Siblings don't always make great bandmates. Just ask The Kinks' Ray and Dave Davies. Or The Black Crowes' Chris and Rich Robinson. Or Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher.
Tribal Style features not two, but three brothers: Mugabe, Tokunbo (TK) and Muthoni Tenn. The trio was raised in Kingston, Jamaica and relocated to Tampa from Long Beach, Calif., eight years ago. During that time, they have distinguished themselves as the area's premier reggae band.
Tribal Style has performed and toured with Ziggy Marley, James Brown, Burning Spear, The Skatalites and Toots and the Maytals — but the band's home turf is Skipper's Smokehouse. That's where they headline Saturday and take part in a multi-band festival Sunday.
Earlier this summer, Tribal Style released the full-length Olde Town on the local imprint Gwan Records. Roots reggae augmented with subtle turntablism, the disc brims with gorgeous melodies and lyrics that are positive without being preachy, smart but never arcane. The infectious, soulful title song sounds like a number from The Harder They Come soundtrack.
Yes, the Tenns had their disagreements while recording Olde Town. But the brothers definitely don't fall into the Davies category. These guys get along. In fact, they sleep under the same roof in North Tampa.
Mugabe Tenn plays bass and sings. He's the youngest. The most outgoing. The first one to answer questions, crack a joke and laugh when we all met up recently.
Tokunbo (TK) Tenn is the drummer. He's the middle sibling. The one who pauses before offering thoughtful responses about being raised by a Rastafarian father and a mother who is a Christian pastor. Like Mugabe, he smiles often.
Muthoni plays keyboards and is the lead vocalist. The words he sings are his. None of the other siblings contribute lyrics. But Muthoni is also the quietest of the siblings. He wears a beard. Speaks softly. A thinker.
"There is no rivalry," TK said. "Maybe when we were younger, but not now that we're older. If something comes up, it gets killed right away. No feuds between us. No fights."
"No noogies?" joked guitarist Blake Yeager. He's the youngest and newest member of the band. Tribal Style also includes Michael "DJ Blenda" Mendolusky on percussion and turntables. Occasionally, the brothers' father, percussionist Ruddy Tenn, joins them on stage. He performs on Olde Town as well. His influence on the band is incalculable.
"He played with Bob Marley," Mugabe said with pride, while other two brothers nodded enthusiastically. Dad also performed with classic reggae bands like Wailing Souls. "He influenced us to stick to the roots," TK said, "the grass roots."
Mugabe added: "None of this dancehall stuff. We like to promote roots reggae. Not to dis the other stuff, but this is us."
Roddy never pushed his sons into reggae, but once they showed interest, he showed them how to bring the warm, timeless rhythm that separates the amateurs from the pros.
"He taught us to do the heartbeat," TK said. "The one-drop."
That's the sound that distinguishes roots reggae from other styles. It's the sound one hears on Marley records and takes its name from the song "One Drop." It's that hypnotic sound that mimics a human heartbeat. "Tons of musicians get on the drums and think they can do the heartbeat," Mugabe said. "But they can't keep the rhythm."
TK added, with a smile: "It takes practice."
The Tenn family moved from California to Florida to be closer to Jamaica. They own property there and cabins "on the mountains." They're bringing Yeager when they vacation in December. "We're taking him to the hills," Mugabe said. "No resort treatment for him."
Muthoni added: "We'll [also] show him the real stuff. The inner city."
Blake laughed nervously. "I don't need to go too far into the inner city."
The four men are playful, with Blake clearly a part of the family. OK, maybe not family exactly, considering the difference in skin tones and accents (though the Tenn brothers' Island brogues have softened over the years) — but you get the point.
"I can tell people I'm an albino like Yellowman," Blake joked.
Sit around with the guys from Tribal Style, and you immediately feel comfortable. There are no hidden agendas, no egos that need massaging. Their music has the same soothing effect. It's like great gospel music, genuine and heartwarming. You sense that they are truly trying to use music as a healing tool. "Always positive," TK said. "It's never in us to sing about bitches and hos. Have to keep it positive."
One of the most prevalent (and in most cases, true) assumptions about reggae musicians is that they smoke weed. Big time. But not the Tenn brothers. Mom won't allow it, they say.
"Only for medicinal use," TK said. "To put in oils … no abuse."
So, none of you guys smoke?
"No," TK said. His two other brothers nodded. But I think I saw Mugabe smirk.
TK explained that while they were living and playing music in Long Beach, he instituted the No Smoking at Rehearsals rule. "What if there is no weed when you have to play?" he said. "And then what? So, no weed. We stick to Red Bull."
Muthoni: "And Red Stripe."
"And stout," TK added. "Jamaicans like their stout beer. Drink it at room temperature."
Muthoni: "Nothing wrong with social drinking."
But no weed?
"No weed," TK said.
This article appears in Sep 5-11, 2007.