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DustySouthWest.com presents Soulafide and the Rock-Hop & Reggae Revolution! Comin straight out of the Dusty SouthWest, SOULAFIDE is an all-original Rock-Hop & Reggae band building up momentum to make a run on the music scene. Based out of Tempe, Arizona, SOULAFIDE has been saturating the Phoenix area with their innovative sounds, also performing in nearby Southern California. But what is this Revolution we so boldly speak of? Rock-Hop & Reggae incorporates heavy rock and reggae guitar alongside funky bass grooves, all laid down over the steady pulse of hip-hop beats. The vocals are a collaboration of rhythmic rhymes and flowing island melodies, with the force of pure unadulterated hard rock. The final touch is achieved with the addition of eclectic trombone leads and sultry blues harmonica. The finished product: a righteous blend of the finest aspects of Rock, Hip-Hop, and Reggae. But as they say, you’ll have to hear it to believe it. SOULAFIDE is currently promoting its debut EP, Dusty SouthWest, and wants to flood the local and surrounding music venues with their sound. Because of their diverse style, SOULAFIDE can feed an audience’s intense hunger for musical satisfaction on an increased number of levels. Whether it’s a rock show, a hip-hop oriented evening, or reggae night, SOULAFIDE will deliver that “juicy ear-hole” you’ve only dreamt of. Birth of the Bonafide (Band History) Over the past decade, groundbreaking bands like Sublime, 311 and Rage Against the Machine have successfully combined elements of Rock, Hip-Hop and Reggae, to form their own unique movements in music. SOULAFIDE seeks to follow in the footsteps of those pioneers, christening their own musical creation: “Rock-Hop & Reggae.” The year was 2004, trombonist and blues harp player grant edward had just finished up a 5-year stint as frontman of The Upsteadys, a traditional ska band from Arizona. After several attempts to join existing projects, nothing seemed to satisfy his extensive taste for music. Calling upon his love of both hip-hop and rock, and his roots in ska and reggae, grant set out to unite one and all into a single entity: “Rock-Hop & Reggae.” Guitarist Timothy Ness, aka Dr. Frost, joined the pursuit in November 2004. His presence immediately expanded the rock element, providing original material to go along with the core songs being developed to start the band. The project now had its founding members, and those members had a name: SOULAFIDE. “Soul,” because you’ve GOT to have it. “Soulafide,” from the Latin fide, meaning faith, because it is our belief in ourselves and the music that has taken us this far; and it is that conviction which will enable us to realize our true potential. Over the next year, grant and Tim steadily built up SOULAFIDE’s repertoire, creating songs like Blang Blang, dOWN, and Alone in Love. In early 2006, drummer Brent Hunt, aka Rusty, joined the group. Rusty’s drumming added a solid foundation to the band’s already maturing sound. While auditioning bassists, the members decided to look for an additional guitarist, soon discovering Emmanuel Anaya, aka Manny. With his natural ability to shred over both reggae and rock, as well as his soulful vocal stylings, Manny perfectly complimented the trio, adding a whole new dimension to their budding grooves. The last piece was set in place when Andrew Phibbs, an aspiring bassist from California, was introduced to the band. Heavily influenced by Rage and Sublime, Phibbs effortlessly took over bass responsibilities, completing the SOULAFIDE line-up, giving the ensemble its trademark sound. Rock-Hop & Reggae: Recognize it, Respect it, Remember it!