History of The Equaltes, Part Two

The new year/decade got off to a good start with a smokin' show at the legendary Wetlands in NYC with Boston's One People, another with reggae greats Mighty Diamonds at Pearl st. in Northampton, and a debut at the Iron Horse Music Hall with "Choice of Worlds" producer Michael Gregory.

On April 24 the band realized an old dream when they opened for the Wailers Band who were touring in support of their first post-Bob Marley LP "ID" on Atlantic Records. This would be the first of four decade-spanning shows with Aston "Familyman" Barrett and Co.

With the multi-track mixes of "Choice of Worlds" being passed around amongst the band, it became clear that the EQ's could use another singer to reproduce the tracks layered in the studio by Dave Boatwright and Michael Gregory. Kim Zombik had already made a name for herself in the Amherst area with her stunning renditions of Billie Holiday songs in solo shows and as a backgroung vocalist for local reggae band New Horizon. As she was also a fan of the EQ's it wasn't long before a collaboration date was set. Kim Zombik first took the stage with the Equalites at the Charlemont Inn on 5/25/90.

Gigs in Pittsfield, Worcester, Portland ME, Boston, W. Dover, VT and Springfield, MA followed over the summer, at the conclusion of which Andrew Dickinson left the group.

After Tony Beckwith returned for a benefit 'For Children with AIDS' at the Channel in Boston the group was fortunate to find two great keyboard players to fill Andrew's bubbling shoes. Joe Llamas and Doug Rogers debuted in October and soon were helping to support the Itals at Pearl Street in Northampton.

With Adam, Boo and Dave Noonan finishing up the editing and cover art for the CD 1990 ended on a happy note which carried over into the New Year with the 100th gig [at Williston-Northampton School] on 2/22/91 and a successful CD release party at Pearl St. on March 2. "Choice of Worlds" was one of the very first independent CD releases in the Pioneer Valley.

Dates in New Hampshire, Vermont and New York were bookended by a March 18 show with "Too Wicked" London-based Aswad and another spring celebration with the Wailers on 4/29. Following the Wailers show, Doug Rogers decided to return to the hills, and the remaining seven Equalites began making plans for a new recording to repesent the new line-up.

Meanwhile, "Choice of Worlds" recieved positive reviews locally and nationally and quickly topped the Valley Advocate local chart while placing on the influential College Music Journal [CMJ] chart. WRNX and WRSI placed several tracks in rotation, mainly the Chinese student uprising of 1989-inspired "Crackdown", "Make a Difference", "Keeper of the Star" and "Long Way From Trenchtown". Dirty Linen magazine writer Lahri Bond likened the EQ's sound to the "glory days" of late 70's and early 80's reggae.

Nevertheless, in spite of the efforts of Michael Gregory and some early interest from Island Records the EQ's were left to, promote the CD with their own newly created EQ imprint. They knuckled down and stayed on the road, with a dynamic show which now included Kim Zombik's lead vocals on sultry reggae/soul hybrids. The road wound on through Cambridge, Springfield, Charlemont, Worcester, Leverett, Garden City Long Island, Turner's Falls, Brattleboro VT, Billerica, Wendell, Greenfield, and Montague with openers along the way for Eek-a-Mouse and Special Beat [a Specials/Englishbeat hybrid].

This hectic, fun pace continued into '92 with extensive club work in Massachusetts and Vermont and shows in schools from Southern Connecticut to Pennsylvania and Central New York. Aftrer a short summer break, plans began to formulate to record some of the new music the group was writing and covering. When a possible collaboration with Skip MacDonald [Tackhead, ON-U Sound, Sugar Hill Gang, Little Axe] didn't work out out, Adam suggested working with noted jazz producer Norman Blain [Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp] in a live setting.

A target date was set for the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Pearl St., a party that had become a tradition for the EQ's in the early '90's. the show was well attended and well played, but unforseen problems with the 24 track recorder scuttled the effort. Fortunately, the next week's Charlemont Inn gig provided a smaller but equally enthusiastic crowd and the "Out at the Inn" show was taped on December 4, 1992. It was a poignant evening to preserve on tape, as Kim had already given her notice and indeed would finish up this stint with the band at a packed New Year's Eve party at Embree's in Housatonic.

Thus the year of '93 started with a new tape and a new Kim-less line-up trying to forge a new sound. Starting on New Year's Day at Pearl St. the band continued to work throughout New England, culminating in the fall with shows at Club Toast in Burlington, VT, and another opening for Jimmy Cliff at Pearl St. on November 1st. Following the annual Thanksgiving show at Pearl St. however it was decided to take the first extensive break from "the road' in five years.

After a much needed winter hiatus, the band hit the rehearsal in early spring and resumed performing at a well attended Mass Alert benefit at the Center for Performing Arts in Northampton, followed by a great Wailers show on the same day [4/28/94] that elections were held in the newly post-Apartheid South Africa. The Wailers threw down an epecially memorable dubbed-out version of "We and Dem", a late Marley gem which is rarely performed!

Alas, after a few more dates, Adam sustained extensive injuries in a bike accident and the pace slowed down again, save for a raucous July 4th party in Belchertown, at which Michael Miller filled in on bass. Michael, a good friend, former Loose Caboose band mate of Boo and Dave B. and stalwart veteran of the local reggae scene had actually first subbed for Adam in 1992.

The band did manage to get back in the studio with Adam in early June, however, to record a song for one of the first CD's put out by Signature Sounds, now a very successful label which focuses primarily on singer/sonwriters. Dave's song "Snowbound", originally a jazz tune about the pleasures of mid-winter tranquility, was given the "roots" teatment and included on an anthology CD to benefit the Western Mass Food Bank, alongside such great Valley artists as the Lonesome Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys, The Stone Coyotes and Tony Vacca. "Homegrown Harvest" raised some cash for a good cause and helped launch the area's most enduring and successful label.

End of part 2