Skank Bank is an American Reggae Fusion band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California, formed in 2013. The diverse Collective of musicians is led by california born Guitarist/Singer Gabriel Winter and Brazillian Drummer/Singer Marcos Rodrigues. The band has an eclectic sound that fuses roots reggae/ska with elements of jazz, funk, and rock―known for their heady psychedelic dub jams and breakdowns. Ranging from a quartet to a nonet, the group has had more than 20 members with the only consistent bandmates of Winter's being trumpet player Liam King, trombone player Adam Miller, and co-founding bassist Jiggly Streich.
Emerging from the 924 Gilman Street Berkeley Ska-Punk revival in early 2013, Skank Bank explored various styles of Reggae and Ska. Incorperating harmonic dissonance and improvisational elements of jazz with textural elements, groovy jams, and drones of psychedelic music, the group created a cosmic and soulful sound rooted in the sounds of Jamaican one-drop, rockers, and dancehall riddims.
Skank Bank has toured in United States and has two full-length Albums to their credit; Dance Depository (2016), and Keep Complaining (2015). Their music is also well represented in a variety of films and compilations; James Franco's Metamorphasis Junior Year (2017), Arcane Drama: A Compilation of 924 Gilman St. Music Vol. 1 (2017), UnderCover Presents: A Tribute to Green Day's Dookie (2016), and Gilman Ska Night Vol. 2 (2014). Skank Bank has shared the stage with The Toasters, Don Carlos, Green Day, The Supervillains, Human Rights (Bad Brains), Roddy Radiation (The Specials), Noorwood Fisher (Fishbone), Voodoo Glowskulls, Skankin Pickle, and many others.
DJ/Musician/Performer Rocker-T has been a huge influence on every music scene he has been involved in, leading the way for such artists as Matisyahu, Gentleman and Alborosie, and groups like Soja and Groundation, beginning at a time when American born artists really did not perform hip hop, roots or dancehall in a West Indian Patois. Due to his skill set he is sure to have even greater influence now and in the future. A man whose life seems to have been created for music, Rocker-T is a happy pulsating force with so much energy and love to share with the world.
