The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THE BITTER defeat earlier this year at the Global Battle of the Bands was the beginning of the end for well known musical group Ira Storr and the Spank Band. As not to be defeated, however, members of the now broken group banded together to launch a new musical collaboration under a new musical name.

Several members of the old band launched Da Rhythm Band last Friday at Via Cafe.

“It wasn’t long after competing in the GBOB that we split. We wanted to do things differently than they were being done. We decided to start our own project to do things they way we wanted it done,” said Reuben Deleveaux, band leader and master drummer, whose stage name is Rump-pa-pum-pum.

Despite the challenges faced in the Spank Band there was a common denominator with the defected members: they wanted to be free with their music. They prepared for the public launch for three months, working all along to hone the right sound.

“We are a party band. We play rake n scrape, R&B, reggae, old school and soca music. We have great chemistry because we are not only a band, we are like family to one another. We are fired up simply because music is our passion and we are ready to show Bahamians what we really working with,” said Mr Deleveaux.

The launch also served to demonstrate that although the band is new, it is a musical group that has just as much talent to stand amongst bands who have been together for years.

Mr Deleveaux told Tribune Entertainment, Da Rhythm will be instrumental in bringing back goombay music. He said there are only a few Bahamian musicians who kept Goombay music alive. They intend to emulate what musicians such as Freddie Munnings and George Symonette have done.

Mr Deleveaux said they will allow the element of goombay to be front and centre in their music.

“The national music of the Bahamas is indeed goombay, but it is not highlighted as much in Bahamian music. There are guys out there who still play goombay music but it is not done as much as it should be.”

“If you are a Bahamian you will enjoy our goombay music. It is not that different from Junkanoo music,” he said.

A few original songs the band is currently working on have elements of goombay music,” the master drummer said.

Although they just launched themselves as a band, artists such as Dillion Mckenzie have already reached out to the group. “Thinkin Bout You” by Dillion Mckenzie, Stevie S and Da Rhythm Band is currently on rotation. Meanwhile, the band will be making and releasing original songs in the future.

Not only does Da Rhythm Band hope to represent the culture of the Bahamas in their music, they also hope to inspire other young people to do the same.

“I think with our band we have a chance to motivate young people to make music their career. We have a particular interest in young people and we want to be the ones to pave the way for them. We are so happy to be together and we are happy to represent the country,” he said.

Da Rhythm band does not have a home venue as yet. However Via Café has reached out to the group. The band believes other opportunities for performance venues will rise as the band becomes established and their sound becomes familiar to Bahamian music enthusiasts.

Da Rhythm Band consist of seven members. They include: Tino Mcphee, co leader, Senovia Smith, lead vocalist, Anishka Lewis, lead vocalist and band secretary, Chad Young, lead guitarist, Aaron Seymour on drums, Byron Thompson, and Reuben Deleveaux, band leader, master drummer and percussionist.