By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Looking to escape the winter doldrums, at least temporarily?
With their captivating and uplifting blend of reggae and ska, Joliet-based The Selectones can help take your mind to warmer climes. And lucky for us, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to hear the band.
The Selectones will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at The Studio, 900 S. State St., Lockport and then at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 at The Town Bar & Grill, 2681 E. New York St., Aurora.
The band formed in September 2015. The current lineup consists of Nic Jones on lead vocals and guitars, Michael Delaney on bass, Ellis Wright on saxophone and backing vocals, Patrick Wright on trumpet and backing vocals and Malik Temple on drums and backing vocals.
I had the chance to talk to Michael and Malik about the band.
Q – What were your goals in forming the band?
Michael – To go out and have fun. It's a style of music that I really like and I wanted to put a reggae band together. It's fun music that everybody seems to enjoy.
I don't know that anybody came into this saying, hey, we're going to end up famous or anything like that. I think the goal now is to really grow the name and grow the band.
We've been recording a lot of original music lately. We're prepping for a lot of releases this year.
Q – You released the song "Secrets of Nesta" last October, which I understand is an homage to the late Bob Marley. Did the both of you grow up listening to Bob Marley?
Malik – I did not. But our singer, Nic, grew up listening to a lot of reggae. Nesta is actually Bob Marley's middle name.
Bob Marley has a special place in Nic's heart as a songwriter and as an activist.
Q – Of course, the band also incorporates ska into its music. Did you listen to ska growing up?
Malik – I didn't grow up with it. But I've developed an appreciation for it.
Q – There's not many reggae/ska bands in the music scene out here, so you guys stand out.
Michael – It's good summertime music, it's good outdoor music.
We play at the Joliet fireworks show every Fourth of July. And everybody eats that up.
You've got fireworks, you've got reggae music. We're right there on the river in downtown Joliet.
It doesn't really get much better than that.
Q – We were talking about Bob Marley earlier. In your shows, do you cover any of his songs?
Michael – We usually sprinkle in two or three of them in a show.
Q – Does Nic give the history behind the songs when you perform them?
Malik – Yes. Depending on the crowd and the age group, he might share some of that information.
He's very knowledgeable. He knows his stuff.
Q – I'm sure music lovers appreciate that.
Malik – Oh yeah, for sure.
Q – Is the band planning to release an album? Is that what you are working on next?
Malik – We're compiling an EP right now. It's coming along.
We've learned a lot. That's the benefit of the bass player having a studio in his basement.
Q – That must be nice.
Michael – It's a beautiful thing. Typically, for any band practice, I record the entire three hour practice and then send it out to everybody so everybody can listen to what they need to work on.
And then it works out great for song ideas, too. If Nic comes here and he has a song idea, he can just play his guitar and sing. It's recorded and I can send it to everybody and we can sit and marinate on it.
Q – When are you looking to out out this EP?
Malik – Hopefully by the summer. The goal is when we play at festivals this summer to have something for people connect with on the way home from the festival.
Q – Have you guys played with other reggae bands?
Michael – We opened for a national act called Through The Roots a few years back. We've also played with a Chicago band, The Concrete Roots.
We've also played with Bumsy and the Moochers, they're a ska band.
Q – What's the best thing about playing live? Is it about the connection with the audience?
Michael – Connecting with the audience, definitely. It's also about spreading the positivity.
And it's about having fun. I have a blast with these guys.
I like to do it as often as we can.
Q – I understand that some people have been coming to your shows since the band first formed. That must make you feel good.
Michael – I really value the input from those longtime fans, like when we do a new cover song or play a new original song.
I think we all value their input. They have watched us grow over the years.
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