Santa Barbara natives Rebelution performed at the Raymond James Stadium this past weekend for the Reggae Rise Up Festival. Rebelution’s drummer, Wesley Finley, gave a few words about the band’s new album, Count Me In, and their 
upcoming tour.
Minaret: What inspired you to start playing and making music?
Finley: We all lived in Isla Vista, a college community adjacent to the University of California at Santa Barbara, and there were bands constantly playing house shows. Once we got together and developed some covers we too joined the scene. We slowly worked in original songs and the rest is history.
Minaret: How did you guys meet? Can you describe your chemistry on and off stage?
Finley: We met each other one by one through the music scene and through music classes at school. We have all lived with one another at some point, and still do when we’re on the tour bus, so we consider ourselves close friends that have been through an incredible journey together. Essentially we’re a band of brothers.
Minaret: How did you learn how to play music? Were you classically trained or self-taught?
Finley: I learned percussion through school and did wind ensemble music through college, but when it came to applying that knowledge to the drumset, I was self-taught. Each show you play teaches you something about yourself and your instrument, so you could say we’re learning a lot!
Minaret: Who would you consider your greatest musical influences?
Finely: By far my greatest influence is the drummer Dino Campanella from his work with Dredg and recently Crosses. His energy and musical decisions are truly something to bear witness to, and I treat every show I see him in like going to church. I also appreciate Abe Cunningham from Deftones and Riley Breckenridge from Thrice in their similar ability to balance heavy grooves with varying tempos.
Minaret: You’ve been together since 2004. What would you consider your biggest accomplishment since then? What are your long term goals during your career?
Finely: Headlining our hometown venue at the Santa Barbara Bowl and selling it out was a big milestone for us, having started in the streets of Isla Vista ten years ago. We feel like we’re at the top of the mountain yet are strangely still climbing. The future will look something like the last couple of years for us, playing big venues and putting out the best records we can while staying true to ourselves. We will be exploring more international territories as well.
Minaret: What is your favorite song to perform?
Finley: That’s an answer that is constantly changing with each new album we put out. Currently that song for me is Count Me In. It’s just a feel good song with a fun groove, and it’s the title track so usually people know it and respond to it.
Minaret: What is your favorite part of being in a band/touring?
Finley: Easily, it would be the opportunity to travel to places I would not have otherwise been able to. We’ve played in all but a few of the fifty states and I know I never would have accomplished that in my life were it not for touring. My other favorite part is that it’s generally an honest living – people pay their hard-earned money to see and hear us play our instruments and what you see is what you get.
Minaret: A lot of your songs have serious meanings behind them like, “Against the Grain” and “Change The System” where do get the ideas for these songs? Personal experience?
Finley: I don’t think it’s personal experience so much as a desire to see positive change in the world. There are enough songs on the topic of love, and we have our fair share as well, but there is a need for songs that target a broader scope.
Minaret: Does Rebelution have anything new in the works?
Finley: We have a European tour coming up in November, which will be good for us, and I’m sure we’ll be working on some new material going into the new year.
Justine Parks can be reached at Justine.parks@theminaretonline.com.