Dubbest: Cali Roots Debut and New Song ‘Irreplaceable’.

What began as high school jam sessions evolved into something more serious; Dubbest was formed in Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 2009. The band consists of guitarist Cory Mahoney, drummer Kyle Hancock, bassist Andrew MacKenzie, and pianist/lead singer Ryan Thaxter. With their unique sound—blending coastal roots with East Coast grit—these guys have been making waves and establishing their reputation within the community.

After navigating through the underground reggae scene in Massachusetts, Dubbest went on their first California tour in 2016 and decided to make the move to San Diego, where they are now based. “When we left Massachusetts, the scene wasn’t as integrated as it is now. Bands like The Elovaters have blown up that scene quite a bit… But the West Coast has been very accepting and very good to us,” says lead singer Ryan. Since the move, the band has kept busy releasing two albums, many singles—such as “Love Is a Celebration” featuring K Bong and “Slow Burn” featuring Dan Kelly—and touring all around the United States.

This year marked a huge milestone for Dubbest, as they had their California Roots Festival debut. On day one of the festival they jammed the main stage, The Bowl, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., bringing in loyal listeners along with some new fans. They performed songs like “Daydream,” “By Design,” and “Slow Burn.” During the song “Slow Burn”, Ozzie(@weshouldsmoke) joined them on stage to light up a giant joint and pass it around to the crowd, making the set a memorable one for the fans.

“This opportunity means everything to us. It’s a huge milestone—definitely a bucket-list goal achieved. Everyone who plays at Cali Roots is super respected, so it feels like we’re on the right path,” bassist Andrew said. With an electric performance under their belt, the band took a moment to soak in their huge achievement before heading to check out a few of their fellow artists on the lineup, such as The Elovaters, Protoje, Collie Buddz, and Rebelution.

Although not currently on tour, Dubbest is far from idle. They just released their newest single, “Irreplaceable” on all streaming platforms, May 30th. “This track has a darker, spooky vibe,” says drummer Kyle. Ryan explains, “The song started with a bassline and chords from Andrew, and we built it from there.” The band is currently focused on creating and putting out more music later this year. “Follow us on our socials—we won’t let you miss our future endeavors.”

After nearly 10 years on the West Coast, Dubbest has clearly found a home—and a growing, loyal audience all over the country. We hope you join us in following along as Dubbest continues to evolve and flourish in the scene.