As a staple of the Northwest music scene, Washington’s High Ceiling has played hundreds of shows alongside some of the biggest names in Jam-Rock and Reggae, including JOHN BROWN’S BODY and GARAJ MAHAL. When High Ceiling formed in 2004, the group had an early love and admiration for roots reggae music and also the jazz influenced musicianship, improvised playing, and eclectic sound of bands in the jam scene. Through their years of continued musical study and the growth that comes from playing music together week after week, year after year, the group’s playing evolved until they were writing songs in a style truly all their own; a unique fusion of reggae, funk, and trance music with unpredictable instrumental tangents. Andrew Frey of Maximum Ink Music Magazine describes High Ceiling’s music as “Easy flowing reggae escapades that ascend into effervescent jams and rootsy rock anthems. Fundamentally joyful, this Washington act lyrically takes time to delve into socio/political topics of relevance.” Uplifting, conscious, and adventurous are all good words to describe the band’s music, especially in a live setting. In concert, High Ceiling hits hard instrumentally with a heavy dose of deep bass, percussive reggae grooves, and improvised sections where the group creates layers of live dub, danceable drum and percussion rhythms, or epic guitar driven climaxes.
From the start, grassroots is the method High Ceiling has used to promote, tour, organize events, and introduce their music to the people. The band tours extensively throughout the west coast, especially in the Northwest and the result has been a steady influx of opportunities and passionate fans who love High Ceiling’s music and who will travel hours to see the band perform. The group has gained much notoriety for their self-produced Grange events in which they create a one-night festival experience for the audience with non-stop music and an atmosphere of freedom and community.
The band has released two CD’s, and now they have really managed to capture their energetic live show on their second full length studio album, Illusions. Currently in rotation on hundreds of community and college radio stations across the U.S. and Canada, Illusions reached 14 on the jambands.com radio charts and also charted top ten CMJ on multiple station’s charts. Recently, their song “High and Lifted” was the 1 Reggae song on somojo.net for the entire month of January 2010.
The group even organizes its own festival, the Skok Valley Music Rally. This weekend long music festival takes place in July or August near Shelton, WA and features many of the best bands in the region in a cool outdoor setting. Plans for the 2010 event are currently underway.
High Ceiling has also been honored to perform as the backing band for "Reggae Legend" Norma Fraser at multiple festival appearances.
Through years of touring and creating conscious music with reverence for unity, love, compassion, and growth; High Ceiling has built a loyal spirited fan base.
HIGH CEILING DISCOGRAPHY:
Illusions - 2009
Angle of Repose - 2006
