Iration
"Falling"
Musicians
- Cayson Peterson: Keyboard
- Joe Dickens: Drums
- Kai Rediske: Vocals
- Micah Pueschel: Guitar, Vocals
- Adam Taylor: Bass
Upcoming shows
None scheduled
Sound description: The floor was packed at Velvet Jones last Thursday night for Santa Barbara’s rock/reggae staple Iration, who stopped by to say goodbye before heading out on a national tour with Pepper (of “Give It Up” fame). In typical Velvet fashion, although slated to play at 11 p.m., the band took the stage just before midnight, but had everyone dancing within the first 10 seconds of their bass-heavy opener “Meditation.” Led by the vocal stylings of Micah Pueschel and Kai Rediske, the crowd sang along for “Heavy,” “All Night,” and the song that should probably be adopted as the S.B. college student anthem, “Downtown.”
All hail from the island of Hawai‘i and first started playing as a Bob Marley cover band when they moved to Santa Barbara. After solidifying members Adam Taylor (bass), Joe Dickens (drums), Cayson Peterson (keyboards), and Joseph King (Sound), Iration began writing their own songs and quickly gained a substantial following on the Islands and in California, playing the backyard parties that defined weekends for most of us Isla Vista-dwelling party-goers who provided inspiration for tongue-in-cheek songs like “Walk of Shame.” What sets Iration apart from the typical reggae band is their significant rock feel. Heavy percussion and deep bass lines define songs like “Fire,” which lead singer Pueschel said comes from listening to the energy of bands like Led Zeppelin and Metallica. The rootsy, romantic side to their music appealed to the females on the floor Thursday night, leading some ladies to dance their way onstage during “Electricity.” Dimmed lights and the bluesy, sensual “Wasting Time” forced this reviewer to find a way to hold a beer, scribble on a notepad, and sway simultaneously, and had more than one girl slow-dancing with a pulsating speaker.
With two CDs and plans to head back into the studio this June, more than 25,000 votes on mtv2ontherise.com, and the excitement of covering 16,000 miles in five weeks with Pepper, Iration seem poised to spread their music to the masses. And with good music and good looks, we can’t help but wish them good luck! — Rachel Weight, Santa Barbara Independent
Web site: http://www.myspace.com/iration
Related links
History
The islands of Hawaii are not only the biggest influence on Iration’s sound; they are home to all of its members. Iration was born from a love of all types of music and a desire to create something new. Drawing from multiple styles of music, Iration has created a sound that is impossible to categorize. Elements of reggae and rock are mixed with keyboard/synth and melodic vocal lines to create something truly unique. Iration is best heard in a live setting where you can truly experience the full spectrum of their range
In 2007, they recorded and released their first full length album No Time for Rest at Castaway 7 Studios in Ventura, California, which featured one of the last recorded performances by reggae legend Mikey Dread, who produced such bands as The Clash and UB40. Their single “Cookie Jar” reached number one in Hawaii on 93.9 DaBeat and was featured on Fuel TV’s Triple Crown of Surfing recap. Their music was also featured on MTV shows "Maui Fever" and "Living Lahaina."
In 2008, Iration embarked on a national tour titled “Playboys in Paradise” in support of the band Pepper. They traveled 16,000 miles and played in front of numerous sold-out crowds at venues such as Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas and House of Blues Dallas, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando.
Perhaps the best indicator of Iration’s range is the impressive list of artists with whom it has shared the stage: Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Steel Pulse, Stephen Marley, Sean Kingston, Don Carlos, The Expendables, The English Beat, Yellowman, Mikey Dread, Katchafire, Natural Vibrations, Jason Mraz, Shwayze, Ziggy Marley, SOJA, Rebelution, and Ooklah the Moc.
Formed
Isla Vista, CA
Current status
Iration has recently recorded four new songs, two of which were co-written by Grammy Award winner Charles Brotman. They continue to tour extensively and look forward to bringing their sound to an even larger audience.
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