Shake, Rattle and Know: Dub 321

Only nine months old, Dub 321 already has opened for the legendary Afroman and headlined a date at the Brevard Zoo's Summer Saturday Nights.

The Brevard-based band continues to expand its boundaries and lay the groundwork for a CD debut. The Dub 321 and Friends' shows at the Hustler each week draw crowds of seasoned musicians for a one-of-a-kind jam session that is less about the "scene" and all about the music.

Dub 321 consists of Myles Galli (lead vocals/guitar), Brian Roberts (bass), Alex Petroski (drums/percussion) and Darryl Plants (turntables/scratching/samples). The band occasionally features AJ Aaron (keyboards/vocals) and John Hulland (lead guitar/bass/sound tech). With an island feel and a funky, rock-solid backbeat, Dub 321 provides audiences with a great alternative to the normal cover song band environment that dominates the music landscape.

I spoke with lead singer/songwriter Galli about the band, its style of music and future plans. So let's Shake, Rattle & Know: Dub 321.

SRK: The band recently changed its name from Dub 321 to the Crazy Baldheads and then back again. Why the change and then the reversal?

Galli: Basically, when our drummer left the band and our bassist followed shortly after, I just felt like we needed to change the band name, because we weren't the same anymore. Most of the core members had left.

Our bassist came back to us, and I was never crazy about the name Crazy Baldheads anyhow, so we switched it back. There was really no sense in us changing it now, because people had come to know who we are, and we had built a following around Dub 321.

SRK: A lot of people don't know what the term "dub music" really is. A lot of people assume it is another form of reggae. How would you describe the differences between reggae and dub music?

Galli: Dub reggae revolves around the drums, percussion and the beats, and has a slower tempo and is not as upbeat as traditional reggae. It has a lot more effects in it, such as echoes and sounds and things that give it the right vibe. I would say the music is more "trancy" than regular reggae. As in, it puts you in a trance. It's a much more simplified music, and it has a lot of little things in it that gives it its own feel. In a way, it's simplified reggae.

SRK: The band formed in February, but you aren't new to the music scene. What did you do prior to forming Dub 321?

Galli: I have been around a while, and I fiddled around in other bands since I was 15 years old. I was in a high school band with a lot of the guys in this band called Miles for Nowhere. I also did some hip-hop music and some rapping. I have been producing music for over 10 years now. I have my own recording studio at my home, where I record all my tracks and work with other artists as well. It's called Versa Style Productions, and it is my own registered business I set up to record myself and others.

SRK: As the primary songwriter for the band, what type of things do you typically choose to write about for your songs?

Galli: I like to write about a lot of things, but I try to write mostly about things that people can relate to. I write about things that happened in my own life that people probably have gone through themselves, and may touch them in some way. I had a pretty tough life growing up. Not family problems or anything like that, but I had a rocky childhood and did things I regret. I learned a lot since then, and I have grown up a lot since then. I enjoy being able to do this with the guys in this band. I feel very blessed to have what I have now.

SRK: Your band lists its influences ranging from Bob Marley to Jim Morrison to Kurt Cobain and even the Police's Stewart Copeland. Do you feel having that diversity in your influences shows in your music?

Galli: Totally. I think to some degree that's what makes us stick out. We aren't afraid to try anything. We have a raw energy about us. I may lay down a crunchy guitar riff over some reggae and channel my inner Kurt Cobain for a song or two. We just aren't afraid, and I think that allows us to differentiate ourselves from others.

SRK: How do you feel about the other "dub" bands here on the Space Coast, such as Dub City Tribe and Part One Tribe?

Galli: Those bands are all awesome, and each band has its own great thing going on with great musicians, but we all have our own style. It's good that people have so many good choices to listen to here.

SRK: Your shows at The Hustler are billed as Dub 321 and Friends. So who are the "friends" that join you?

Galli: The whole Wednesday thing is really us and the other bands that show up to jam that night. We have a complete set at the beginning and at the end, but it's all about great musicians getting together, playing music and having fun in the middle of the week. It's like a great jam session and not a normal Dub 321 show.

SRK: What does your music say about you as a band?

Galli: It reflects where I grew up in Indialantic and the beach, and what I have been through in my life. It says we aren't afraid to be who we are and try something new. We will do anything and will try it all. We aren't stuck to one genre and we want people to dig what we are doing.

SRK: What would you say is the band's long-term and short-term goal?

Galli: Short term, I would say it is to keep working on our first album. We are going to lay off doing so many shows and focus on the album and get a CD pressed. Long term, I would say we want to start touring more up and down the coast and see what happens from there.

SRK: Have you chosen a name for the CD yet?

Galli: We haven't decided on a title yet. I need to get with everyone in the band and come up with something together. We hope to have it done by early 2009.

If you have an artist/band you'd like to recommend for review, contact Nunez at www.myspace.com/shakerattleandknow or fantasyforecaster2005@yahoo.com.