When Meadowbrook Music Musical Arts Center got a call two days before their much hyped Sean Paul concert tht Rihanna was backing out as the opener, they called On The Drop. A Boston based regional act, On The Drop's notoriety doesn not even come close to that of Rihanna, but the huge impression the band made on the venue's management when playing a 311 show weeks earlier, earned them the opportunity. The band tore through a rousing 45 minute set, bringing the crowd of 4,500 to their feet. Many of the concert-goers, who were initially disappointed to hear Rihanna would not perform, waited in line for over an hour for autographed t-shirts and CDs a tthe merch booth.
This show was just one example of how On The Drop has been, little by little, turning heads in the New England music world. Though the band has been working together with the same line-up, for over eight years now, it was their 2004 release "Not Afraid" that put them on the radar. That record solidified the On The Drop sound, a combination of earnest and poetic vocals, gritty reggae grooves, and explosive rock riffs. Much to the band's delight, their music has drawn comparisons to Sublime, 311, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; all acts that On The Drop lists amongst its influences.
In December of 2007, the band released the much anticipated follow-up album "Lullabies and Dynamite." Truly their masterpiece thus far, this album is packed start to finish with infectous hooks and powerful melodies.
