One of Milwaukee's most interesting bands at the moment isn't really a band at all. The Tropics are an on-again/off-again project of Recycled Future drummer Erik Radloff and bassist Todd Richards.
The duo does a sort of Sly & Robbie bass-and-drum project drawing on the talents of a range of guest musicians who help The Tropics explore different musical territory with each new performance, of which there have only been a handful so far.
From dub reggae to funk and hip hop, The Tropics are willing to go anywhere and to improvise their way there and back. The group's first show featured Jason Todd of Def Harmonic on turntables and Justin "J Money" Engel doing a live mixdown full of echo-plex, dubbed out space sounds. A second show at the Social in August found Todd again on hand, but this time joined by Old Man Malcolm, formerly of Citizen King. The pair were spinning simultaneously.
We recently chatted with Radloff about the project, Recycled Future and more.
OMC: How did The Tropics get together?
ER: While driving from the Hamptons with Recycled Future, and I discussed the idea of playing a live "drum & bass" type groove and incorporating the spirit of improvisational performance through various "guest" musicians. Todd was reading from H. Miller's "The Tropic of Cancer" and I asked if indeed there was a book titled "The Tropic of Capricorn" and if it would be a portrait of me, being a Capricorn. Todd said that's funny, because he was a Cancer, and then the idea was born. The Tropics. Those peaceful, groovy passages upon the oceans which make travel by boat quite lovely.
OMC: You're all in other bands and most of those bands maintain pretty busy schedules. Is it hard to keep The Tropics going?
ER: It is true that both Todd and I are committed, full-time active members of Recycled Future, so The Tropics find time when the van is parked for a spell to play out. The friends who join them upon the stage also have "other things" going, too (Jason Todd in Def Harmonic, "Old Man" Malcolm burning the vinyl at clubs, etc.). Luckily, what we all share is chaos. And because we've all had years of experience performing with one another in various contexts, the natural symbiosis creates an explosion of groove. That and Koppa's sandwiches.
OMC: Tell us about how the band works. There's a core, but also lots of guests, is that right?
ER: Todd and I lay down the nitty-gritty drums and bass tracks. Essentially we are the DJ's "constant record" or beat. This allows the various guests to approach their respective instruments as a more melodic, solo voice. Perhaps a guitarist would do anything but play chords. Essentially this is the DJ's "scratch track" with which to express solo ideas. The Tropics are open to and plan on asking a diverse assortment of players whether it be a celloist, a french horn-ist, sigmund snopek, a bodean, MC's, DJ's, a melodica-ist, etc., with each "show" being customized by me and Todd for each performer.
OMC: Who is the man behind the band, so to speak? Is there a leader or is it more democratic than that?
ER: The man behind the band is Jim Rockford. He's scoping big-wig crooks by day, running The Tropics by night, and having a burrito in the morning. And he's not all that democratic. Jimbo and beer from Koppa's, because it tastes better.
{INSERT_RELATED}OMC: What's it all sound like?
ER: The Tropics is groove stripped down to its drawers. Original ideas and new approaches to the most essential elements of contemporary music. It is quite personally satisfying and inspiring to both Todd and I, and the feedback received after the first two shows has been incredibly supportive and astounding. Justin "J-Money" Engel worked a live radioactive sound board mix and that most certainly had much to do with the luxurious quality of the sound those evenings. Todd and I, when questioned, both expressed a delightful sense of almost surprise at how naturally everything just "hit" and how well everyone was dressed.
OMC: Have your shows been successful so far, from a musical standpoint? Is it happening the way you'd hoped?
ER: To date, the entire operation has been a complete success, sticking precisely to plan.
OMC: Have you guys done any recording? Is that likely to happen; will there be a CD?
ER: The last show was recorded on mini disc from which The Tropics will review ideas and listen to what made what happen so good. Eventually enough of these "live recordings" will be accumulated at which point a compilation album of sorts may arise. There are no current plans in the "going" stage for studio projects with The Tropics. However, if certain funding sources were to become available, then perhaps this scenario could be changed.
The Tropics play at The Social, Sat., Nov. 9, at 11 p.m. Joining them will be Paul Amitai. Justin "J. Money" Engel" will do the live mix.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
