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One of the nation's premier reggae ensembles, John Brown's Body, labels its music "future roots music" — and who are we to argue?
In a phone interview, the band's Tommy Benedetti said he picked up his drumsticks at age 11 and grew up on a steady diet of Iron Maiden and AC/DC before enrolling at the Berklee College of Music.
There he heard an explosion of music in all genres, which influenced his style.
That has served him well with John Brown's Body because the band incorporates so many elements.
The band is still reeling from the 2006 death of bassist Scott Palmer from cancer, which led to a discussion of whether to continue.
"It was a lot of confusion," Benedetti said. "It was a huge loss personally and musically. We didn't known what the future would hold. There was a lot of soul searching."
But the East Coast-based band has continued, helped by an unusually rabid fanbase in the Intermountain West — on this tour, they'll play six shows in Colorado and Utah. "One of the first places we caught on was in Colorado," Benedetti said. "We certainly always came to Utah. That area has always been a hot-spot for us."
Touring behind 2012's "JBB IN DUB," the band "has never sounded better," Benedetti said. "The band is going to come out and crush every night."
When • Tuesday, 9 p.m.Where • Park City Live, 427 Main. St., Park CityTickets • $12 at SmithsTix