Irie Idea

There is a highly original energy fueling Irie Idea. Curtis Irie and Morgan Smith both grew up playing punk because it was fast, loud and against the grain of mainstream music. Along their journey they have matured and learned about music. These days the boys subscribe to educating themselves on roots music while making contributions to it’s ever-growing evolution and progression. The full sound of Irie Idea comes from only two members. Keeping up traditional blues and rocksteady values while adding in the best of ska, punk and funk would be a feat for a traditional four-piece band. Somehow, Irie and Smith bring a bright brass section, bouncing bass and vocal harmonization without sacrificing intricacy or intensity. Irie and Smith grew up playing in separate bands around Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. When they met while living in Philadelphia they shared the same musical goal: to create and perform energetic songs of rebellion that carry both musical depth and lyrical content that listeners could intimately relate to. While building a foundation of friends and fans they shared the stage with bands such as The Slackers, Chris Murray, The Forthrights, The Menzingers and Bomb The Music Industry. Coinciding with the release of their debut full length (Here's Hoping Somebody Can Find a Way Outta Here) Smith and Irie packed their bags and relocated to rainy but beautiful Portland Oregon to spread their gospel. They began playing frequently around the pacific northwest while writing bigger and better tunes and seeing how far their sound would travel. The Irie sound caught the ears of production dream team Sammy Kay and Joseph Quinones at The Steady Rock Easy-Groove Factory in LA. It was there they recorded their newest full length Blues Like Sandpaper | Rocksteady Like Dirt featuring members of The Delirians, Matamoska and Sammy Kay. NEW RECORD OUT !! BLUES LIKE SANDPAPER | ROCKSTEADY LIKE DIRT