on a winter tour, I’m sure you guys are in some cold places that are a stark comparison to the paradise of Hawaii, so how do you guys keep it Hawaii while on the road and what do you miss most about Hawaii when touring?
Taylor: Well, the first part is an easy question, ya know, we don’t even have to try to keep things Hawaii because it is so embedded in our nature and is so innate in us that it just comes through naturally in everything we do. But, coming through the snow and cold, it’s easy to miss home, and I really can say on behalf of the whole band, we really enjoy playing in Florida. Other than California, Florida is the closest we come to the vibe we get when we play at home in Hawaii, so we’re really stoked to come down and jam all the new songs for everybody.
CL: I’ve yet to see you guys live, but word in the street is Iration puts on a great live show, so what makes Iration a band people should want to go check out live?
Taylor: For us, the most important thing is to bring good energy and give a really positive vibe while we’re on stage. Also, we really love the energy we get from the crowd and whenever we come to Florida, especially, they show so much love that it’s really easy to perform. Playing live, especially for fans like that, makes it so easy as a musician — they give us energy and we just give it right back.
Iration & Ballyhoo! with Fiction 20 Down/UnMotivated/Resinated, Fri., Feb. 18, Doors 7 p.m., All Ages, $15, Jannus Live, 16 2nd Street N. St. Pete.
Check out Ballyhoo's tour-update video below.
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2011.