Biography

1991 band photo 1991

Inka Inka (1989 - 1996). Well known for their strong songwriting talents - many songs filled with positive messages addressing contemporary issues - plus energetic live shows featuring hypnotic grooves and powerful horn riffs, Inka Inka has universal appeal. The band has established a strong national following since they first formed in 1989. The highly-acclaimed socially- and environmentally-conscious group has played on the same stage with some of the finest reggae musicians in the world. Among those are Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, The Meditations, Pato Banton, Third World, Lucky Dube, Mutabaruka, and Toots and the Maytals.

1995 lineup:  
Spiderman Lead Vocals, Percussion
Sticky Bass
Greg Schnetz Guitar, Vocals
Steven Hoffman Keyboard, Vocals
Michael Taylor Trumpet, Vocals
Manas Itene Drums, Vocals
Henry Sarmiento Sound Engineer

 

1992 lineup:  
Sticky Bass
Mozo Drums
Dr. Allen Guitar, Vocals
Monkey Man Mungaray Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Vocals
John "Brother Red Hawk" Caredio Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals
Spiderman Lead Vocals, Percussion
Fazer Guitar, Vocals
Gregory Kaiser Keyboard, Vocals

 

1991 lineup:  
Todd "Spiderman" Wilder Lead Vocals, Percussion
Greg "Fazer" Schnetz Guitar, Vocals
Kevin "Doctor" Allen Guitar, Vocals
Greg "Sticky" Jaeger Bass
Scott "Mozo" Maddern Drums, Percussion
Gregory Kaiser Keyboards, Vocals
John "Brother Red Hawk" Caredio Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Dale "Snake Charmer" Mungaray Saxophone

 

Three-time 1996 Bammie (Bay Area Music) award winners:

"Outstanding World Beat Club Band"
"Outstanding World Beat Album" (Myth of the Machine)
"Bay Area Club Band of the Year"

Voted "#1 Independent Reggae Album for 1995"
- Reggae Report Magazine

Voted "Best Local Reggae Band"
- San Jose Mercury News Reader's Poll

Vermont Reggae Festival
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
Bob Marley Festival in Wilmington, Delaware
Oregon Country Fair
Reggae in the Park at Golden Gate Park/San Francisco.

 

Reviews and Clippings

Noted in USA Today and Billboard and on MTV and VH-1. Reviews in a variety of publications, including Pulse! to El Paso Herald to Oil. Songs - featured in surf & ski videos and film soundtracks - heard also by millions watching Surfer Magazine's cable TV show and Suburu's Ski World on ESPN & ESPN2. Radio airplay across the airwaves, from progressive format 95.7 KUPR-FM in San Diego, CA to college radio stations in Vermont and NPR in Texas. Packed venues throughout the US and Canada - festivals to clubs, benefit concerts to conventions. Inka Inka has become on of Reggae's most in-demand, cutting-edge bands in North America. "An American Reggae act on the move... a band to watch out for," says Billboard.

BAM
: "Inka Inka has become one of the most respected and fastest rising acts in the Bay Area"
Article from Feb '91 (pdf)

Beach News & 95.7KUPR-FM/Global Gig show
"Five Stars"

Beat Magazine
"One of America's best home grown reggae bands, bar none... their material is first class, roots-rock reggae without apology."

Dub Missive Magazine
"A band on the way to the top!"

Magpie Weekly
"A phat album of well-executed reggae!"

Music Showcase TV
"One of the best! The sound is fresh, energetic and projects the highest degree of creative artistic talent."

Oil Magazine
"Four Stars"

San Jose Metro
"Inka Inka's hypnotic Jamaican rhythms are complemented by crystalline keyboards and a crisp horn section."

Pulse!
"Lyrics that will make you stand up and take notice."

Reggae Report
"Rousing horns and percussion infused the Dub segues and extended Dub jams of "Conspiracy Theory"/"The Message"; and a dynamic "Brainwash" captured the crowd and closed the set, arguably a contender for the best set of the '95 (Vermont Reggae) Fest."

Summit Daily News
"Powerful, up to date reggae with a message."

Surfer Magazine/ESPN & ESPN2
"Great songwriting!"

Upbeat
"Danceable rhythms dominated by bright, powerful horns and strong guitar licks."