Chester(NY) on purevolume™

Ska / Rock / Reggae

Chester is a band hailing from Ithaca, New York and with all of its six members still in high school the temptation is to peg them as another typical new group with no where to go. This is quite the misconception.

Chester is Isaac Schwartz(guitar and vocals), Ben Coleman(bass), Mike LoPinto(drums), Danny Abowd (tenor trombone), Jesse Gottlieb(trumpet) and Toby Maxwell(bass trombone). The band was first formed while they were all freshmen at Ithaca High School, but broke up later that same year to try other things. However, after a year apart this original ska band is back together and getting ready to set itself apart from the competition. While a bassist, guitarist, and drummer that have all been in performing rock bands for a long time are great, it's the horns who have been playing their instruments for more than seven years each that really set Chester apart. The three classically trianed musicians provide the band with an added dimension of musicality rarely seen in high school groups. The trumpet, tenor and bass trombones bring an unlimited range of possibilities to Chester that they have only begun to touch upon.

Now after the ska waves of the late 80's and 90's Chester is not trying to be part of a small ska scene, but rather playing the music they want to play, how they want to play it. They do not deny that great bands such as Reel Big Fish, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Less Than Jake (as well as many more) have influenced their creativity and styles, but they do not emulate their predecessors. Instead, while standing in the wake of their idols they are trying to make a name for themselves. Their style is distinctly ska, but brings in elements of rock, reggae, and Latin rhythms to create an energetic, danceable, and fun sound.

With several promo ideas and an album in the works, Chester is well on their way to success. They are scheduling shows anywhere they can and working up new material all the time(for booking, comments or questions email contact@chesterlives.com). So check back in to our site, www.chesterlives.com, for when shows are set, and be sure make an appearance; because all the world needs is a little more ska.