2008 Woodie Awards
5 Elements brew a blissful reggae tonic
Gary S. Angelo REPORTER
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Formed from the funk remnants of Youngstown act Gold Boots, the members of 5 Elements were all friends since elementary school. The 5 Elements stir up a musical main course of metal, punk, reggae, funk, and ska. That is hmmm, "5 Potent Elements."
The act, 5 Elements dig into the late '70s/early '80s classic reggae vaults, paying homage to stars such as; Steel Pulse, Eek A Mouse and Gregory Isaacs. They grew up listening to loads of reggae and making that "element" the divine spark that lights up their music.
What really gives 5 Elements a take-notice-quality is their positive musical subject matter. "I grew up in Youngstown and we want people to know that it's a positive place in our music.
"When bass player Kevin Gulletti came to the band, he was the missing link to the "5th Element" to what we were trying to do." said turntable master/vocalist Jim Logan.?All members of 5 Elements are eight-year musical veterans. "When we first got booked as a band, we shared shows with tons of regional metal acts.
We played for metal crowds, but allowed our own reggae style to filter through our set lists. There is a little light, you just have to look for it." Logan said.?While faithfully clinging to their second wave reggae roots, The 5 Elements incorporate an equal mixture of the punk-meets-Jah Nation splendor of the Bad Brains with the signature ska attitude of Reel Big Phish and early Operation Ivy.
Their ska-influenced fire was used to cover Operation Ivy's 1989 classic "Take Warning." ?Five Elements recorded their self-titled CD at Hubbard, Ohio's Underdog Music Mania and Recording studio.
They hope to record two or three new songs during the winter and add them to the already-released album. ?On touring matters Logan comments, "Right now we are trying to book some summer shows." As a band, 5 Elements have not played outside of Ohio, but hope to conjure up some East coast dates.
Logan adds, "We have friends in Vegas that want us to play there in the summer. We are trying to record two or three new songs and bang out a second album as well."?The 5 Elements will jam off at the Cellar Nov. 28 for the one-year anniversary party of CD 93.3's "Homegrown Show."
They were also the winners of this past summer's "Homegrown Show's" Battle of The Bands at the Downtown Rib Burnoff.
The act, 5 Elements dig into the late '70s/early '80s classic reggae vaults, paying homage to stars such as; Steel Pulse, Eek A Mouse and Gregory Isaacs. They grew up listening to loads of reggae and making that "element" the divine spark that lights up their music.
What really gives 5 Elements a take-notice-quality is their positive musical subject matter. "I grew up in Youngstown and we want people to know that it's a positive place in our music.
"When bass player Kevin Gulletti came to the band, he was the missing link to the "5th Element" to what we were trying to do." said turntable master/vocalist Jim Logan.?All members of 5 Elements are eight-year musical veterans. "When we first got booked as a band, we shared shows with tons of regional metal acts.
We played for metal crowds, but allowed our own reggae style to filter through our set lists. There is a little light, you just have to look for it." Logan said.?While faithfully clinging to their second wave reggae roots, The 5 Elements incorporate an equal mixture of the punk-meets-Jah Nation splendor of the Bad Brains with the signature ska attitude of Reel Big Phish and early Operation Ivy.
Their ska-influenced fire was used to cover Operation Ivy's 1989 classic "Take Warning." ?Five Elements recorded their self-titled CD at Hubbard, Ohio's Underdog Music Mania and Recording studio.
They hope to record two or three new songs during the winter and add them to the already-released album. ?On touring matters Logan comments, "Right now we are trying to book some summer shows." As a band, 5 Elements have not played outside of Ohio, but hope to conjure up some East coast dates.
Logan adds, "We have friends in Vegas that want us to play there in the summer. We are trying to record two or three new songs and bang out a second album as well."?The 5 Elements will jam off at the Cellar Nov. 28 for the one-year anniversary party of CD 93.3's "Homegrown Show."
They were also the winners of this past summer's "Homegrown Show's" Battle of The Bands at the Downtown Rib Burnoff.
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