Dub Apocalypse is a powerhouse instrumental dub reggae band from Boston, MA, blending deep grooves, adventurous soundscapes, and top-tier musicianship.
Formed in 2007, the band was started by drummer Tommy Benedetti (of American reggae pioneers John Brown’s Body) and guitarist Johnny Trama, and brings together some of the city’s most versatile players:
Tommy Benedetti (drums) – A founding member of John Brown’s Body, Benedetti brings decades of experience in reggae and dub, having toured internationally and recorded for labels like Shanachie, John Zorn’s Tzadik (mixed by Bill Laswell), and Easy Star Records. He’s also backed legends like Justin Hinds and The Meditations.
Johnny Trama (guitar) – Known for his soulful blues touch, Trama has toured with B.B. King’s organist Ron Levy and many regional soul and R&B acts, grounding Dub Apocalypse’s signature sound with his rhythmic clarity.
clarity.
Timo Shanko (sax/bass) – A dual-threat player and longtime friend of the band, Shanko adds Coltrane-inspired sax improvisation and heavy bass grooves. He’s a veteran of the blues and free jazz scenes, and has played with Eddie Kirkland and G. Love & Special Sauce.
Aaron Bellamy (bass) – A fixture in Boston’s funk scene, Bellamy’s hard-hitting grooves lock in with Benedetti to create the militant rhythm core of the band.
Van Martin (guitar) – Originally from Chicago, Martin adds sonic texture and songwriting chops. He’s toured with Bernie Worrell and Big Daddy Kane, bringing dub experimentation and bold improvisation to the DA sound.
Together, Dub Apocalypse mixes original compositions with deep cuts and reinterpretations from Jamaican and UK dub catalogs. Their live sets are dynamic, with a twin-guitar attack, jazz-fueled horn lines, and rock-solid rhythm at the center.
The band has won a Boston Music Award, was named one of The Improper Bostonian’s “10 Local Acts You Need to Hear Now,” and maintains one of the city’s longest-running and most popular weekly residencies.
They’ve released three full-length albums – Road to Oblivion, Frozen Planet, and Sound the Alarm – and have performed alongside reggae legends including Papa Michigan, Carlton Livingston, Jahdan Blakkamoore, and UK dub pioneer Mad Professor.
Putting 30 years worth of experiences into a paragraph is hard to do. The main things to know are that Adam Arnone has been a serious rapper since before that was a viable career choice. Especially growing up in rural New Hampshire. He’s toured all over the country from the Warped Tour to The X Games. He’s the former frontman for the pioneering indie hip-hop groups Glue and Adeem and is the voice and music behind his latest mainstay Adam and the Flood. From a young age his love for hip-hop got him digging for vinyl in dusty thrift shops. Always the rapper, Adam watched his friends learn how to find the perfect sounds and then use drum machines and samplers to make beats. Years later, after looking for new ways to stretch his ideas, he formed a five-piece band. Live instruments opened up a new world of possibility. During the pandemic, Adam was isolated from the band but needed to keep creating. He decided to find a fresh sound by going back to his roots. With a midi keyboard, Logic Pro, and found audio, he started teaching himself how to sample and make beats. This led to starting his new project the creative agency Echo Finch. To his surprise he likes making beats just as much as rapping. He appreciates getting a break from his own voice. Most recently Adam joined forces with legendary DJ D-Styles to create the full length “Chasing Gods”.
Doors are at 7pm and music will start at 730. This show is all ages and seating is limited and also first come first served.
Thanks to a grant from TD Charitable Foundation, this show has an Access For All option which lets you name your price (you can't buy multiples of this option at the same time, so to buy more than one ticket, it is necessary to do each additional ticket in a different transaction).