Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are counting down the days until Sept. 16th, 2016, the release date of Make It Better, the band’s 6th studio album. GPGDS are releasing their new album through the progressive, budding reggae label Rootfire Cooperative. The band recently revealed two singles off the September release, “Live and Travel” and “Gotta Make a Living.”
Giant Panda formed in Rochester, NY back in 2001. The Upstate New Yorkers are renowned for their ability to effortlessly seesaw between being a reggae band and a jam band, which is the formula behind their dynamic live performances. The band is made up by James Searl (bass/vocals), Chris O’Brian (drums/vocals), Dylan Savage (guitar/vocals), Dan Keller (guitar/vocals), and Tony Gallicchio (Keys). GPGDS topped Billboard’s Reggae Album Chart with 2014’s Steady, but have also proved their overall music prowess by writing two well-received Americana albums, Country (2012) and Bright Days (2015).
The band is calling the forthcoming album their most progressive to date. Singer and bassist James Searl says of the album: “It uniquely sounds the most progressive of anything we have ever done while also sounding the most like our first album.” GPGDS collaborated with sound engineers Matt Goodwin and Joel Scanlon while recording, and Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Karen O) served as co-producer and mixer for Make It Better.
Aside from the music, Make It Better features some eye-catching artwork. The cover was created by Brooklyn-based, Iranian-born artists Icy and Sot. Famous for their thought-provoking street art, the siblings’ illustration contains deep symbolism, depicting a boy’s face with a superimposed map of the world next to the album’s title, Make It Better.
Giant Panda will host their album release party in their hometown of Rochester, NY at Anthology on September 10th. Performing alongside will be Thunder Body, a fellow Rochester reggae band that features former GPGDS members Matthew O’Brian and Rachel Orke. Afterwards the band will circle the Northeast for a fall tour.
To pre-order Make It Better visit the GPGDS website or click HERE!
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – Make It Better Track Listing:
1.) Make It Better
2.) Live and Travel
3.) Signs
4.) Really True
5.) Walk Right Talk Right
6.) What Kind of World
7.) Gotta Make a Living
8.) Greatest of Days
9.) Trouble Deep
10.) Gone
giant panda guerilla dub squad Tour Dates
Related Links:
GPGDS Website
GPGDS Facebook
Article By: Brian Winters
Photo By: Stephen Reardon
Listen: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – “Live and Travel” (Single)