Artist description San Antonio's Favorite Party Band!

Music Style Rock/Reggae/Irish Folk

Musical Influences Beer and Chicks

Similar Artists Skunkweed

Artist History The story begins two years ago on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Jay Brown and Leon Waddy sat in a rubber raft, drinking beer and enjoying the stark beauty of Big Bend National Park. They had won the rafting trip through a local radio station, 99.5 KISS. The premise of the contest was to write a song incorporating several odd catch phrases supplied by the station. The station selected about 10 winners, and Jay and Leon felt lucky to be there. They had been “jammin” together for some time now but spent most of their time writing funny parodies of songs that they could use to make fun of their friends. Neither guy even considered himself a musician. While drifting through the Santa Elena Canyon, Leon reached for his harmonica. At that time he could only play a couple of riffs, but it was enough to get Jay Brown started on one of his classic free style jams. He wrote the lyrics as he sang them, never straying from his theme of “Getting Drunk on the Rio Grande.” The result wasn’t acoustically pleasing, but was apparently good enough to attract the attention of the other boats. Before you knew it all the boats were clumped together and a couple of guys had broken out their guitars. It was like a floating “open mike night”. Jay and Leon had met everyone on the trip, but had made a special note to avoid one guy after they heard he was a part time police officer. This copper, Mike Aurora, turned out to be one of the most incredible guitarists they had ever heard. He could play anything, and play it well. It was only a matter of time before the three were around the campfire, belting out everything from Hootie and the Blowfish to Metallica. They also had a chance to hear some of the other winners jam. They heard some fantastic speed metal from the members of Black Mariah and Spectre. Dave James, the bassist for Spectre told the three to be in touch, as he was tired of only playing heavy metal, and wanted to try some other projects. Only a month later Skunkweed was born. At that time it was only a “three man acoustical jam”, but they had a blast playing various parties and barbecues, all the while hoping for something bigger. The three kept writing funny songs and even though Leon had incorporated congas into the act, they still didn’t consider themselves a real “band”. Jamal Said met the guys through a mutual friend. Every time they jammed he told them of how he used to be a drummer in a rock band and how he wanted to get back into it. Leon’s reply to him was always, “Well then, buy a drum set.” And, just like that, one day he did. He and Dave James showed up at practice that night ready to rock. Jamal had bought the drum set specifically to play with Skunkweed, which was a little overwhelming to the rest of the guys. Jay whispered to Leon, “What if he sucks?” Fortunately for Skunkweed, he didn’t. Dave and Jamal turned out to be the missing puzzle pieces that made their sound complete. Two months later they played their first gig, and haven’t looked back. In only one year, they’ve gathered a following of over two hundred local fans; they’ve played everywhere from local bars to beer festivals. In October, they were named the winners of 99.5 KISS’ 1997 Battle of the Bands; and most recently, they opened up for Eric Johnson and Robert Earl Keen at the Shiner Bocktoberfest. Skunkweed is one of the few bands in existence today that is completely original. They have written songs in just about every musical genre there is. The one thing that’s consistent is the emphasis on funny, witty lyrics and a festival appeal. Just looking at them makes you wonder how these guys even got together. Not every band can claim to have a policeman, a fireman, a black guy, a country boy, and a guy that looks like he should be playing for Slayer. What makes Skunkweed special is that each member brings his own unique musical background to the band, and every song reflects a different influence. So, if you get the chance, give these guys a listen. If you’ve never heard of Skunkweed, don’t worry… You will soon.

Group Members Jay "MF" Brown - Vocals, Guitar * Leon "Wad" Waddy - Keys, Percussion, Vocals * Mike "Maestro" Aurora - Lead Guitar, Percussion * Dave "Space" James - On Bass * Jamal "The Fireman" Said - On Drums

Albums History of the Beer Bong

Press Reviews Rooted Magazine • May/June 1999 Skunkweed History of the Beer Bong Bongwater Records Down and dirty. That's the genuine way to play the blues. Coarse honesty, unruffled manner and soul-searching are the pillars of any exceptional blues song. However, not all blues bands sound like life sucks. Some groups convey their stories of hard-luck and partying through spirited music and prankish wordplay. The San Antonio band Skunkweed perhaps best represents this type of contemporary blues-oriented rock. The quintet's formation over three years ago was one of chance meetings, and resulted in a band inspired to play a broad selection of genres, from blues rock to funk and country. The first two members, lead vocalist Jay Brown and pianist Leon Waddy, had a knack for writing song parodies and tossing in risqué phrases when you least expect them. The same holds true for the group today as evidenced in their first album, The History of the Beer Bong. The CD runs the gamut of Skunkweed's best tunes, all of which are original, yet they poke fun at several musical genres. The first selection, "Big Booty Woman," is about... well, you figure it out. The song begins with guitar riffs similar to the ones that kick off Jimi Hendrix's classic jam,"Voodoo Chile." The lyrics and the blues rock rhythm are freestyle in the same vein as The Grateful Dead. But you really don't pay as much attention to the sound as you do the lines. When there are such phrases as, "When I find my big booty woman, gonna put some Spackle in that crack," you get an idea of the Skunkweed-style humor. "South Carolina" is a knock-off of the typical Irish folk song, but without any of the elaborate native instruments. One line goes, "I'm in love with a lady from South Carolina, hold onto me tight like a virgin vagina." Oh yeah. You can just imagine yourself at an Irish pub, listening to the band's wisdom while sucking on your fourth pint of Guinness. "White Trash Galore" has a wide assortment of guitar riffs and contains a decent tempo. It's like radio friendly pop country, if you will. "Over You" is about a love lost, but doesn't dampen anyone's spirits. It's uptempo, and optimism pervades throughout the song. Midway through the song, lead guitarist Mike Aurora demonstrates the skills that pay the bills. "Mexican Bus" is a happy-go-lucky tune about a guy (Aurora, according to the song) who wants to visit Mexico for spring break, but is hard up for a ride and cash. So, he rides an old VIA bus south of the border. It has a late '60s rock vibe without any overemphasis on a particular instrument, akin to Lynyrd Skynyrd and CCR. "Tubin'," which is about tubing on the river– another Texas summertime tradition– features a jangle-pop sound similar to the old R.E.M. Really old R.E.M. The History of the Beer Bong, complete with 18 songs, captures the essence of Skunkweed, a band that is more enjoyable and better understood in concert (read that: "beer friendly environment"). If you want party music with an eclectic mixture of styles and the occasional zany lyrics, Skunkweed is all too happy to oblige. - Edmond Ortiz, Editor, San Antonio Scene © 1999 Rooted Magazine Feedback? email editor@rooted.comJim Beal - San Antonio Express News May 6, 1999 Skunk Release If it weren't for beer and sex, Skunkweed would have very few songs and those songs wouldn't last very long. Politically correct Skunkweed is not. Fun, Skunkweed has the potential to be. Tonight, Skunkweed — Jay Brown, vocals, harmonica, guitar; Mike Aurora, guitar; Leon Waddy, piano, vocals; Dave James, bass; and Jamal Said, drums — will celebrate the release of their debut CD,

Location San Antonio, TX - USA

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