007

Biography

Early Life

007 is a New Orleans-based rocksteady revival ensemble founded in 2000 by drummer Jeffrey "Houseman" Clemens, best known for his work with the Philadelphia blues-hip-hop outfit G. Love and Special Sauce. Clemens assembled a lineup of well-traveled New Orleans musicians united by a shared passion for Jamaican rocksteady — the brief but pivotal musical era of 1966–1968 that bridged ska and reggae. The band takes its name from Desmond Dekker's 1967 rude boy anthem "007 (Shanty Town)," one of the defining songs of the rocksteady era and the first Jamaican-produced record to reach the UK Top 20.

Career

007 built a devoted following on the New Orleans live circuit, becoming regulars at beloved venues such as BJ's Lounge and the Maple Leaf Bar. Their debut album, Studied Rudeness (2004), mixed studio and live tracks drawn from the classic rocksteady canon. Their second release, You Only Drop Once (2008), was praised by critics for its "less-is-more" production feel and faithfulness to early Jamaican studio aesthetics. The band made multiple appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and celebrated a 25th anniversary reunion covered by OffBeat Magazine. In 2024, they returned with The Return of Ben Downlow, a 10-track digital album produced by Andrew Gilchrist and mastered by Bruce Barielle, demonstrating the group's enduring commitment to the form. Their repertoire includes works by Desmond Dekker, Toots and the Maytals, Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, Justin Hinds, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and the Paragons.

Musical Style

007 specializes in rocksteady — a style characterized by ska played at half-speed, with heavy melodic bass lines, sparse horn arrangements, sharp rimshot drumming, organ fills, and vintage echo effects drawn from classic Jamaican studio production of the mid-1960s. Their vocal harmonies echo Caribbean doo-wop groups. OffBeat Magazine noted that 007's approach reveals "the debt the Jamaicans owed the Meters and Fats Domino," highlighting the deep stylistic kinship between New Orleans R&B and Jamaican popular music. The group features guitarist Alex McMurray (of Royal Fingerbowl), guitarist Jonathan Freilich (of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars), and bassist/vocalist Joe Cabral (of the Iguanas), creating a remarkably seasoned ensemble rooted in New Orleans musical culture.

Legacy

007 is one of very few North American ensembles devoted specifically to the authentic rocksteady sound, a genre often overlooked in the shadow of ska and reggae. By bringing this music to New Orleans stages and Jazz Fest, they have introduced the rocksteady tradition to new generations of listeners while drawing attention to the historical connections between Jamaican and New Orleans musical cultures. Their three-album catalog spanning two decades stands as a testament to the enduring vitality of rocksteady and the rich cross-pollination of Caribbean and Gulf Coast musical traditions.

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Fun Facts

• 007 takes its name from Desmond Dekker's 1967 rude boy anthem '007 (Shanty Town)' — the first Jamaican-produced record to reach the UK Top 20, predating the global reggae explosion by several years.
• OffBeat Magazine noted that 007's rocksteady performances reveal 'the debt the Jamaicans owed the Meters and Fats Domino,' highlighting New Orleans' often-unacknowledged influence on Jamaican popular music.
• The band was described by founding drummer Jeffrey Clemens as a 'happy accident' — an informal project born of pure enthusiasm that grew into a long-running New Orleans institution.
• 007 waited 16 years between their second album (2008) and their third (2024), but reunited for a celebrated 25th anniversary and continued performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
• The band's lineup reads like a New Orleans music all-star team: their members collectively play in G. Love and Special Sauce, the Iguanas, the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, and Royal Fingerbowl.

Musical Connections

Associated Artists

• G. Love and Special Sauce - Jeffrey "Houseman" Clemens, 007's founding drummer, is also the drummer for G. Love and Special Sauce, the Philadelphia blues-hip-hop outfit. His work with G. Love gave him the profile to assemble 007's lineup of New Orleans musicians. [1990s–present]
• The Iguanas - Joe Cabral, 007's bassist and lead vocalist, is primarily known as a saxophonist for the New Orleans Tex-Mex outfit the Iguanas, bringing that group's cross-cultural musical sensibility to 007.
• New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Guitarist Jonathan Freilich is a member of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, connecting 007 to the broader New Orleans world music and jazz scene.

Influences

• Desmond Dekker - 007 takes its name from Desmond Dekker's 1967 rocksteady anthem '007 (Shanty Town)' and extensively covers his catalog. Dekker's rude boy anthems define 007's repertoire and aesthetic. (007 (Shanty Town), Rude Boy Train) [founded 2000]
• Toots and the Maytals - 007 regularly performs and records songs from the Toots and the Maytals catalog, including 'Johnny Coolman,' treating their work as cornerstones of the rocksteady tradition. (Johnny Coolman)
• Lee 'Scratch' Perry - 007 covers Lee 'Scratch' Perry's 'The Upsetter' and draws on his production aesthetic in their studio sound, replicating the vintage echo effects and sparse arrangements of his Jamaican studio work. (The Upsetter)
• The Paragons - 007 covers the Paragons' 'The Tide is High' (best known in its Blondie version), honoring the original Jamaican rocksteady recording in their live and studio performances. (The Tide Is High)
• Alton Ellis - Alton Ellis is a key figure in 007's rocksteady repertoire; the band performs his material as part of their mission to revive the authentic sound of the 1966–1968 Jamaican rocksteady era.
• Justin Hinds - Justin Hinds and the Dominoes' work features in 007's live set, representing the rootsy, spiritual dimension of rocksteady that the band champions.
• Delroy Wilson - Delroy Wilson's smooth rocksteady vocal style is represented in 007's repertoire, as the band draws from the full spectrum of the 1966–1968 Jamaican rocksteady era.

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz