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First Listen: The Prizefighters – “The Prizefighter Beat” & “A Fistful Of Credits”

The hysteria surrounding the coronavirus increases daily. While we all need to stay informed and take precautions to remain healthy and not contribute to the spreading of this flu-like virus, amid this growing panic, let’s not lose sight of those who are fighting for their lives against much more deadly diseases, like cancer.

Minneapolis ska and early-reggae revivalists, The Prizefighters, are lacing up their gloves to help combat the dreaded “c” word. On Friday, March 13, they will be releasing a new digital single, “The Prizefighter Beat,” along with a “B-side” titled, “A Fistful Of Credits (Theme from The Mandalorian).”

“The Prizefighter Beat” was one of the very first songs the band had ever written, dating back to their inception in 2006. Starting out as sort of an unofficial theme song, it eventually got pushed aside and would rarely be performed live. Because of this, over the years, an inside joke developed amongst the band and their fans, where the crowd would often yell, “Play ‘Prizefighter Beat!’” akin to classic rock fans drunkenly belting out “Freeeeebiiiiiird!”

In late 2019, a longtime fan and friend of the band, Jeni “Jock Jams” Larson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Larson has been cheering on The Prizefighters since the band was formed and is one of the most vocal supporters among those who urge the band to play “The Prizefighter Beat.” Given this, The Prizefighters wanted to “make good on 14 years of this odd infatuation,” so they “cleaned up the song’s loose ends, patched up the holes, and finished actually writing the entire song.”

“The Prizefighter Beat,” a sizzling ska stomper with that old school sound that the band is known for, will be released exclusively on the band’s Bandcamp page, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Sladjana M Crosley Fund for GCT Research, a zero-overhead organization dedicated to the eradication of ovarian cancers.  The purchase also includes a digital “B-side,” that reimagines the main theme from Disney’s awesome streaming television show, The Mandalorian, as a menacing Spaghetti Western reggae number, titled, “A Fistful of Credits.”

This release will coincide with a benefit concert on Saturday March 14, at Can Can Wonderland in Saint Paul, MN. The concert will feature the reunion of local reggae favorites, The Dropsteppers, a Specials tribute band called Blank Expressions, DJs spinning reggae, ska, and soul, plus a raffle and silent auction. The event is free to attend and open to the public. More information for the benefit concert can be found on the Facebook event page.

You can listen to these two Prizefighters tunes now on the Rootfire soundcloud page, but we encourage you to join the fight against ovarian cancer by purchasing the tracks for your own digital collection and/or donating to the cause directly at the links mentioned above.


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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.

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