When you think of the United Kingdom, you don’t usually think about reggae, but you will once you hear the British reggae band Rebel Control. The group is masterminded by singer Andy Baron and producer/musician Concrete Johnson. The biography section on the band's website intrigued us. Rebel Control evolved from reggae jams held by Baron and Johnson "in a derelict shop in West London" that Johnson had set up as his studio. Word spread, attracting the attention of British based reggae musicians who had worked with some big names such as Shaggy, Primal Scream, Gorillaz, and Jamiroquai. In addition to reggae and dub, Rebel Control ventures into dancehall, hip hop, and electronica. They sent us two songs. One song, Hoodie, has the classic roots reggae vibe we all know and love. The other, Whine Ya Body Down, has a more modern, dancehall-influenced style. We feel like we’re watching a breakdance circle in the middle of Kingston while listening to the energizing track. We look forward to hearing the progression of Rebel Control's sound.

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Rebel Control are vocalist Andy Baron and musician/producer Concrete Johnson along with a collective of studio and live musicians.

Andy Baron kick-started his musical career as a youth MC'ing with sound systems in London, he was a natural but never one to stand still he bought himself a guitar and started to develop singing and song writing skills as well.
In 2001 he was invited to Jamaica to record his debut album "Believe In Yourself."
He performed as a solo artist and with his then band (The Believers) throughout England, France, Czech Republic and Jamaica.
Andy has graced major festival stages alongside many reggae greats including Steel Pulse, Morgan Heritage and Culture, whilst developing a burgeoning reputation as a major league frontman and vocalist.

Concrete Johnson started borrowing his eldest brothers bass at the tender age of thirteen and has been involved in a myriad of ventures ever since, from major label sessions and touring to writing with artists including N'Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies) and Boy George and composing music for t.v.
He has also worked as a sound engineer with acts including Sophie Eliis Bextor and Groove Armada.
In 2005 he set up his studio in a derelict shop in West London .

Andy and Concrete started holding writing and jam sessions at the new studio which attracted some of the finest British based reggae musicians including Richie Stevens, Jeff Scantlebury, Winston Rollins, Tim Cansfield and Milton Myrie whom have performed and recorded with the likes of Aswad , Horace Andy, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Eddy Grant, Soul 2 Soul. They also started to perform live.

2007 saw the first release from these sessions - a lovers rock version of the John Legend hit Ordinary People .

By 2009 they had written a huge amount of original material and had taken on the name Rebel Control.
A chance meeting with producer Mike Pelanconi (Lily Allen/Gregory Isaacs ) led to him mixing a selection of tracks later released as the album “Jammin At Rebel H.Q.”

A further single "Hold On To Love" taken from the old shop jams was released in 2010.

By now the band were playing festival and club dates in the U.K. and Europe.

Andy and Concrete had always been keen to carve out their own musical niche and not be a purely retro outfit and had been experimenting with some new tracks, pushing up the tempos and incorporating elements of dance, dancehall, hip hop etc into the set.

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Album: The Nightkeeper's Sabbatical






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The 2nd junkies' halloween party mix is here. Artists like Rob Zombie, Ozzy, and more will make your party howlrific. I know that was lame, but you need to hear our mix nonetheless - http://themusicjunkies.com/Mix_Tapes_A_Junkie_Halloween-Vol.02.html Don't forget to hear last years volume too http://themusicjunkies.com/Mix_Tapes_A_Junkie_Halloween-Vol.01.html

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THESE SONGS BATTLE IT OUT

~Mix Tape Details~

Track - Artist - Time

1.) Breadfan - Budgie - 6:11
2.) Breadfan - Metallica - 5:41
3.) It’s A Long Way (To The Top If You Want To Rock’n’Roll) -
AC/DC - 5:16
4.) It’s A Long Way - Lucinda Williams - 4:56
5.) Pictures Of Matchstick Men - Status Quo - 3:16
6.) Pictures Of Matchstick Men - Camper Van Beethoven - 4:10
7.) Soulshine - The Allman Brothers Band - 6:44
8.) Soulshine - Gov’t Mule - 7:48
9.) Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream - 4:10
10.) Sunshine Of Your Love - Santana Feat. Rob Thomas - 4:43
11.) Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - 2:58
12.) Tomorrow Never Knows - Alison Mosshart and Carla Azar - 7:35
13.) Blue Monday - New Order - 7:29
14.) Blue Monday - Orgy - 4:27

Total Time - 1:15:18

Album: Let It Burn






Album Review: We first heard the Common Men when they sent us a few of their demos including Impulsion and Vital Signs. Since that day, they’ve cleaned up their demos and recorded a handful of other gems, and their album Let It Burn was born. What makes this album so unique is the post punk vocals of Kevin Ian blended with his echoey astronomical guitar riffs. Space rock and punk rock aren't usually allies, but with this album they’ve reconciled. The sinister yet beautiful guitar in Intergalactic Smoke Signals and Vital Signs sound like a massive beach party that’s slowly sinking into hell...hence the name Let It Burn. Then you have songs like Wendigo that’s a peaceful listen even when kicked up a notch with Kimberli Aparicio's furious drumming and Joshua Sims’ belting bass lines. I love albums that are hard to describe to your friends because they’re so unique, but you have to find the words to convince them to listen. This is one of those albums.

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