Frontman Noel Noel is the first to admit that the kid who inadvertently coined his band's name in 1991 was probably referring to the iconic hero Luke Skywalker.
"I was working with [the kid] at a youth facility at the time," Noel recalls. "And he thought we were like the Jedi, but with dreads… hence our name, Dredi."
But in looking back on his decades-long career, which has included more than its share of personnel configurations, high-level associations and tragic situations, the veteran Valley reggae-rocker seems to channel some of the more calculated, thoughtful sensibilities of the wily Obi-Wan Kenobi these days, carefully considering his current surroundings and the consequences of each action and reaction. That has made him far less likely to hurl himself headlong into the fray.
"We can finally afford to step back and watch where we're walking, you know?" he says. "There's no need to rush. Things happen in their own time… and we're living proof!"
As evidence, Noel cites the fortuitous set of circumstances surrounding his recent return to the local circuit. Apart from a one-off reunion in 2006, complications stemming from an auto accident had sidelined the singer—and the band—since 2002 for all intents and purposes.
Feeling better and fueled by a "Where Are They Now?" feature on the popular local music website My 411 Source, Noel notes that the perfect combination of his renewed interest in singing plus the constantly ringing phone soon led him to put on his recruiter's hat and seek some fresh Dredi troops.
"[Lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter] Bryan House and I have been a team since the early '90s," he explains. "But from there, we have enlisted the services of two great Berkshire-based musicians this time—Pat Mack [of the Justin Allen Trio on drums] and Dave Brown [of the Blue Root Collective on bass] and are sounding better than ever."
Initially, the freshly retooled reggae troupe was to debut the new sound at the second Berkshire Music Showcase—a May 16 benefit for the troops occurring on Armed Forces Day at Flavours Restaurant in Lenox.
While that date still stands, a slew of others—including an April 11 engagement at the Dalton Depot, an April 26 stop at Pittsfield's Mission Bar and Tapas, and a slot on My 411 Source's multi-band Maximum Capacity package Operation Diversity: The Rock N' Funky Reggae Fest on April 26—has subsequently materialized.
As have, Noel anxiously adds, offers to lend a tune to a Dennis Brown tribute CD that will be marketed and distributed worldwide, and even some label interest, replete with a contract and an offer to release and distribute Dredi music.
"Everything is in preliminary phases, and we are proceeding cautiously," he says. "But after all of the years of hard work and dedication, it is exciting to have them happening now, that's for sure."
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Speaking of "where are they now," the Crawler recently caught up with Dave Keating of former Fistah fame (his last Valley project with Matt Pierce of The Unband infamy), who informs us that after moving to New York and taking a year off from music altogether, he also recently decided to re-enter the scene.
"I ended up posting a Craigslist ad that said something like, 'Did your last drummer sleep with your girlfriend or smoke your last joint? Well, I won't do that,'" he recalls.
Ask some crazy questions and you'll get some crazy responders, the personable percussionist says he soon learned—in his case, a pair of Brooklyn-based guitar buddies who have been known to don bolo hats and goggles and sometimes wrap their faces in gauze on stage.
"The guys are nuts," he says, "but also have some connections. In fact, our first gig was opening for HR of Bad Brains, and the second was at the Crash Mansion."
The project is called Alonzo and The Arms, and, although there are no current plans for the band to hit the Bay State, those interested can check out tunes—and monitor the tour schedule—via www.myspace.com/thearms.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
