Rockers: Dis-N-Dat Band

Sista D & co. of Dis-N-Dat performing on Rockers (Jessica Teller/WERS)

By Cady Drell

The WERS Local Music Week went to Rockers territory on Tuesday night when Dis-N-Dat Band came into the Live Mix studio. Self-described as neo-reggae, the band played a three-song set that demonstrated their fusion of roots reggae, hip-hop, and R&B.

Dis-N-Dat Band’s versatility goes beyond just genres. The band shifts members, five of whom were present for the Live Mix. “Usually we have six people, but we can even go up to nine pieces with our horn section,” says band founder and drummer Marcus “Rangotan” Smith. The members present were Rangotan, lead vocalist and steel drummer Debra Sarjeant (also known as Sista D), bassist Felix, keyboardist Chunk, and background vocalist Ki-Ki. The current line-up has been together for about eight years, and the group recently released their third album, the all-live New Day, in February. They are also set to release their next album, titled Revelations, in a month.

During the mix, they played “Ring the Alarm (Revelation Time),” an instrumentally complex, upbeat track off of New Day. They followed with “Travel De Pacific,” an example of their adeptness with drum and bass tracks with an outstanding steel drum solo by Sista D. The band closed with “So Good,” a more relaxed track with a distinct R&B flavor.

Dis-N-Dat band are a 2009 New England Urban Music Award nominee in the Caribbean Group Category. “It’s pretty cool getting nominated, and we hope people voted for us,” says Sista D of the nomination. With a long track record on the East Coast tour circuit supporting acts like Lady Saw and Morgan Heritage, the band plenty of Northeastern dates posted through July. They’ll also be playing the Boston Spring Reggae Festival on May 2, and at the Western Front Club in Cambridge on April 4. More dates as well as the recorded versions of tonight’s tracks are posted on the band’s Myspace.

Dis-N-Dat Band Live On Rockers For Local Music Week

Dis-N-Dat Band, a neo-reggae group, just tore it up on Rockers. They performed three new songs off their new album: “Revelation,” “Pacific” and “So Good.” Musical influences include Black Uhuru, Sly & Robbie and, of course, Bob Marley. They have graced WERS studios multiple times over the years and we’re glad to have them back. To hear more live bands, check out the rest of this week between 7 and 10 p.m. on Rockers, “Boston’s Home for Reggae.”