Ever since becoming deeply moved and then essentially obsessed with reggae music as a teenager, Dave has always strove to learn as much as possible about the history and culture of reggae music, Jamaica and Rastafari, the ideology and lifestyle intertwined with reggae.
Over the years, he has interviewed many personalities throughout the reggae world including Ziggy Marley, Burning Spear, Lucky Dube, Bradley Nowell and many artists in the progressive roots scene.
Dave has also written and published a novel, “The Cosmic Burrito,” a tale of two friends who drive across the USA in search of the ultimate burrito. He plays ice hockey weekly for a recreational team he founded and manages, Team Rasta.
Reggae music has filled his life with a richness for which he will forever be grateful, and he gives thanks to musicians far and wide, past and present, whether they perform roots, dub, dancehall, skinhead, rocksteady or ska, whether their tools are analog or digital, as well as the producers, promoters, soundsystems, selectors and the reggae massive at large who comprise the international reggae community.
You can follow Dave on Instagram at @rootsdude and Twitter at @ElCosmicBurrito.
For the past two decades plus, few artists from within the modern reggae scene have brought me more enjoyment than roots and dub outfit 10 Ft. Ganja Plant. A big part of their vintage sound stems from the work of Craig “Dubfader” Welsch, who serves as their drummer… Read More
Nobody will deny that Sublime has been the most influential artist within the reggae rock scene and the most notorious beyond it, selling over 20 million records worldwide. Similar to the Grateful Dead, their oeuvre includes not only their music but their beloved artwork, which, over the years,… Read More
A series exploring photos, words, and songs.
Photos: Arik Solberg
Words: Dave Shiffman
Songs ♫: On Spotify, curated by Reid Foster
Life is full of highs and lows. If you’re fortunate, you experienced mostly smooth sailing in your earlier years except for the typical choppy waters, maybe… Read More
Reggae fans, do yourselves a favor and add this crucial documentary to your watch list: Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall. The film chronicles the growth of dancehall from its roots amongst Kingston sound systems to its crosspollination via the Jamaican diaspora of New York City, the borough of… Read More
After starting during their college years in 2004, the Vermont quartet, Twiddle, has been grinding out a solid career for over a decade, building a large fan base and establishing themselves as a noteworthy and respected artist in the jam band scene.… Read More
On November 4th, Sublime with Rome released an EP titled Tangerine Skies. The reggae rock studs hadn’t released a new LP since Sirens in 2019, and they’ve only released three albums since joining forces in 2011, so any new music surely warrants some fanfare.… Read More… Read More
I’ve been in love with The Loving Paupers since they burst onto the scene in 2016 with their magnificent eponymous debut EP. Well, actually, burst may not be the right word. While they certainly burst into my consciousness, rocking my world with their instantly enthralling, unique sound,… Read More