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Instigators was formed in 1996 by Daniel Lamb. Original members Scott "One Drop" Valpey, Daniel Lamb, Newel Briggs and Zelly Rock were playing together in other groups and decided to create something new yet familiar.
While touring with Mikey Dread & Jah Levi & the Higher Reasoning, Daniel wrote over 200 songs with the idea that the music would someday be performed live. Instigators are the vehicle for the performance of these songs.
The band has remained a strong presence in the Pacific NW and has been recognized as one of a handful of US reggae bands who keep it real. Their new CD Living Gift is one of the best U.S. reggae albums of all time, ranking with bands like John Brown's Body and Groundation.
Hailing from the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Instigators don't skimp on or try to water down that reggae sound known the world over. They have been compared to Steel Pulse and Burning Spear and do right by their Jamaican predecessors and listeners who like it real.
With a flourish of horns and a cry of "yes, this is a conscious time!" signal at the start of Living Gift, (the latest CD) there are urgent messages of love, unity, respect and environmental concerns to move towards.
The musical expertise with which the band addresses such messages is tight, catchy and heartfelt as chugging reggae tempos bolstered by funky keyboard, horn and guitar accents punctuate understated vocals singing uplifting lyrics. The sound is both fresh and familiar, and these Instigators fully succeed in capturing the forward-moving spirit that the best reggae has always been all about.
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