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Fresh off Vancouver Island after performing at the Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival, BURNT and Perro Bravo return to their California roots this summer with new releases. While we patiently await Perro Bravo‘s full-length effort, BURNT delivers 70 minutes of absolute niceness on a must-own double album entitled Majestic Walrus, which features special guest appearances by various luminaries including Perro Bravo’s Miguel Happoldt. BURNT lead vocalist Danny Franco remembers the day he was introduced to Sublime and learned of Skunk Records producer Mike ‘Miguel’ Happoldt. He said, “We first became aware of Miguel through his work with Sublime. I first heard 40 oz. to Freedom as a teenager…this would have been 1994 or 1995. A girl I had a crush on played the CD for me, and I thought it was really strange music…but I could not stop listening. For the next decade Sublime’s music became the soundtrack to our lives. There are many other influences for sure, but Sublime was always there. I personally discovered so much music through Sublime, which of course was part of Brad Nowell’s genius–from The Minutemen, Bad Brains, KRS-One, Circle Jerks, Beastie Boys, Falling Idols, The Ziggens, Peter Tosh, Secret Hate, Public Enemy, The Toyes–the list goes on and on. There were so many layers and snatches of music. A person could spend years unpacking the references and samples on Sublimes’s 40 oz. to Freedom and Robbin’ the Hood and we did.”

The 20-song masterpiece Majestic Walrus is the 10th self-produced release from BURNT, an indy power trio comprised of lead vocalist/guitarist Danny Franco, bass player Matt “Primo” Swagler and drummer Rob LaPorte. BURNT’s “less is more” approach to music is reminiscent to that of the original Long Beach-based Sublime band’s three-piece lineup. BURNT leader Franco looked to DIY mentor Miguel Happoldt for inspiration. He said, “BURNT has always been a DIY band, following the example of many influential bands before us. As the saying goes: We stand on the shoulders of giants… As BURNT began to develop our own musical sound and craft back in early 2000, we studied not only the sounds of Sublime but also the means by which they produced albums–the DIY culture. This was not unique to Sublime, but we respected and looked up to the way that Brad and Miguel founded Skunk Records–with Miguel leveraging his free recording time as a student at Cal State Dominguez Hills to record the early Sublime work. We took that example to heart–that we should be the directors and producers of our craft and the masters of our own musical destiny. That is really where Miguel first fits into the BURNT story. He is a master musician and of course contributed heavily to Sublime’s music, but we really looked up to Miguel as a producer and engineer. In addition, we also marveled at the way the guy figured out a way to keep it together and put out quality records through all the chaos that is life.” 

BURNT’s latest Majestic Walrus brings together a plethora of talented musicians including lead guitarist Joe Ransom Ortner, members of The Debonaires, Beyond Rhythm’s Benjamin “B-Jah” Cook, renowned hip hop artist Karmic Basis and UK dubmaster Nathan “Rivel” McCoy. Recorded and mixed by BURNT, Tom Cook and Calvin “Crash” Turnabull in The Debonaires’ hometown of Riverside, California, the new Majestic Walrus double album has something for everybody to enjoy. Perro Bravo’s Miguel Happoldt contributed his expertise to the song ‘Downstream’, which no doubt makes the new BURNT recording a true collector’s item. Danny Franco commented, “As we were going through the recording process for Majestic Walrus, I hit up Miguel with a number of tracks. The one that made the album, ‘Downstream’ came together organically and is a total collaboration from start to finish. We’re humbled and honored to share the stage and make music with all the Perro Bravo guys. It’s fair to say that I hit it off right away with bassist Mike Long and Greg “Mudd” Lowther, Perro Bravo’s drummer. He is a very intelligent guy who loves books and music. I think both bands realized that we had a kindred spirit, and that our sounds–while being very distinct and different from one another–make for an entertaining show and lineup. Miguel and I started booking runs of shows together, and most recently just got back from a mini-tour of British Columbia and an appearance at the 18th Annual Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival. It has been totally fun getting to know all the Perro Bravo guys, and learning from their wisdom and experience. I truly believe that this is really still the beginning of what I hope will be many fun and interesting collaborations in the years to come.” If Majestic Walrus is any indication of what the future holds between BURNT and Perro Bravo, then more collaborations between the two Cali Reggae Rock bands are on the horizon. With a new Perro Bravo recording expected later this summer, pick up a copy of BURNT’s Majestic Walrus in the meantime by clicking HERE.