Groove Stain emerged from the hayseed town of Newnan, GA as a band determined to amplify the nucleus of the rock/reggae genre. It was among the halls of East Coweta High School where schoolmates Erok Patterson, Mike Hatton and Jonny Etheridge allied their musical talent and harebrained humor.
Their first EP demonstrated keen musical talent humbled by the trio’s adolescent buffoonery. It spawned the 1999 release of their first full length album, Open up a Can, which caught the ears of budding Atlanta hip-hop DJs Chris Luva Luva (a.k.a. Ludacris) and Poon Daddy. This opened the door for the band to perform with Ludacris in Statesboro, GA, and contribute to “Midnight Train” on Luda’s debut album, Incognegro.
In 2000, Patterson and Hatton sharpened their skills at the Atlanta Institute of Music, while Jonny Etheridge studied music education at the University of West Georgia. It was at AIM where Patterson and Hatton met drummer Brian Dagget, who had previous experience working with SOJA. Dagget brought diversity to the band by adding the reggae influence that is the backbone of their music today. Dagget’s exceptional drumming inspired Groove Stain to finish their second album, The Other 9 to 5, which they recorded at Full Sail University. During this time the band expanded their fan base throughout the southeast, touring from Texas to the Carolinas.
2007 saw the release of their self-titled album, Groove Stain. After years devoted to regional touring the band took on the rest of the States alongside SOJA, Ballyhoo, and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. For the next three years, the band leapt at opportunities to share the stage with artists like Snoop Dogg, Nappy Roots, Rehab, Reel Big Fish, The English Beat, Less Than Jake, and Weezer.
May 2010 introduced Brian Dagget with the opportunity to sit in as drummer on SOJA’s European tour. The Groove Stain stalwart triumphantly arrived back in Atlanta in time to complete the band’s fourth and most recent album, Out All Night, which was produced and engineered by Grammy winner Juan Covas. The album was ranked as one of the top twenty reggae albums of 2010 on iTunes, and is featured on iTunes UK, Europe, Japan and South America.
In 2011 the band welcomed keyboard player Eric Cohen-Greenburg and trombone player Sam Szpendyk. Amidst a packed touring schedule, the band is now anticipating the 2012 premier of their album produced by Atlanta’s own Rico Wade and Organized Noize.
credits
released May 13, 2010
Groove Stain is:
Erok Patterson-Vox,Lead Guitar
Jon Etheridge - Vox,Horns, Percussion
Mike Hatton - Bass, Keys
Chris Pope- Guitar
All songs written by E. Patterson except:
Take Your Life, Keep Us Blind, Roll One, No More Lines, Best I Can,
Written By E. Patterson and J. Etheridge.
Strings on Best I can performed by
Darian Cornish (Violin) and Naarah Strokosch (Cello)
All Songs Arranged by Groove Stain
Produced By Groove Stain and Juan Covas
All Songs Recorded at FullSail University Orlando Fl.
Mixed by Juan Covas and Groove Stain
Jetsail Sound Studios Orlando, Fl.
Additional recording-
Rockyard Recording Studios in Snellville GA
Engineered by Noah Hammerle
Solid Gold Studios in Tucker GA
Engineered by Darian Cornish and Mike Hatton
Masterd by Mike Caplan at Lion and Fox
Jacob Hemphill courtesy of DMV Records
Clayton Heirs- of The Bastard Suns Courtesy of SDR Records.
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