The Dendrites
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The Dendrites

Denver, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2003 | INDIE

Denver, Colorado, United States | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2003
Band Rock Ska

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Concert review - The Slackers with the Dendrites 6 January 2011 (Aggie Theatre, Ft Collins CO)"

Concert review - The Slackers with the Dendrites
6 January 2011 (Aggie Theatre, Ft Collins CO)

A ska dance party is a great way to start the year. The two bands had very different perspectives on ska. The Dendrites, out of Denver, aimed for a classic '70s style instrumental ska groove, while the Slackers played their wonderful retro blend of soulful ska. Both bands were tight and got the crowd dancing. The only thing that would have made it better would be if there had been a little cross pollination with members from either band sitting in with the other, because each had their own flavor.

The Dendrites
While there have been plenty of hit instrumental records over the years. it's tough for a purely instrumental pop music band to make its mark. Sure, jazz bands and others do it all the time, but they have lots of room to work with. For a pop, blues, or ska band to pull it off, they need to be phenomenal players. Even then, they must have the charisma and personality to build rapport and stage presence. It's easier with vocals -- there's a clearer way to send a message and connect. It's hard to leave all of that to the music alone.

Last night, though, the Dendrites showed no signs of handicap in their fine set. The sound of the horns playing a pre-show warmup, sparked anticipation in the crowd. The band assaulted the stage with a formidable wall of horns. Kicking off their set with Gumbo Hustle, they used the song as an extended introduction to the band. All of the musicians got the chance to show off their chops. Andy McClellan's rollicking drumwork was outstanding. Like many unsung ska drummers, his beat was somewhat buried by the horns, but there were enough drop out moments to really appreciate his detailed tom work.

The other players are just as impressive. In particular, bass player Alex Wynn was amazing; I loved how he could cover the beat and still throw in such intricate fills. The band was by no means introspective, though. In addition to their playing skills, both sax player Mont Brown and guitarist Kyle Gollob got their personalities across. One of the percussionists, Nick Dolan, also took on the role of emcee, running up to the front to goad the audience. This contributed a lot to their stage presence.

For the most part, the Dendrites played a classic 2 Tone style of ska. Songs like Flight School captured the moody sound of the Specials. They pulled in updated sounds, with songs like Armed and Opposed, which were reminiscent of Dire Straits or the Police. Later, on When Was Wednesday, they nailed a bluesy ska soul sound that had a deeper retro vibe. This kind of stylistic flexibility is a big part of what made their set so interesting.

The Slackers
The Slackers always had a distinct take on ska, rooted in the early '60s. Much like the original ska, they took early R&B and fused it to the off beat chank rhythm. They made it their own by blending in more soul and early rock sounds. They've also flirted with reggae and rock steady sounds to round things out. It's been a while since they've been in Colorado and I was excited to hear them again. While they have plenty of good albums, they've made their reputation with their high energy live shows.

Last night was no exception. The rhythm section started things off, but within seconds, the rest of the band was on stage and pounding out Keep Him Away. After the avalanche of brass from the Dendrites, the Slacker's horns sounded thinner, but their exuberance soon drove off the comparison.

The chemistry was perfect as trombonist Glen Pine and keyboard player Vic Ruggiero shared front man duties. Their voices contrasted, with Pine's soulful crooning and Ruggiero's more nasal punch. Glen Pine has clearly developed over years. During the show, he evoked a bit of Frank Sinatra and some of the other greats from that era. He looked so casual as he worked the audience, hitting each nuanced gesture. But he'd always be locked into the groove to come in and nail the horn parts with sax player Dave Hillyard. Similarly, Ruggiero's wise guy vibe was loose and easy, but his keyboard work was tight. His phrasing sounded a bit like Elvis Costello. The balance of styles was amazing.

The band hit a lot of the crowd favorites, like Crazy, Every Day is Sunday, and The Same Everyday. The transitions were smooth and flowing. My favorite song was Cheated, where Marcus Geard (bass) and Jay Nugent (guitar) coordinated a perfectly twinned line during the break. Pine's leering trombone offered a counterpoint to Ruggerio's sullen vocals. It was a great moment. Speaking of special moments, we also got to witness an on-stage proposal (she said "yes"), just adding to the spectacle.

The Slackers played a good long set and briefly stepped offstage. They didn't make us wait long at all, though, before they came back for nice long encore. Dave Hillyard even got a chance to sing one. The closer was a wonderful cover of Sam Cooke's Cupid. Despite throwing in t - Jester Jay


"A word from the West..."

"The Dendrites took me back to 1997, when my best buddy got his first car, and we went to see Mustard Plug in the parking lot of a record store near my high school. But unhip as ska may now be, nobody in the bar could resist the groove. There was skanking. Live, the band is ridiculously tight as it is in the studio. And lead guitarist Kyle Gollob ripped out some spot-on Dick Dale licks--an influence I confirmed when I asked him after the set if he liked that aforementioned surf-rocker: "Yeah, totally! Could you tell?""

-John Solomon: The Westword - Westword


"The Duff Guide to Ska"

God save The Dendrites! What with the music industry in shambles (thanks, in large part, to illegal file sharing), a fragmented American ska scene (still licking its wounds from the crash of the late 90s), and scattershot coverage of the music by bloggers and podcasters, they decide to drop this superb album of instrumental ska on the world now? In a different time (say 1997, when they would have been compared to The Scofflaws, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Skavoovie and the Epitones, and Dr. Ring Ding & the Senior Allstars) or place (Europe, Japan, South America, where they are not as rigid in their tastes--anywhere but here), The Dendrites' Mountain Standard Time would be hailed and celebrated by the ska masses--it's that good.

Ostensibly a vintage ska band in The Skatalites mold, The Dendrites (based in Denver, CO) take it all to the next plane, in a manner that reminds one of an act like the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, as The Dendrites' music is influenced by a wide array of genres (surf, latin jazz, soul, reggae/dub, 2 Tone, 1960s movie soundtracks). And there is a wonderful fluidity between these musical styles that brings a complex texture to The Dendrites' songs, as they often take many unexpected turns (see the Dick Dale surf guitar break in "Murder Mystery Weekend," the Eric Dolphy-ish jazz flute riff in "MMGF Dub," or the funky soul intro to "Street Walkin'"). There is also a surprising dreadness--not typically found in the ska-jazz genre--to some of their bass-heavy and dub cuts, like "Head Game" and "Interplanetary Space Sex," that are in a similar vein as those on Dub is a Weapon's powerful Armed and Dangerous EP.

The songwriting, performances, and production captured on Mountain Standard Time are uniformly excellent--there isn't a bum cut on this album (make sure to catch the bonus track at the end, the gorgeously melancholy "Trouble," that features vocals!). While a record brimming with instrumental songs may not to be every ska fan's tastes (I'm looking at you ska-punkers), those who are open to this style of ska will find much to love here.

The Duff Guide to Ska Grade: A- - Moon


"The Dendrites join Megalith Records"

"Next up are our new comers to the scene. Straight out of the Denver, one of the more creatively "traditional" bands I have heard in a long time. I actually stumbled upon this group while in Denver last year. I was at a local record shop, when the kind lady behind the counter informed my that her friend's band would be performing tonight, a tribute to The Skatalites! Of course I was skeptical, but decided to check it out anyway. Needless to say (see we are releasing their debut record) I was very impressed! Not only by the bands excellent covers, but by their totally original second set. I am currently finishing up the artwork for this release, which should be out by the first of February! The Dendrites is the name "Mountain Standard Time" is the album. MEGA 040 is a great sounding atmospheric journey through the recesses of original ska music. It is a must hear!"

Jeremy Patton-Megalith Records

- Megalith Records


"The Dendrites album release with 12 Cents for Marvin, Pink Hawks and The Ruckus"

When it is said that The Dendrites “are massive” it is no exaggeration. And it was equally fair to say that all of the bands on the bill for their album release were of a size to be contended with.

The Ruckus opened the Marquis on this frigid evening, warming the crowd up from the conditions, jamming and having a ton of fun on stage, with the crowd responding in kind.

Next up, the Pink Hawks brought a different kind of tune to the stage. With plenty of horns, they did not disappoint the straight Ska fans, but they also kept it fresh with their unique blend of jazz and latin tunes. They even had a violin on stage. Which brought me around to enjoying them quite quickly.

I have to admit, I was very, very excited to see 12 Cents for Marvin. They have been a band I felt I had missed out on for far too long. I was absolutely amazed when they blew my already high expectations with an amazing amount of energy and a beautiful sound. Welcoming several guests on stage to include spot vocals, several different horn players from the Dendrites and past incarnations of 12 Cents For Marvin, they knew exactly what they were doing, and proved their veteran status throughout their set. They even had their horns roaming the audience and playing in the pit for a little while. Quite the show as they certainly got the crowd ready for the Dendrites.

When the Dendrites took the stage, we knew it was theirs. Such a band as I have seen absolutely play themselves to death in the past, they were much more comfortable and happy on this evening, knowing that it was their party, and it was clear that they felt absolutely at home. They played through the E.P. they released in the very beginning of their set, eager to launch it right and please the craving fans. Having many times seen their sets, I have to say that it is absolutely refreshing every time, and I never feel like I have heard the same exact songs nor seen the same exact performance out of them. This is amazing for such a large and technical (purely instrumental) band, and something for other acts to envy and study closely. Something else to love about them is that they are not afraid to break it down with individual solos, showing each member of their large band equal spotlight treatment and love, getting into a beautiful rhythm that I see from no other band. What an amazing night! - For the Love of Punk


"Interview"

Formed in 2003 as a side project of the more ska-punk-oriented Disasterbators, the Dendrites became a primary concern when the band's members became more interested in the roots of ska, particularly in artists from the late '50s and the '60s. The all-instrumental band soon made a name for itself with the infectious energy that it brought to its music, along with the expressive, almost narrative quality of its sound, which set it apart from its peers.

The latest release from the Dendrites, Fly Casual, has a richly detailed sound and an emotional coloring that gives it a soulful feel, though it remains up-tempo. In some ways, the album is akin to a warm lounge-jazz record, but the tunes are bright rather than dark. In advance of the band's CD-release show this weekend at the Marquis, we spoke briefly with rhythm guitarist Keith Turner about why ska is still an appealing art form, and why the Dendrites gravitate more toward the classic sound.

Westword: Were you always an instrumental band?

Keith Turner: We were always instrumental. We could never really find a singer, and it was also kind of the point to try to play something in the vein of the Skatalites.

Your band is named after the neuron receptor?

I think it came up one day because a few of us were in psychology class at the time. We were talking about it, and someone said "dendrites," and I was like, "Oh, that might be a good band name." And it ended up sticking. The whole ending your name with "-ites" is an old-school ska reference, too.

What is it about ska that you continue to find interesting?

The fun -- the whole aspect of making people want to party and dance. I really think that's what that is. Just trying to get people to have a good time, because it's definitely a positive form of music. We're not trying to force any ideals or politics on anybody. We're just trying to help people to dance and blow off some steam. I think that's the whole reason we're doing it.

There are different kinds of ska. Do you consider where you're coming from more in one school or in another?

We consider ourselves more of a traditional ska [band], in the sense that we try to play in the same vein as, like, the 1960s Studio One records and the rhythm section of Trojan Records bands.

What do you like about that period?

After delving into ska a lot, I think, all of us found that we just liked the more soul-inspired ska rather than the punk-y ska -- the crazy, kind of circus stuff. We're just real big fans of soul music, the Daptones collection and all of that stuff. That's why we went that direction. Not so punk, just ska-soul, rocksteady. - Westword Magazine


Discography

The Dendrites - Self Titled - 2011
http://thedendritesmassive.bandcamp.com/

Mountain Standard Time (Megalith Records) -2009

Photos

Bio

Composed of eleven talented local musicians, The Dendrites have become Denver’s most prominent instrumental ska act. With a five-piece horn section and a six-piece rhythm section, The Dendrites create tightly performed, multi-layered music that harkens back to the golden days of 1960s Jamaican ska. The group initially formed over ten years ago, and have since built a solid following and dependable reputation. Their sound is classic yet progressive, powerful but without sacrificing fun. 

The Dendrites have released two full-length albums – Mountain Standard Time, released in 2009 through Megalith Records, a 2011 self-titled collection of live and studio recordings, and 2013’s EP Fly Casual. They have opened up for acts such as Ozomatli, The Slackers, The Aggrolites, Fishbone, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Skatalites and a slew of other legendary groups. The Dendrites have seen a wave of success in 2014, with Westword Magazine’s readers voting them Denver’s Best Reggae Band. They were also one of five local acts to play Riot Fest Denver, a multi-city touring festival. The band continues to play their slick yet lively version of traditional ska. They remain one of the leaders of a growing new generation of American ska.