In this day and age everyone has a band, and it’s easy to get lost in the haircuts and the “this–core” and the “postthat”
and the long band names that invoke bloody doom, so when a bunch of accomplished musicians get together
and use their abilities to craft sun soaked Southern California reggae and laid-back ska, it’s like, “finally, a band
that I can just drink beer and dance to.” That band is ELLWOOD. Originally born out of lazy days that Chuck (the
golden-voiced singer of the Mad Caddies) and Todd (Mad Caddies original drummer) spent jamming together for
fun, ELLWOOD organically matured into a full-fledged band with the addition of friends Dustin (Cherry Poppin’
Daddies) on keys and Graham on bass. The result of this collaboration is Lost In Transition, a nine song album that
could aptly be described as a soundtrack to the long, slow, carefree days of the California summer. The synergy
amongst the band members is palpable, as each track flows with a natural effortless harmony that is so seamless it
almost goes undetected. Lost In Transition takes the most flavorful bits of the Mad Caddies often frenetic sound and
hones them into a fluid brand of reggae that immediately entrances the listener. It’s a refreshingly honest album with
no agenda other than to be exactly what it is: the product of four friends/musicians riding a groove and imparting
their unique perspective. If there’s a better formula for composing a smooth, kick-back, irresistibly catchy reggae/
ska album, we don’t know what it is.
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