Go Jimmy Go

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Go Jimmy Go is a ska band. Although chronologically, the band belongs to the third-wave, their mellow, slow tempo is reminiscent of the classic style of the original 1960s Jamaican first wave of ska.

Go Jimmy Go was formed in 1996 during the height of the third-wave ska craze by Larry Gordon and Cameron Wright during the weekly Ska Night at a club then known as The Vibe at the renowned Puck's Alley near the University of Hawaii. Several of the regulars of Ska Night had discussed forming a band which would be Hawaii's answer to the thriving "traditional ska" scene. After several false starts and frequent jam sessions featuring a rotating cast of trial members, a small core emerged consisting of Wright on bass, Gordon on alto saxophone and vocals, Eric White on tenor saxophone, Ian Ashley on guitar and Tyson Balmores on drums, with several musicians rotating in and out of the lineup to fill in at various positions. "We had so many members come and go that first year. We were picky from the start," remembered White. "By the second year, we must have had about 20 total members pass through." These included a trio of female back-up singers, an organist and a trumpeter.

From the beginning it was decided that Go Jimmy Go's sound would be more influenced by early ska pioneers such as Toots & the Maytals, The Wailing Wailers, The Skatalites and more recently L.A.'s Hepcat. Eventually soul, rocksteady, reggae and funk began to blend seamlessly with the band's sound, reflecting the many musical influences of the core members. The band decided that a focus on original music as opposed to covers would set them apart from many of the traditional ska groups currently performing on the scene. "Egyptian Ska", "Mafioso", and "Jericho" were early favorites that were staple tunes in GJG's early set.

In 1997, a turning point came when Go Jimmy Go was introduced to Santa Barbara roots-reggae favorites Dynamic Pressure. The stress of maintaining the band, playing shows and living in a new state were too much and Dynamic Pressure disbanded. The premature demise of Dynamic Pressure led to former lead singer Jason "Bison" Friedman being offered a spot in the group.

During a show at the Karaoke Ninja House in Honolulu, guitarist Tino Olsen was invited to join the group. Olsen's strong song writing and vocal skills were a valuable asset to the group and led to many great GJG songs featuring a solid three part harmony that further strengthened the band's sound.

(To be continued)