Artist description The "horn-intensive", "high-energy" Ska Fusion band from the Texas Gulf Coast with a sound as diverse as their audience.

Music Style Ska Fusion

Musical Influences The Specials, Hepcat, The Skatalites, Skinnerbox

Similar Artists The Skatalites

Artist History The high-energy ska sound of Secret Agent 8 was born in February of 1996 in Texas City, an industrial complex on the Texas Gulf Coast between Houston and Galveston Island. Will Frith, Zack Cayton, Jacob Gracia and Sammy Navarro were the original members who got together simply because they "wanted to play music". In the beginning, the group leaned toward "punk ska," imitating a style that arrived in the U.S. from England. Early influences included Operation Ivy and The Specials. Gradually, Secret Agent 8 has evolved into what they are today: eight members each as individual as their music. Current influences are such artists as The Skatalites, Hepcat, The Specials and assorted jazz, swing and blues performers. They have developed a unique style that blends Ska, Big Band, Swing, Rock and Jazz into what can only be described as Ska/Fusion. Because of this mix they attract an audience similarly diverse in age and musical interests. Secret Agent 8 currently has three completed works to their credit. Their first release came on the compilation CD "Texas Ska Volume I" produced by Pinche Flojo Records featuring recordings of "Dance the Night Away" and "Beer's OK", two of their original songs. In July 1998 they recorded their first full-length album at SugarHill Studios in Houston. They said, "We knew what we wanted but Dan Workman squeezed the full potential out of the band so that we came away with something better than we had hoped for." The Grammy-nominated Workman engineered and co-produced the project. On November 6,1998, Secret Agent 8 officially released the self-titled debut CD on their independent label, 008 Records. The work features twelve original compositions. Most recently, one of the songs from their debut album "Out Of Control" was selected to be included on the compilation from Stub Daddy Records, "Potluck". Recording is almost completed for a second full-length CD that the group plans to release in the Spring 2001. In August 1998, the band won the Ernie Ball sponsored Battle of the Bands 2 at "The Abyss" in Houston and earned a chance to perform in the Van's Warped Tour at the Astro Arena. "It was a great experience. We had a huge crowd and got to rub shoulders with bands such as Hepcat, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and The Specials, just to name a few." They were invited to play the Houston stop of the Warped Tour again in 1999 and 2000. Secret Agent 8 placed first in the Ernie Ball International Battle of the Bands 2 Semi-finals in Long Beach, California, on November 8, 1998. As one of the four remaining bands out of an original pool of 5,000 entries, they went on to compete in the Finals that were held at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood on January 30, 1999. Because of their accomplishment, Secret Agent 8 was selected "The Best Band of 1998" by The Houston Entertainment Rag.For the past three years Secret Agent 8 has performed in the Annual Bob Marley Festival Tour being one of the first Ska bands to play the tour in it's eight year history. This election year they were asked to perform at the Houston Green Party rally with candidate Ralph Nader. Organizers chose them for "their energetic and topical music".Secret Agent 8 has shared the stage with bands such as Neville Staples (The Specials), The Skatalites, The Toasters, The Scofflaws, Regatta 69, Reel Big Fish, Magadog, Mobtown, The Robustos, Mustard Plug, The Mad Caddies and the Blue Meanies among others. Venues where Secret Agent 8 performs are as varied as the Bob Marley Festival Tour, The Van's Warped Tour, Six Flags Theme Parks, Mardi Gras, The Seabrook Music Festival, The Houston Downtown Street Festival, various charitable events as well as various clubs throughout Texas and the surrounding states.

Group Members Will Frith, Vocals/Percussion/Theremin; Kenny Dickman, Lead Guitar/Vocals; Zack Cayton, Rhythm Guitar; Mark McPherson, Bass Guitar; Aaron Koerner, Trumpet/Flugle/Vocals; Chris Jensen, Trombone; Clayton Duncan, Saxophone; Ryan Scroggins, Keyboards/Percussion; Justin Brouillard, Drums

Albums Secret Agent 8 - 008 Records,Texas Ska Volume 1 - Pinche Flojo Records,Potluck - Stub Daddy Records,Strike Back At The Empire - Fifth Wheel Records - Australia,Start.Action.Stop. - 008 Records

Press Reviews From The Coastal CurrentSouth Padre Island (Bob Marley Festival Tour)by Scott Campbell of FM 101.1 RadioOne of the delights of the Bob Marley Festival is sure to be the aggregate from Texas City, Secret Agent 8. This nine-member band and its lively ska sound has recently won a number of critical accolades; and during the Ernie Ball International Battle of the Bands in San Luis Obispo, California, beat out eight other bands in the semi-final round.Their debut album is a self-produced item, Secret Agent 8 (008 Records, 1998) and was recorded at SugarHill Studios in Houston. The sizeable band is Will Frith on lead vocals, Kenny Dickman on lead guitar, Zack Cayton on rhythm, Jacob Gracia on bass, Aaron Koerner and Jeff Conti on trumpets, Chris Jensen and David Evans on trombone and Benny Tamayo on drums. Like any ska band, the accent is on the sum of the work and not any particular entity.Secret Agent 8 leads off with Hoodlum, as Dickman and Cayton lay down deceptively laid-back raggae rhythms before the horn section comes exploding out with ska fury. Frith's rapid-fire vocal delivery in underscored by the crack horn section.This should be one of the surprises of the Festival, with Secret Agent 8 gaining more supporters as they interact with the audience in a fast-paced set.

Location Texas City, TX - USA

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