Music
Press
"things picked up considerably when Rootz and Zeebo took over vocal duties for the dub/reggae portion of the show. The two -- also locals -- served as much as hype men as singers, getting audience members to wave their arms and just generally loosen up. It was around this point that personal space on the floor became nonexistent and gyrations by audience members became more pronounced. The two led a rousing version of "Warning Shots" to end the initial set that had the audience going wild, and did it again with the encore performance of "Coming From the Top."
- Washington Post - 12/23/06
Friday, November 9
It was bad news for the 9:30 Club and Decemberists fans alike when the (pick one: whimsical, precious, annoying) indie-folk band canceled its fall tour, leaving four empty dates on the club's schedule, including two weekend evenings. Fear not, though: local bands to the rescue! Gypsy Eyes Records quickly threw together a diverse four-band bill headlined by ESL and Thievery Corporation-associated reggae group See-I. The octet holds down Rockas International every Wednesday at Eighteenth Street Lounge and vocalists Rootz and Zeebo are certainly known to anyone who has witnessed a full band performance by Thievery. Speaking of Thievery, Rob Garza's new band Dust Galaxy will also be playing, featuring songs from the band's just-released debut album. It has an Eastern music meets psych rock feel, meaning it sounds a bit like ... Kula Shaker? Strange but true. Local sludge/psych faves Apes and spacey folk rockers Revival round things out.
Washington Post
11/08/07 - Washington Post
Enter Zeebo and Rootz, two Rastafarian brothers who provide the rude boy vocal snippets on songs like “38.45".... Their music is as eclectic, stylish, charismatic, genial, witty, sophisticated and worldly as they are.
High Times
6/29/08 - High Times
"The Rehoboth Beach area will get a rare taste of live reggae when a pair of Rastafarian siblings perform Friday.... See-I’s growing popularity has been a grass-roots movement for the most part. "
- Roger Hillis
October 2nd, 2008
Beachcomber Daily Times
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200810021113/ENTERTAINMENT02/81002029 - Beachcomber Daily Times
From the dubby depths of Washington D.C.'s Eighteenth Street Lounge emerges Exile Music's reggae-leaning, downtempo collaboration See-I. Fronted and orchestrated by the deejay toasting skills of MC's Rootz and Zeebo (you may recall their toasting skills from Thievery Corp's "38.45" and "Focus on Sight"), Dinner of Herb offers a full-course preview of their upcoming medium-length offering titled Special Operations. And while the conditioned dub junkie may recall the sexy-inquisitive overtime ballad "Why Not Tonight?", which was previously only available on 7-inch, it's the sitar-laced title track "Dinner" and See-I's overall ability to blend the sacred trinity of dub, hip-hop and downtempo that makes this 4-song EP something next-world music lovers can really get excited about. Note: Larry Clutch writes all his reviews while driving using his thumbs on his Sidekick II while steering with his knees. -Larry Clutch - RE:UP Magainze (#006 Winter 2005)
New UK-dub jam from the Theivery Corporation's vocalist "See-I." I think the last bastard jazz release we got was Magic Fly's "Champion Mushroom" and their dubby hip hop sound is pretty unique right now. It reminds me of an innocent teenage days drinking keg beer in San Diego. Check the super positive lyrics seeping from "The King(1)." Magic Fly works his spell on the flip giving you an extended version with a heavier bassline. Although the vibe is comparable to when radio artists were doing reggae tributes in the late 90's, that's not always bad. Can't you hear this coming off a spring commercial?
February 2008
http://www.turntablelab.com - Turntable Lab
"DC based roots reggae rockers SEE-I follow up their "Dinner of Herb" EP with a solid release on Brooklyn's Bastard Jazz Recordings. "The King" was released earlier this month on limited edition 10" vinyl and features the original and dub versions produced by DC's own Thomas Blondet. On the flip side is a funky remix done by The Magic Fly from the UK. Featured throughout are the conscious vocal stylings of SEE-I bredren Rootz and Zeebo. You may have heard Rootz and Zeebo on countless Thievery Corporation tracks or performing live with the band as well. The entire SEE-I team is hard at work on a new album to be released later this year on Fort Knox Recordings." - The Vinyl District
"Order some rum and kick back, because once See-I takes the stage, you’ll be sweating until last call. Grounded in traditional roots reggae, See-I employs a diverse line-up of singers and MC’s. They occasionally wander into related genres, like when they drop their James Brown medley, or a few go-go tinged gems."
- Chris Seeger
June 18, 2008
Brightest Young Things - Brightest Young Things
Discography
Why Not Tonight? (single) - ESL Music - 2003
Dinner of Herb (EP) - Exile Records - 2004
Special Operations (LP) - Exile Records - 2005
See-I meets Jah Love (EP) - Jah Love Recordings - 2006
The King (single) - Bastard Jazz Recordings - 2007
Photos
Bio
Over the past decade See-I has grown and developed from a mere vision into a highly creative collaboration of some of the city’s most talented musicians. Forged under the watchful eye of roots reggae vocalists Rootz and Zeebo, See-I is more than just a moniker, band or recording project. These Rasta bredren infuse their music with an uplifting spirit of positivity and social awareness. See-I plays music that moves your soul and your feet.
Rootz and Zeebo have been fixtures on the Washington, DC music scene for over 10 years now, from their home base at the Eighteenth Street Lounge. As the founding fathers of the See-I massive, these two brothers can be heard providing vocals on a variety of music. Reggae is their background, but they are equally skilled on top of drum’n’bass, house music, Brazilian flavors, dub, downtempo and more. They are also two of the vocalists in legendary DC outfit Thievery Corporation. They tour regularly worldwide with the band and have recorded several songs with “The Corporation”. This versatility combined with their conscious lyrics is what sets Rootz and Zeebo above the rest.
In addition to the strength of Rootz and Zeebo's vocals, the See-I band is a top notch assortment of talented artists. Rob Myers on guitar is also a member of Thievery Corporation, Fort Knox 5 and International Velvet. Names Thompson on drums also plays with latin reggae rockers Nayas and Soul Brazil. Steve Sachse on bass is an accomplished musician in his own right and currently plays with Sin Miedo and Cubano Groove. Javier Miranda on percussion has his own group The Empresarios and records regularly for ESL Music and Rhythm and Culture. Frank Mitchell on saxophone also plays sax for Thievery Corporation and The Allmighty Senators. The keyboardist Salem Steele has worked closely on the forthcoming See-I album and is another family member of Rootz and Zeebo Steele.
See-I has defined their sound playing each and every Wednesday night at the Eighteenth Street Lounge in Washington, DC. The Eighteenth Street Lounge is their home-base and they pack the house every week. But recent gigs have included the massive Virgin Festival, the Artscape Festival, Dubwise Sessions in Brooklyn, the 13th Floor and Mosaic in Baltimore, Rock and Roll Hotel and RNR Lounge in DC, Iota and Laughing Lizard Lounge in Virginia. The See-I Massive are ready to take their sound on the road far and wide!
Check out a lot more pictures, audio and much more here:
http://www.myspace.com/seei
Links
