Judge Roughneck

If you have spent any time at all on the Denver music scene, Judge Roughneck needs no introduction. Their blend of ska & reggae pays tribute to both the early '80's British 2-Tone movement and the original jazz-laced ska of Jamaica, infused with soul, has been electrifying audiences since 1995. They have headlined every venue you know plus opened for almost every ska and reggae legend who has passed through town including UB40, Burning Spear, Rebelution, General Public, The Skatalites, The Specials, The English Beat, Fishbone, Damian Marley, Steel Pulse, and The Wailers. They have appeared at the prestigious Reggae on the Rocks Festival at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheater 15 times. "Pick You Up" is Judge Roughneck's first album in 14 years and their fourth full length. It was co-produced by band members Byron Shaw (lead singer, bongos, melodica) and David Dinsmore (trombone, backing vocals) and recorded and mixed in Dinsmore's studio. Shaw wrote the majority of the material with a few tracks by Dinsmore and Brain Handlos (bass). "The record was supposed to be done in 3 months, but it took two years (and a lot of wine!)" laughs Shaw. The first single on the album was worth the wait. It's the classic Mirror in the Bathroom" by the English Beat and it features vocals by Angelo Moore, lead singer and founding member of Fishbone. "I chose to re-arrange 'Mirror in the Bathroom' after a dream I had where that song with a new arrangement was playing. I know this sounds corny, but it's what happened." Shaw says. After the initial take of the song was recorded, our bass player Brian Handlos, suggested we get Angelo to sing it and I thought that was a fantastic idea." "We have performed with Fishbone a few times, so Angelo knows us and a mutual friend connected us. I sent the track, and he loved it saying: 'you guys really brought out the funk in that tune!' It has been an amazing journey working with Angelo. He is kind and generous with his time and talent, and has shared a few musical trade secrets." Shaw says. The video was recorded in one of the bands favorite local Denver spots, The Goosetown Tavern. "We met with our director Matt Nasi at The Goosetown to discuss location for the video shoot, and after some deliberation he said 'why don't we shoot it here? This place is cool!' And it turned out to be the perfect location for the shoot." "It has been an amazing journey working with Angelo. He is kind and generous with his time and talent, and has shared a few musical trade secrets." Shaw says. The video debuted on December 2, 2016 and can be seen at https://youtu.be/MJ4hY9k89hc Denver's Ska-Superheroes!