Skank Bank is a roots reggae fusion band from Berkeley, CA formed in 2013. Skank Bank is a roots reggae fusion band formed in 2013 in Berkeley, California.
The diverse collective of musicians was brought together by California-born bandleader/arranger Gabriel Winter (guitar/vocals). The band has a big, eclectic sound that fuses foundation roots reggae with elements of jazz fusion, psychedelic music, R&B and other styles of dance music from around the globe. Skank Bank is known for their recognizable organ and percussion-heavy grooves, four-part harmo
nies, and guitar-led psychedelic dub jams transcending into open improvisation and musical exploration. Ranging from a quartet to a nonet on stage, the group has had more than 40 members since 2013. Winter’s consistent sideman being Rey Rey Armstrong (percussion) along with vocalists Connor Sablan (keyboards) and Toho Saunders (bass). The group often features up to a four-piece horn section led by saxophonist and vocalist Eric Molina. In past years, there has been a strong influence and presence from Liam King (trumpet/vocals), Adam Miller (trombone), Adan Fei Joo (guitar/vocals), and co-founding bassist Jiggly Streich. Emerging from West Berkeley’s 924 Gilman Street ska-punk revival scene in early 2013, Skank Bank explored various styles going deep into the roots of reggae, ska and dancehall. Incorporating the harmonic dissonance and improvisational freedoms of jazz with textural elements, drones, and tangential groovy jams of 60s psychedelic music into their dance-rooted sound, the group puts on a cosmic and soulful performance. Skank Bank has toured extensively in the United States and has two full-length albums to their credit; Dance Depository (2016), and Keep Complaining (2015). Their music is also well represented in a variety of films and compilations; James Franco's Metamorphosis Junior Year (2017), Arcane Drama: A Compilation of 924 Gilman St. Music Vol. 1 (2017), UnderCover Presents: A Tribute to Green Day's Dookie (2016), and Gilman Ska Night Vol. 2 (2014). They have played many festivals including the Foothills Music Festival (2018), People’s Park Anniversary Festival (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), the Brownsville Blues Festival (2017) and UnderCover Presents: A tribute to Green Day's Dookie at Oakland’s Fox Theater (2016). Skank Bank has backed and shared the stage with many artists including The Abyssinians, The Skatalites, Prezident Brown, Turbulence, Sister I-Live, Don Carlos, Tuff Lion, Ras Kidus, Matt Jenson, The Toasters, Human Rights (Bad Brains), Roddy Radiation (The Specials), Noorwood Fisher (Fishbone), Voodoo Glowskulls, Skankin Pickle, Country Joe, and many others.
