Passafire

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

Passafire
Left to right: Ted Bowne, Mike DeGuzman, Nick Kubley, Will Kubley
Background information
OriginSavannah, Georgia, United States
GenresReggae rock[1] Alternative Rock
LabelsEasy Star Records
Associated acts
Websitehttp://www.passafire.com
MembersTed Bowne
Will Kubley
Mike DeGuzman
Nick Kubley
Past membersAdam Willis
Tom Heet

Biography

Passafire was created in 2003 by students attending Savannah College of Art and Design.[2] Since then the band has been regularly touring, playing shows with bands such as 311 (on the 311 Cruise in May 2012),[3] 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.[4]

Passafire with a fan on the 311 Cruise in 2012

Passafire's third album, Everyone on Everynight, was released on the band Pepper's recording label, LAW Records. Their fourth album, Start From Scratch, produced by Paul Leary,[5] debuted in the fall of 2011 and reached number one on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[6] 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.[7] Adam Willis left the band for personal reasons after the decision to not continue touring and parted ways with Passafire amicably.[8][9]

Passafire at The Cali Roots Festival: Carolina Sessions in 2013

In 2013, Easy Star Records signed Passafire and welcomed them to the Easy Star family.[10][11] Passafire's fifth album, Vines, debuted in the fall of 2013 at number one on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[12] This came after working again with Paul Leary, who also worked alongside Sublime, Pepper, U2, Slightly Stoopid, and several other successful groups. [13]

On May 12, 2017 the band released the album Longshot.[14]

Passafire performing at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA on January 28, 2014

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.[15] This and other alternative influences are evident as early as their 2007 release, Submersible. In 2011, Start from Scratch explored more organic textures[16] 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.

Discography

  • Passafire (2006)
  • Submersible (2007)
  • Everyone on Everynight (2009)
  • Live From The Road Vol 1 (2010)
  • Live From The Road Vol 2 (2011)
  • Start from Scratch (2011)
  • Remixed from Scratch (2012)
  • Vines (2013)
  • Interval EP (2015)
  • Longshot (2017)
  • Live in Atlanta (2018)

Singles

  • "Keepin' On" (2019)
  • "Sleepless" (2020)
  • "Friends" (2020)

Band members

Current band members:

  • Ted Bowne - Guitar, Vocals[17]
  • Mike DeGuzman - Keyboards (beginning with the album Start From Scratch).[18]
  • Nick Kubley - Drums[17]
  • Will Kubley - Bass, Vocals (beginning with the album Submersible).[19]

Former band members:

  • Adam Willis - Keyboards (on albums Passafire, Submersible, and Everyone On Everynight).[20]
  • Tom Heet - Bass (on album Passafire).[21]

References

  1. Jeffries, David. "Passafire – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. Kevin Jackson (3 October 2011). "Passafire starts at the top of the Billboard chart". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. "Ballyhoo and Passafire on the 311 Cruise". Law Records. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. "Vines Debuts at Number One on Billboard Reggae". Easy Star Records. 20 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  5. Michael Duncan (7 August 2011). "Passafire - "Start from Scratch"". Rock Edition. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. "Reggae Album Chart". Billboard. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  7. "Start from Scratch" (Media notes). "Passafire". Flame Guy Records. 2011. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "A Letter to the Fans from Adam". 14 March 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  9. "Interview: Passafire". 12 April 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  10. "Easy Star Records Signs Passafire". 13 August 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  11. "Easy Star Welcomes Passafire to the Family". 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  12. "Reggae Album Chart". Billboard. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  13. "Vines Debut".
  14. "Passafire's 'Longshot' | Album Out Now". Grateful Web. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  15. "About". Passafire. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  16. "Passafire - Start From Scratch CD". Leeway's Home Grown Music Network. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  17. "Vines" (Media notes). "Passafire". Easy Star Records. 2013. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. "Start from Scratch" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2011. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. "Submersible" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2007. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. "Everyone On Everynight" (Media notes). "Passafire". LAW Records. 2006. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. "Passafire" (Media notes). "Passafire". FlameGuy Records. 2006. p. 1. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)

See also

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