Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) is known fo… Read Full Bio ↴www.LivePanda.com
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) is known for folding the aesthetics of the jamband scene into the structures of reggae. In the live setting, the band performs extended jams, while their previous studio albums have blended roots reggae with psychedelia (In These Times, 2012) or diverged from the genre completely, journeying into straight Americana (Country, 2012). On STEADY, the band’s fourth studio album (and first on Easy Star Records), GPGDS has synthesized their approach by weaving traditional folk instrumentation into a foundation of reggae, with arrangements that let the reggae breathe in a non-traditional way. While STEADY may not be the first record to find inspiration in both old time Appalachia and ‘70s Jamaica, it may be the best.
Much of STEADY’s power comes from the attention put into the recording process. Craig Welsch (one of the key players in 10 Ft. Ganja Plant) invited the band to his Boston studio, with the intention of “capturing an aspect of Panda that no one had ever heard yet, something totally different.” This rings true on tracks like “Wolf At The Door” and “.45.” Bassist-singer James Searl jokes that the band “has always followed John Brown’s Body (JBB) into studios,” as each studio they’ve recorded in was previously used by the legendary Ithaca, New York-based band. This trend continues unabated here, as Welsch was formerly JBB’s dub engineer and producer on some of their finest sessions, while another song on STEADY – the herb-smoking gem “Mr. Cop” – was produced by Matt Saccuccimorano, who helmed the controls on the last JBB release. The only other track on the record not coming from Welsch – the title track – was co-produced by Danny Kalb, who has worked with The Green, Ben Harper, and Jack Johnson.
Giant Panda formed in 2001 in Rochester, New York. A mysteriously fertile area for developing the U.S. reggae scene, the city has ties going back to 1981 when Lee “Scratch” Perry recruited his entire backing band from Rochester. The Upstate NY region became early supporters of GPGDS, while its members were in high school and beginning college, playing weekly gigs to cut their teeth. In these formative years, Giant Panda began to explore their songs with an experimental approach that is stylistically akin to the Grateful Dead, while keeping their roots firmly planted in reggae rhythms and lyrical content. Around 2005 tapers began to notice and soon after one of the band’s first Colorado shows received homepage placement on the popular taper website Archive.org. Almost overnight GPGDS became a mainstay on the jamband festival circuit.
From 2005 – 2013 GPGDS’s three original members (drummer Chris O’Brian, guitarist-singer Dylan Savage, and bassist-singer James Searl) began a touring schedule averaging over 100 shows a year and performing throughout the U.S., Canada, and Jamaica. Their third lead singer, multi-instrumentalist Dan Keller, joined the group a few years back, while keyboardist Tony Gallicchio joined in 2013. (Most of the sessions for STEADY feature ex-keys man Aaron Lipp, though Gallicchio can be heard on two of the tracks.) Giant Panda’s continuous time on the road hardened the players into monster instrumentalists. Their attention to the studio in later years, along with a unique blending of reggae and rural American music solidified GPGDS as one of the region’s most beloved bands. Like their hometown, they manage to unify an intellectual and creative culture with a hard-working blue-collar past.
The three main songwriters’ material is different enough to create a flowing and diverse listening experience. Savage’s inspiring anthems tend to be the most “classically” reggae, with songs like “Not The Fool,” “Whatever Cost,” and “Solution” echoing influences like Culture (circa 1979), early Burning Spear, and Jimmy Cliff. Searl is more experimental, both in form (“Wolf At The Door” could almost be an Elvis Costello song, while “.45” utilizes African and blues influences) and in lyrics: his “Hurt Up Your Brother” is almost Dadaist, taking a few lines and constantly rearranging them to achieve new meanings, imbued with a nonsensical-yet-expressive feel, while one of the most dubbed-out riddims on the record chugs along underneath. Keller’s songs stand illusively in between, and manage to go both directions, with a hardcore reggae groove on “Move” giving way to an unexpected chorus, or with the catchy “Home” being one of the only reggae songs in history to use a banjo so creatively and fittingly.
Giant Panda is one of a growing number of bands that work with both Rootfire (their management) and Easy Star Records. STEADY marks the seventeenth release Rootfire and Easy Star have paired up for, making them one of the most storied and successful partnerships in the modern reggae scene. Release number eighteen is just a few days away…. GPGDS has cut a full Americana album as a sequel to 2012’s Country, which will also come out on Easy Star on May 18, 2015. For now though, sit back and enjoy STEADY – a masterpiece that solidifies Giant Panda’s standing as a groundbreaker in the roots reggae scene.
BAND MEMBERS:
James Searl (Bass, Vocals),
Chris O'Brian (Drums, Vocals),
Dylan Savage (Guitar, Vocals),
Dan Keller (Guitar, Vocals),
Tony Gallicchio (Keys)
Steady
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yeah, I'm taking my time
taking it slow
and you know I'm ready
and I can't get you off of my mind
letting it show
yeah, taking my time
taking it slow
and you know already
that I can't get you off of my mind
letting you know
yeah, life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
yeah, I dig your spirit
yeah, you're one of a kind
and you know I feel it
cause I can't get you off of my mind
yeah, I dig your spirit
yeah, you're one of a kind
and I hope you feel it
cause I can't get you off of my mind
letting it grow
life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
yeah, life's been so good since I got to meet you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
since I got to meet you
oh every time I see you
since I got to meet you
The lyrics of "Steady" by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad talk about the feeling of being in love and the excitement that comes with it. The singer says that he's taking things slow and steady, but at the same time, he can't get his lover off his mind. He speaks about how he feels about his partner's unique personality and how he hopes they feel the same way about him. He expresses his happiness for having met them and shares the special moments they've had together.
The chorus of the song talks about how life has been good since the two met, and how every time they see each other, their hearts beat faster. The line "under the sunlight sharing sensimilla" could refer to the couple sharing a moment of smoking marijuana together, which is often seen as an intimate activity among lovers.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and the joy that comes with being with someone you care about deeply. The lyrics convey a sense of optimism and hopefulness for the future of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
yeah, you know I'm steady
I am always grounded and level-headed
yeah, I'm taking my time
I am patient, not rushing anything
taking it slow
I am doing things at my own pace, not in a hurry
and you know I'm ready
I am prepared for anything that may come my way
and I can't get you off of my mind
I am constantly thinking about you, unable to forget you
letting it show
I am not hiding my feelings or emotions
and you know already
You are aware of my feelings
that I can't get you off of my mind
I am always thinking about you
letting you know
I want you to be aware of my feelings
yeah, life's been so good since I got to meet you
My life has improved since I met you
oh my heart beats every time I see you
I feel so happy and excited whenever I see you
under the sunlight sharing sensimilla yeah
We enjoy smoking weed together under the sun
yeah, I dig your spirit
I admire your personality and character
yeah, you're one of a kind
You are unique and special
and you know I feel it
You are aware of how I appreciate you
cause I can't get you off of my mind
I am always thinking about you
and I hope you feel it
I want you to understand my affection for you
letting it grow
I want our relationship to develop and mature
since I got to meet you
My life has been much better since we met
oh every time I see you
I am always happy and excited whenever I am with you
Contributed by Hailey P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brianalbanese9567
One of my favorite tracks off the album. Definately get the best vibes off this song.
@utopianfurbiscuit
They’ve come a long way.. I remember finding these guys back in 2008/9 ish ..
they did like a 20 plus min dub jam at my first show...
@MissArielleRae
We chose this as our first dance at our wedding 6.22.19
@ashleyluttrell6059
Same here! 8/8/15 great wedding song
@untrue7295
Spot on choice! Love it
@jeunet2672
3 years after , this tune is allways a pearl...... so sweet feeling.... lov it guys. really a good job
@DaleandtheZDubs
love this song!!! hopefully we can have the priviledge of getting up with you guys one day
@DiamondHeadgames
Damn, sounds just like a Hawaiian breeze... Caught their live show just South of Buffalo, NY this Aug. 2014. These folks is Ono "Good Earth", wish them all the best...
@sassypunkprincess114
*Jamaician breeze.
@brianalbanese9567
At the Winery? Great show.