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The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

Aaron Kamm and the One Drops deluge the Midwest

Blues music is a staple to St. Louis history. Almost a century has passed since St. Louis blues began to hit the streets and jazz clubs. Today, St. Louisans might find local band Aaron Kamm and The One Drops taking similar bass lines for a walk at local venues and nightclubs.

In 2007, the trio of Aaron Kamm, Sean Raila and Andy Lee Dorris fused their musical talents in order to create yet another inimitable sound out of the St. Louis region. In 2008, the trio released their debut album “Gnu Gnu,” which immediately helped them gain a foothold among local reggae-fiends. By the time their sophomore album was released in 2009, they were already a favorite at local venues. In 2011, they were awarded “Best Jam Band of 2011” by The Riverfront Times.

“They sound similar to Sublime musically, but Aaron’s voice is too unique to stop there,” senior Paul Licausi, a long-time follower of the band, said.

Instead of following in the footsteps of some of blues music’s greats, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops infuses mannerisms of early blues music into a relatively new sound stemming from the reggae-rock revival of the ‘90s. Kamm’s vocal scatting technique and melodic flows find a crucial medium between the two genres. The band also induces a mellow but upbeat atmosphere with veering bass-work and unswerving drum patterns.

What makes Aaron Kamm and the One Drops so bluesy is the machinery within Kamm’s grasp. The famous offbeat skanking rhythm is distinctive to the reggae genre, and, as can be expected, this rhythm progression serves as Kamm’s forte. However, there is a clear-cut blues twist in the finalized resonance and production. Whether it is the fiery solos, swaggering riffs or moody progressions, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops has created an innovative foundation for many local musicians to live up to.

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So, how does Aaron Kamm and the One Drops have such an astonishing local fan base?  Check their schedule. They book upward of five shows per month in St. Louis at a variety of venues, such as the Broadway Oyster Bar, 2720 Cherokee and Atomic Cowboy.

The group even draws in admirers from other local reggae bands, including Tony Barcinas of ROTA.

“The tightness of the rhythm section and the blend of reggae and blues-style grooves really draw me in,” Barcinas said. “Ihe rhythm is what draws fans’ feet to the dance floor.”

In the month of December alone, Aaron Kamm and The One Drops has seven events scheduled to take place— five in St. Louis, one in Carbondale, Ill. and one in Evansville, Ind.—many of which feature smaller sets that have arisen out of the St. Louis area, as well. Not only is Aaron Kamm and the One Drops hitting the road in December, but they are currently recording their third full-length album at Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis.

Stay tuned for more.

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