Punky, bluesy, indie rock band from Vancouver B.C.

Jared and the Social Worker is much more than a man and his band. Born of struggle, sorrow, love and anger, this band of strangers quickly became musical friends, working out their worries through rock and roll. Part neo-grunge harbinger, part cathartic crooner, Jared leads the band as they weave brand new, original rock tunes with clever versions of eclectic covers in their live shows. As a well-versed veteran of the live music scene in western Canada, Jared knows how pull the crowd into his music. His tight 4-piece band keeps everybody moving with a heavy rolling rhythm section while the wicked lead guitar riffs are sure put smile on face as your head nods to beat. Like a parade on fire, Jared and the Social Worker are entertaining, captivating, heartbreaking and unforgettable.

Music Producer

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The day is September 20th, 1985… Howard “Tugsar” Johnson is born in in the small riverside city of Maypen Clarendon, Jamaica, to Mrs and Mrs Johnson.  He is the youngest of 3 boys.  Growing up, music was central to his family life.  His mother, a member of the local church choir, still singing until to today, and father a DJ, throwing some of the hottest outdoor dance parties of the time. Howard too, had begun his musical life at church singing choir at the age ripe of 7. 

But more than anything, it was Reggae music that captivated him as well as his brothers very early on. At just 12 years old, Howard could be found in the grade school washroom, the venue for his dance parties. Children would crowd in.  He was the DJ, while his friends worked the hustle, accepting 3 dollar admissions to get into the party. 

His eldest brother, already a recording artist, was the one to introduced him to his calling... To be a reggae dance hall artist. And at 15, he started his career professionally, laying verses at the “Shack and Vibes” recording studio located in Kingston Jamaica. This is where he would record his first song, “flowers in the Garden” along with many others here. Howard would recall long nights in studio, and even longer commutes back home to Maypen, even sleeping there on many occasions. He was hooked to the music and knew then, that is all he want to do.

“Tuggy”, Howard's childhood nickname, was soon adopted as his stage name once his popularity in the Dance hall scene grew.  And as a result, many artist took notice. As well as writing his own hits, he wrote for many dance hall artists and is responsible for the lyrics of over 50 recording hits to date.  He still writes for artists until today.

Forward to 2005, Tuggy is 19. He enters the “Guinness Ultimate DJ battle”, a televised contest hosted by Guinness brewing company, in search for the best DJ in Jamaica. After running 10 weeks, Tuggy came out on top as the winner, with the song, “Straight Guinness”, receiving much fanfare and notoriety in the Kingston Dance Hall music scene. 

Always positive with a Jovial spirit. Always upbeat, full of laughter and full of life.  He is continually inspired and moved by people and lives he is surrounded by, their struggles and their motivations. As well as the celebration and upbeats of Dance Hall, Tugstar strives to be a voice for those in the struggle.  A voice for those who do not have one.  

Tuggy, Now “Tugstar”, with 17 years in the business.  He has toured some of the the biggest festivals in Jamaica, as well as the world, working with many artist to break the mold of dance hall, and bring his music across multiple genres.  He remains with his finger on the pulse of modern reggae, continually working to push its sound and its message to the world stage.

At the close of 2012, DENGUE FEVER, a band widely recognized for its trademark blend of 60’s Cambodian pop and psychedelic rock, proudly announced the launch of its homegrown label, TUK TUK Records. The band’s newly established independence marks yet another chapter in the continual evolution of a group unlike many in the Los Angeles music scene. 

Currently in the studio recording tracks for their next release, DENGUE FEVER launched TUK TUK to release their back catalog, potential solo music from its band members, and previously released but long out-of-print music related to each band member. Their first two releases included their long out-of-print eponymous debut (2003) and its critically acclaimed sophomore follow-up, Escape from Dragon House (2005). Amazon.com named Dragon House the #1 int’l release for 2005, and Mojo magazine named it in their Top 10 World Music releases of 2006. Each album has been expanded into digital deluxe editions with rare and unreleased bonus tracks from the band’s archives. 

Eminent musicians from around the world took notice of the band’s rise over their first half-decade. In 2008, Real World Records Founder and musician, Peter Gabriel, licensed their third release, Venus on Earth, for the world and noted, "They're California-based but have taken '60's Cambodian pop as their main source of inspiration and it's done with style. Its spirited, impassioned." More kudos came from Metallica’s Kirk Hammett who handpicked the band’s song “One Thousand Tears of A Tarantula” from Dragon House for his Rolling Stone magazine ‘Best Music Of The Decade’ ballot - as the second best song of the entire decade. International touring transpired quickly after the release of Venus including an inspired two-song set on the BBC’s Later with Jools Holland show (2009) followed by on-air praise from Ray Davies of the Kinks. Davies likened them to “….a cross between Led Zeppelin and Blondie. And I should know, I toured with both of them.” 

DENGUE FEVER’s latest release, Cannibal Courtship (Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group), was released in April 2011. Their latest record moved the needle yet again with the band performing live for the first time ever, in France, Mexico and Brazil. Today, only two continents (Africa and Antarctica) have yet to host a DENGUE FEVER performance.

Mass media exposure arrived in many forms for DENGUE FEVER and not just on the world stage. Tracks from their catalog have appeared in films such as City of Ghosts, Jim Jarmusch’s, Broken Flowers and The Hangover 2. Television series’ such as Showtime’s, Weeds, HBO’s hit series True Blood (who named an entire episode after one of their songs) and featured the band’s music and CBS’ series CSI: Las Vegas combined with numerous independent documentaries to feature the bands music. 

Always press darlings, band profiles in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Mojo, Uncut, Magnet, Wired, Spin, NPR’s “Fresh Air” Radio Australia, KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” and World Café Live all profiled the band’s unique sound. In 2013, with new music being recorded, a back catalog that is beefed up with bonus tracks and tour dates being confirmed, the time is truly ripe for at least another 10 years of breaking down more musical barriers.

Cheap Jacuzzi is an international musical group based in Vancouver, fusing funk, Gypsy folklore, rock and Bollywood musicals into a refreshing sound. Driving beats, soaring melodies and diverse harmonic phrasings make Cheap Jacuzziʼs sound an unforgettable, groovy experience.

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