SiriusXM Radio program director for the reggae station The Joint, Pat McKay said; “Island Head is an important project to reggae. It’s always great to have substantive, high art. This work contributes to reggae’s growth. Reminds others of what it really is and what is still possible. I feel so especially blessed to share this brilliant work with our audience.”
Tag Archives: SiriusXM reggae
Island Head Live at the Falcon
Island Head played to a packed SRO crowd at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY this past Saturday night. The band featured Timmy Cappello on sax and lead vocals, Andy Bassford as well as reggae legend Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung on guitars, bandleader Billy Messinetti on drums, Jeff Ganz on bass, James K. Smith on trumpet (subbing for Don Harris) and Mitch Margold on keyboards (subbing for David Frank). Both James and Mitch have played with Island Head before so the reggae groove had the right pulse!
The band played their versions of classic Bob Marley songs as performed on their album “Punky Reggae Party” as heard on SiriusXM radio The Joint. Other songs performed included “Baby I Need Your Loving” by The Four Tops, “I Shall Be Released” by Bob Dylan and the classic “House of The Rising Sun”.
They surprised the audience with two new songs to the set. “Take Me To The River” was done uptempo to almost a ska beat. One of the most interesting arrangements was the band’s rendition of Richie Haven’s Woodstock classic “Freedom” to a soca-like groove. Timmy tore the house down with these two songs. Whew!!
Check back here at IslandHeadReggae.com for information about getting a copy of the live recording of the show.
Island Head Musicians (Band) – Instrumental Reggae
Island Head visited SiriusXM Studios in New York City where they performed three songs exclusively for the reggae radio station “The Joint” on channel 42. Program director Pat McKay hosted an interview with the band. “We had so much fun hangin’ with Pat. We had a lot of laughs and she is so cool”, said sax player Timmy Cappello. Pat teased Timmy about his on-stage sexual innuendos during his touring days with Tina Turner. Pat said; “She came on to you, didn’t she”? The room burst into laughter as Timmy said; “I ain’t sayin’ nothin'”.
When it came time to play the band got serious as they did new versions of “Burnin’ and Lootin’ and “Punky Reggae Party”, both Bob Marley and The Wailers covers. The band’s instrumental version of Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble in the World” has been airing for months on The Joint. Now, the live version is also being aired.
You can catch all three live performances on SiriusXM as well as some studio cuts from the album “Punky Reggae Party”.
Pictured below is Program Director Pat McKay during soundcheck
ISLAND HEAD reggae band New music out now! 