Headstash

Headstash On Tour: A Dub In The Life Part 3

This month, Headstash photographer Jordan August is on tour with reggae Beatles cover band Yellow Dubmarine as they promote their recent release, “Abbey Dub.” Read Part I and Part II.

Stay tuned for weekly updates and pictures from the road and be sure to check them out at a city near you. Headstash T-shirts are available at their merch table –just ask for Jordan.

For more information, follow Yellow Dubmarine on Facebook and check out our recent feature story interview with percussionist Jonathan Drye.

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 15 – The Deli – Norman, OK

We journeyed through the country side of Oklahoma, en route to Norman worried that the small destination could make for a lackluster show. Damn were we wrong.

The Deli was unlike any other place we had been so far. The most glaring difference: allowing  smoking inside the bar. We walked in and saw about a dozen people, cigs lit, listening to old country and bluegrass tunes.

As the band set up, we noticed a pretty steady amount of people rolling in. The band asked me to open the show with a 40-minute acoustic set. I figured I would stick with the theme of the bar and play some bluegrass tunes.

After a few songs by The Bridge, Bill Monroe and Ray Charles, I called it a night and got back to work. By the time Yellow Dub was ready to go, there was not much standing room left on the floor.

Capacity for the room was somewhere around 175 people, the show that we thought wouldn't be the best, turned out to be a very special evening with a lot of really cool people.

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 16 – The Prophet Bar – Dallas, TX

“Welcome to Dallas.”

I heard it from just about every person I met. Southern hospitality has taken on a whole new meaning for me. From BBQ to punk rock music and 10-gallon hats to the boots, Dallas was a shining star on my map.

Great skyline view from the front of The Prophet bar made for a great way to kill time after load in and sound check.

As "Abbey Dub" came to an end, the boys went straight into more Beatles songs, pulling out rarities like "Taxman" and "Yellow Submarine." Each night the jams and band tighten up, becoming more connected and aware of the space in their world of dub reggae.

No one member is any more dominant then the other, and that tasteful arrangement shines through in their music. They do The Beatles proud.

 

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 17 – Flamingo Cantina – Austin, TX

Everything really is bigger in Texas. When leaving for this tour, some of our most anticipated shows were the ones in Texas. We pictured warmer weather, bright bar lights and crowded streets and what we got was one of the most intense rainstorms I had ever seen.

If you’ve ever been to Austin in the summer, then you know how hot it can be. This club was built to help alleviate crowds from those hot summer days.

Despite being pretty under the weather (the show must go on . . . ), I toughed it out and the boys took the stage to a packed house. The Flamingo Cantina is the home of reggae in Austin, having hosted every big name in the genre for years.

The sound was incredible – the bass was heavy and the sound guy was incredibly tasteful with his use of delay on not only the vocals but the drum kit, too.

The band was fired up from start to finish. These boys love The Beatles and are so dedicated to bringing the true meaning of their music to the people through the world of dub music.

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 18 – Hotel Sorella – Houston, TX

Still nursing a cold, we arrived to the swanky hotel in Houston. Four comped rooms with mini bars and 24 security for the band – life is good.

The hotel was part of an upscale community of retail shops and restaurants. The bar even had a fire pit in the middle of the room and French door access to poolside cabanas.

It was only appropriate for the band to dress in black and white to fit the vibe of the night. As person after person piled into to what ended up being a standing room event, the room was the most diverse Yellow Dub show ever. Businessmen, tourists, football players, strippers, family members were all in attendance.

 

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 21 – Rhythm and Brewz – Chattanooga, TN

After stopping in Baton Rouge and grabbing a po’ boy and some fried alligator (tastes like chicken . . . ), we headed to Chattanooga. I’ve been all over the place and have seen some beautiful countryside, but there is nothing quite like the hills of Tennessee.

The beautiful mountains hug the Interstate and the vast fields of farmland harkens back to the days of the true bluegrass music, honky-tonk and jug bands.

Rhythm and Brews was a huge room, serving heady beer brewed in-house, and gourmet pizza with some of the freshest dough I have ever had. On this tour, we rarely had an opening band but tonight, Andy D brought his unique brand of party music to the stage along with parachute pants, Vanilla Ice sideburns and fur vest. Entertaining to say the least.

Every show, more fans are gained, new jams are made and new contacts are provided. This show was the perfect example of that.

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 22 – Five Spot – Atlanta, GA

Five Points, a transient community of hippies, bums, punk rockers and artists, is one of the coolest in ATL. We were greeted by a homeless man that helped watch after our van in the lot in exchange for nothing but some good conversation.

With there not being a college locally, we relied on walking up to people on the street in order to promote the show. It paid off big time – one of the best shows of the tour.

 

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 23 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN

Nashville is home of some of the most prestigious industry professionals in the business. The Exit/In is a beautiful venue and has had some of the biggest names in music on its stage.

Yellow Dub was lucky enough to have East Coast homeys, Jimkata co headlining the show with them. A live webcast and a huge light rig from Jimkata and a local opener made for a successful night.

Having the local Vanderbilt students and great promotion from the club, the band played to a great crowd who skanked their way through the long set. 

 

Photo Credit: Jordan August

Feb. 24 – Barley's Taproom – Knoxville, TN

The last night of the tour – the one where the anticipation of the whole trip comes to a climax. Barley's Taproom is a huge brew house on a street of bars and nightclubs.

Everyone from the local University of Tennessee student to the radio-listening Yellow Dubmarine fans came out to drink high-end craft beers and reggae out. The local independent radio station came out to promote the show and do festival ticket give always during set break.

The band threw down in last-show style. There were longer jams and incredibly impressive improvs abound as the energy of the room came to a head.

After the show, we all knew we had a huge day to drive back to Maryland. We also knew we would be taking a break and getting back to a "normal" life, away from one another, for a week or two. It’s a very bittersweet feeling.

Once back at the hotel, the plan was to go to bed, but that urge to savor every last minute was making it impossible to do so. We gathered around Luke’s camera and flipped through the memories that we had made over the last 24 days.

There was something about this group of eight that was special. We played reggae music, we lived a reggae life, we had good times and bad times and we still came out with the same love we did going in.

 

 

 

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Fine more pictures of Yellow Dubmarine and all your favorite bands on Jordan August's Flickr.

For a complete list of future dates, check out Yellow Dubmarine's official website.