Better Chemistry

Artist Information

Biography

Infectious. Enveloping. Irresistible. Those are just a few words to describe the band, Better Chemistry, who have been overwhelming audiences since 2001 with their propulsive brew of reggae, ska, rock. The band’s positive vibe and let the good times roll approach, has won them a devoted following and a career’s worth of accomplishments. You might have heard their music during a Lakers game on Fox Sports Net (“Sunday Night” and “Purple and Gold”), or on the radio (KROQ 106.7 FM, The Reggae Niceness Show). However, the real experience is their live performance. Looking ahead, Better Chemistry has 2 releases coming in 2010, the first titled Under the Influence, a collection of Reggae classics performed by Better Chemistry and their 4th independent release of original music.
The band’s story started at the Bulldog Pub in Upland, CA at an open-mic night where the band’s members first met in 2001. Discovering a common group of influences (Bob Marley, Toots, Dennis Brown, The Clash, The Specials, Sublime) the band came together and quickly built up an impressive resume, opening the stage for UB40, Steel Pulse, BB King, Aggrolites, recording and performing with Pato Banton, Chali 2na, Tippa Irie, and Shinehead. Better Chemistry has written and produced tracks for Fox Sports Net that gained national airtime. "Frozen in Your Tracks" aired on January 27, 2007 during the Los Angeles Kings game, “Purple and Gold” was aired during the 2008 NBA Western Conference Championship and "Sunday Night, Lakers Night" ran multiple times during the 2009 season and will continue into 2010.
6 Foot Shorty, released in 2007, was a step in the band’s evolution, showcasing their growth and development as songwriters and players, while hewing to the warmth and positivity that has been the hallmark of their sound since they began. Adding to the flavor and variety, you will hear Pato Banton on the track “2 Steps Back” and the Hip Hop/Dance Hall styles of Chali 2na and Tippa Irie on “6 Foot Shorty.” The song “MCII” is licensed to Yamaha Motor Sports for an ad campaign featuring professional motocross riders on the Yamaha team. The self titled EP, Better Chemistry, is when the band opened the path to roots music, encompassing the traditions of Ska, and really started to blend genres. The cover song of Peter Tosh’s “Ketchy Shuby” was selected for the Peter Tosh Tribute Album that featured The Jerry Garcia Band, Edi Fitzroy, Andrew Tosh and Daddy Roots, released in 2005. The debut album from 2001, Undiscovered Elements, is when the band realized there was something magical that was happening. The 12 original tracks were recorded live in a garage after 6 weeks of coming together.
Better Chemistry’s music is about the journey of the soul, spirit and the challenges and joys of life – the pitfalls of love and relationships (“Difficult,” “Who Loves You”), the threat to our environment, the simple gratitude in being alive (“Praise”) and they view their music as a vehicle to bring people together to experience oneness, community and the knowledge that our similarities far outweigh our differences. The band will be taking the songs on their new album on the road for the rest of the year, bringing their national audience peace, love and soul – while giving them the music to which they can dance all night.

Instrumentation

Dave Monaco – lead vocals and guitar
James Collins- drums
Chad Junkin- keyboards
Rene Casas- bass guitar
Eric “Dr. Wood” Woodruff- turntables, percussion and background vocals
Armando Duenas-Trombone

Discography

"Undiscovered Elements" May 2002
"Ketchy Shuby" Single for Peter Tosh Tribute 2003
"Better Chemistry" Self-Titled EP 2005
"6 Foot Shorty" March 2007
" Purple and Gold" Lakers Single April 2008
Airplay: currently in mild rotation on KROQ, Los Angeles 106.7, Rodigans Rockers Kiss FM UK, Reggae Beat USA, SiriusXM "The Joint", Kulcha Radio Fl USA, WFCF 88.5 FL., KCSB CA., KOAI 96.7 HI., WMPR 90.1 MS., WZBC 90.3 MA., KSCP 88.7 CA., WOBR 95.3 NC., KBCS 91.3 WA., DFRU 93.3 ONT,
Publishing: Yamaha Motor Corp., L.A. Lakers, Fox Sports Net, ASP (Pro Beach Volleyball Network), Los Angeles Kings.

Links

• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Homepage
• MySpace
• Facebook
• Reverb Nation

Audio

• 60 an 8th
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• 6 Foot Shorty
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• 2 Steps Back
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• Riding for A Fall
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• How Do you Sleep
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• Who Really Loves You
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• Drivin
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• Asphalt
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• Joshua Tree
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• One Night Stand
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• Positive Ways
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• Praise
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Lyrics

• 6 Foot SHorty
• Who Really Loves You
• 2 Steps Back

Video

6 Foot Shorty

Photo Gallery

Press

• I.E. Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  CITY OF ORIGIN: La Verne MEMBERS AND INSTRUMENTS: Dave Monaco (lead vocals, guitar); Eric "Dr. Wo...CITY OF ORIGIN: La Verne
  
  MEMBERS AND INSTRUMENTS: Dave Monaco (lead vocals, guitar); Eric "Dr. Wood" Woodruff (vocals, percussion, turntables); Rene Casas (bass guitar); Chad Junkin (keyboards); Anthony Logerfo (drums); Bryan "Trumpet Bryan" Watson (trumpet); Beeken (saxophone); Eddie Farmer (trombone). Rotating members: Ray Green (lead guitar); Lukas Nelson (lead guitar); Ed Collins (drums, vocals); Rudolpho "Kahz" Castillo (drums).
  
  RECENT RELEASE: 6 Foot Shorty (Chackhouse Records, 2007)
  
  KINDRED SPIRITS: The Clash, Ben Harper, Tippa Irie, Skatalites, Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Specials, The Grateful Dead, Sublime, Spearhead
  
  WEBSITE: www.betterchemistry.net
  
  
  It’s been said that people are the product of the company they keep. In Better Chemistry’s case, much of that company could be considered living legends. Crack open the reggae/rock hybrid’s latest release, 6 Foot Shorty, and you’ll see that this terrific troupe’s employed the skills of folks like Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na, plus reggae revolutionaries Tippa Irie and Pato Banton. Not an easy feat, to say the least.
  
  “We've been lucky,” says BC’s Eric “Dr. Wood” Woodruff, about wrangling some of these aforementioned names for such guest appearances. “I think that our show has turned some heads that have helped us out along the road.”
  
  
  And it’s a show that’s been brewing since Better Chemistry first launched in December 2001, playing their inaugural gig at the Black Watch Pub in Upland. Since then, the band’s opened for a host of reggae and rock greats, gained commercial airplay and placement on television programs, and of course, earned the respect of countless fans, both locally and outside the region. So, how did they get there?
  
  
  “I think that most of us have gone and seen other acts that floored us and gave us a lot of insight,” says Woodruff, on developing that BC sound. “We really want to make people feel good and leave all of their worries and troubles at the door. Just being able to give that back is a blessing to us . . . Better Chemistry is kind of our answer to the boring programmed mainstream radio stations that force feed the kids music that just really isn't all that exciting.”
  
  
  Better Chemistry is currently in the middle of recording a fourth album of original material and a cover songs album, both of which should be out early next year. And with a successful seven-year run under their belts, these Chemists promise to keep at it “until the wheels fall off,” Woodruff says. After all, he notes, “we've all been at it for too long to turn back now.”
  
  –Waleed Rashidi
  LINK
  http://www.ieweekly.com/cms/story/detail/better_chemistry/1610/

• FSN Aires "Purple and Gold" video [+ Show ]
  

  Fox Sports Net, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Lakers have aired our "Purple and Gold" video du...Fox Sports Net, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Lakers have aired our "Purple and Gold" video during the 2008 NBA playoffs. The video is a commercial for upcoming Lakers games, and has aired over 25 times.
  You tube key word "Lakers Purple and Gold.
  Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ql6-DUuTUo&feature=related

• Yamaha Motor Corp selects Better Chemistry [+ Show ]
  

  Yamaha Motor Corp. has licensed the Better Chemistry song "MCII (2002)" for their ad, featuring the ...Yamaha Motor Corp. has licensed the Better Chemistry song "MCII (2002)" for their ad, featuring the new motorcylce YZ450. It is the background music featured in this video link.
  http://www.yamahaynotu.com

• Another great write-up!! [+ Show ]
  

  Music Connection Review Details: There is a new review of our show at the House of Blues, Anaheim ...Music Connection Review
  Details: There is a new review of our show at the House of Blues, Anaheim in Music Connection magazine. Vol. XXXI, No. 13 (6/18/07 to 7/1/07), with quotes from Bob Legget such as "BC's musicianship is above board, and features some of the best in the business." and "The overall group's sound is contagious and sucessfully lifts a crowd up and on to the dance floor." Thank you Bob for the awsome review!!!
  

• Live Show Review 5/06 [+ Show ]
  

  Music Connection Vol. XXX No. 10 5/8/06 by Bob Leggett “Regardless of the venue, this band will d...Music Connection Vol. XXX No. 10 5/8/06 by Bob Leggett
  
  “Regardless of the venue, this band will draw people to the dance floor and keep them there all night long, while providing positive messages that are much more than fluff. Better Chemistry is just what the L.A. music scene needs right now.”
  

• Peter Tosh Tribute Album [+ Show ]
  

  7/17/2003 Sean Paul, Ex-GN'R Members To Do Covers On Peter Tosh Tribute by Jon Wiederhorn The reg...7/17/2003
  Sean Paul, Ex-GN'R Members To Do Covers On Peter Tosh Tribute by Jon Wiederhorn The reggae grooves of Peter Tosh appeal to a cross section of music lovers, which explains why dancehall artist Sean Paul, hip-hop stoners Cypress Hill and former Guns N' Roses members guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum have all agreed to create Tosh covers for The Peter Tosh Tribute Album, a toast to the late reggae great. Others appearing on The Peter Tosh Tribute Album include the Motels' Martha Davis, Bob Andy, Lasana Bandelé, Donald Kinsey, Edi Fitzroy, Tippa Irie with Better Chemistry, Luciano, Jeffrey Gaines, Lucky Dube, Maxi Priest, Aswad and David Lindley. To read more...
  http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1474122/20030717/paul_sean.jhtml

• BC on FSN [+ Show ]
  

  Thanks to AVP for placing our video, "6 Foot Shorty" on FSN's Prime Ticket television program. The v...Thanks to AVP for placing our video, "6 Foot Shorty" on FSN's Prime Ticket television program. The video ran as a promo for Womens Pro Beach Volleyball. Aired for 3 weeks during Prime ticket starting Aug. 26th, 2007

• CD Review "Undiscovered Elements" [+ Show ]
  

  Review By Mikey Atilano: I was having a pretty shitty day until I heard Better Chemistry. This band ...Review By Mikey Atilano: I was having a pretty shitty day until I heard Better Chemistry. This band is aptly named, as they do have better chemistry. Their chemistry includes blues, jungle, reggae, rock, hip-hop, ska, metal, disco, soul, funk, pop, punk, surf, gospel, and a few other influences that I'm sure I'm forgetting to include. They do an excellent job arranging these influences and their ideas to fit their music together nicely. Undiscovered Elements, the full-length release from Better Chemistry, demonstrates their musicality as a band. I predict that the party vibe they have will soon spread because this a band with the ability to easily produce multiople CDs of classic tunes.

• Over 5000 discs sold [+ Show ]
  

  Better Chemistry has surpased the 5000 sales mark as an independent band with no distribution, no co...Better Chemistry has surpased the 5000 sales mark as an independent band with no distribution, no contracts, no backing. Sold purely at live perfromances and their website. Does not include downloads.

Setlist

Sets vary depending on allowed stage time, but can do 40 minute power set to 2 hour improvised jam sets, and 3 - 1 hour sets in a night. Over 30 original tunes and a catalog of 70+ covers from Reggae, Ska, and Classic Rock.

Basic Requirements

Calendar