Ooklah The Moc
<strong>OOKLAH THE MOC </strong> was formed in 1997 playing a mix of roots reggae and hardcore. Through the years and several lineup changes, Ooklah became a strictly roots dub reggae band and reached its present 9-person lineup in 2000. Instrumentation consists of <br>
<strong>Ryan 'Jah Gumby' Murakami </strong>: Bass, <strong>John 'Barrucus' Davis </strong>: Drums, <br>
<strong>Asher Philippart </strong>: Guitar, <strong>Gary Nakano </strong>: Trumpet/Flugelhorn, <br>
<strong>Tony Bush </strong>: Trombone, <strong>Brad Watanabe </strong>: Keyboard, and the vocal trio of <br>
<strong>Jimbo 'Ras Bird' LaPierre </strong>, <strong>'Sista Micky' Huihui </strong>, and <strong>Nick 'Kali' Navales </strong>. <br>
In 2001, OOKLAH THE MOC released their debut album, <strong>ITES MASSIVE </strong>, a 16-song original roots dub reggae conglomeration. Ites Massive was released under and is distributed by <strong>Ghetto Circus Records </strong> of Hawai`i. Ooklah's 2nd album, REARRANGE YOUR POSITIVE, released on March 24,2004, another roots dub reggae venture, 14 tracks long, displaying the talents of the three-piece vocal unit, as well as the jams from the most solid backing band around. Additionally, Ooklah the Moc has tracks on the <strong>Quiet Storm Records </strong> compilation disks, <strong>ROOTS MUSIC I </strong>and <strong>ROOTS MUSIC </strong><strong>III, </strong>as well as their video <strong> "Pickpocket" </strong>which is featured on the DVD, <strong> Reggae Nation: Island Movement </strong>. <br>
OOKLAH THE MOC is at its best live and direct in concert and has played crazy shows all over Hawai`i and just finished its first tour of L.A. and San Diego. Ooklah has also opened for many international artists such as <strong><a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=197">Michael Rose</a> </strong>, many of the <strong>Marley Ohana </strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=2392">ASWAD</a> </strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=2771">Lucky Dube</a> </strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=422">Yami Bolo</a> </strong>, <strong>WAR, Wailing Souls, <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=60">Gregory Isaacs</a>, <a href="http://www.bigupradio.com/artistDetail.jsp?aid=2633">Groundation</a>, Long Beach Shortbus, Slightly Stoopid, Moemoea, Dread Ashanti, Natural Vibrations, Irie Souls, The Ionz, THC, Maacho, BET, Go Jimmy Go, Pepper, FIJI, Ho`onua, East Side Wrecking Crew, Hot Rain, Free Sound, Humble Soul, Mixjah, Irieside, Chris Murray Combo, The Sandollars, Isouljahs, Lights of Zion, </strong> and many others. <br>
OOKLAH THE MOC is a member of <strong>Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide </strong> ( <strong>RAW # </strong><strong>1409 </strong>) and supports the upfulness and participates in the extinguishing of babylon! <br>
Mahalo and we hope to play in your town soon...... <br>