Rolling Reunion

....Rolling Reunion returned to Chicago on Sat. for a late set at Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville. Dropping their heavy guitar riffing, electronic dance set on the ever lasting Cubs fans of the night. The Cubs pulled through after a 13 inning, extra inning......

(07/25/09) - Red Eye

...and for now was all the rage, that was until they let Rolling Reunion take the stage at this year's Street Scene Festival in San Diego. "It was all last minute, I think we found out last night.." says Reeves. This three piece rock trio played a high energy set at the Green Stage on Sunday afternoon before thousands of sun- beaten, San Diego music lovers.....

(9/09/08) - West Coast Performer

Electronica and jam bands seem like two tastes that only come together at giant music festivals, but one Redlands band is out to prove that the genres really can mix.
That would be Rolling Reunion, which has psychedelic guitars, electro beats and infusions of funk, reggae and jammy goodness in its catalog... - Vanessa Franko Press Enterprise '08

WEBSITE: www.rollingreunion.com

You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker before—likely tacked to the rear glass hatch of a beat-to-shit subcompact driven by a dejected drummer toolin’ away to his next jam—that reads (in big, blue, unmistakable block lettering): “DRUM MACHINES HAVE NO SOUL.”

Redlands trio Rolling Reunion don’t appear to be relying on drum machines for their primary rhythm component—they’ve got a living, breathing beatmaker named Chad Patrick at the kit—but they’ve proved one thing: You can have a free-spirited rock outfit and incorporate electronics without getting stodgy. In fact, they’ve even signposted it in a two-worded summary that they’ve coined “jamtronic rock.”

As with many newly-minted bands (the Reunion’s been around since April), they’re all about advancing their cause whilst embracing technology. And they’re not afraid to embrace audiences, either. “Love and peace are out there to be made, if you want to, make it,” says bassist/vocalist Matt McKnight. “We make it.”

Yep, Rolling Reunion say that their aims are to provide people a safe place to come together and celebrate life through music and friendship, to give back to the people and communities, and to support the rituals of art, freedom and expression. Such goodness is accomplished by “rocking a sweaty, hardcore group of fans year round” and “giving fans the most honest, cutting edge and free spirited live music experience possible,” McKnight adds.

So, where to go for that Rolling Reunion dose of expression? One of their favorite spots is their hometown’s martini bar, The Vault, but the band plays anywhere in the US and beyond.

“There's a scene of wonderful people and musicians there,” says McKnight. “They treat everyone with respect and pay attention to vibe and good taste. Everyone there has become our dear friends.”

And what about that name? Who’s getting back together? “We like to think of every show as a reunion,” says McKnight, noting that “unity” thing once again. “Traveling is part of being a musician, so it's a Rolling Reunion.” (Waleed Rashidi)

- Inland Empire Weekly

..Rolling Reunion found themselves playing at Goose Island Brew Pub in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood the same night the Cubs clinched their devision
"It was awesome. The streets were flooded with people," says one fan.
"Traveling and bringing the good music and growing the fan base. Those things have to happen at once," said McKnight.
Rolling Reunion is hoping to tour cross-country next summer. (Matt Baker)

9-28-2008 - Chicago Tribune

By VANESSA FRANKO
The Press-Enterprise
Jam music and electronica don't spring to mind like a peanut-butter-and-jelly kind of music pairing, but Redlands-based Rolling Reunion has taken the disparate genres and merged them in an intriguing and appealing way.
Band members Chris Mathews, Chad Patrick, Matt McKnight and Spiro Nicolopoulos started marrying the different types of music, because those were the sounds they were seeking.
"We just try to put them together in the same show," Nicolopoulos said.
Story continues below

Special to The Press-Enterprise
Rolling Reunion, based out of Redlands, is gearing up for a big year in 2010.
The band will bring its music to life Saturday at The Vault Martini Bar in Redlands for a Halloween gig. There's even a light show involved.
And the band's live shows helped turn Rolling Reunion into a full-on record label.
Nicolopoulos said the equipment the band was using live was the same as musicians would use in the studio.
So by using their own equipment to record and spending time on mixing and mastering without running against a costly studio clock, Rolling Reunion's next full-length record is due out soon, and the band is really happy with the results.
Nicolopoulos said band members have become better technical musicians, and they've become more dynamic than ever before and more efficient.
"Everybody's a forward thinker in this band," he said.
However, sometimes the forward-thinking ways were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Now the members are converging with high energy and making better music.
Nicolopoulos said by taking their time with the record, the members were able to achieve a richer electronic sound.
So other than plans to play Chicago, Las Vegas and Portland, Ore., in 2010, what's on the horizon for the band?
"A lot of hope," Nicolopoulos said. "That's pretty much what's driving us at this point."
9:30 p.m. Saturday, The Vault Martini Bar, 14 E. Vine St., Redlands, 909-798-2399.
Check out www.rollingreunion.com and www.myspace.com/rollingreunion for more information on the band. - Inland SoCal