Ska favorites Smoke + Mirrors Sound System are keeping busy! Following up on recent single, “Joggin,” the group releases, No. 10 Dubbing Street, a tribute to British group, Big Audio Dynamite, this month. “It took a year and a half and a few thousand hours to create these tracks, based on the pioneering Big Audio Dynamite’s “No.10 Upping Street,” said the group’s head honcho, John Roy. The original albums best known song is likely the 1986 hit, “Cmon Every Beatbox.”
“There are so many great players involved in this album. Just the credits alone are a good paragraph,” Roy continued. Amongst the musicians involved are David Lally (Blindfold Monks), Israel Maldonado, and Matt Hensley (Flogging Molly). “I’m thankful that these great musicians let me capture their performances and pay homage to Jones, Letts, Dreadzone, and Strummer.” The two-disc album is available on colored vinyl, with liner notes by original Big Audio Dynamite member and reggae icon, Don Letts. Meanwhile, the artwork is once again provided by acclaimed graphics artist Michael Buchmiller, aka Prof. Miller from Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra.
In further Smoke + Mirrors news, a new single, “So Like Candy,” will be out shortly. Notably the tune is a cowrite by Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney.
Additionally, main man John Roy will be sailing aboard Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise, taking place from February 17 – 22, 2025. “They booked me to warm up for main acts, similar to a DJ slot,” Roy said. “Five performances over five days. I’m doing all live dub mixes of over 60 tunes that I’ve recorded.
It’s the great unknown for me. I’m working on getting all of my gear fx/ mixer/ laptop/interface, spring reverb, sampler, dub siren, tape delays , into two rolling cases that my wife and I can roll around a cruise ship.” Roy continues to practically live in his recording studio. Upcoming projects include a pair of singles that include violinist Alicia Previn amongst the players.
