Iration’s winter tour starts in Reno

In the beginning, there was a garage.

Iration, a band with a Rastafarian name for creation or the beginning of time, exited that garage a long time ago with a driving sound. The band members, each around the age of 30, have no plans to stop.

“A lot of friends have gotten married and that is kind of a signal for the band to take a back seat,” said lead singer Micah Pueschel told Tahoe Onstage. “We won’t stop as long as we’re heading in that right direction. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t feel we couldn’t give it 100 percent of our dedication, time and focus. The music and the band is the priority.”

The Santa Barbara-based reggae band is scheduled to play in at least seven festivals this year, and on Friday, Feb. 13 it begins its “Tales from the Sea” tour in Reno at the Knitting Factory. (Tour schedule: http://irationmusic.com/tour)

“We started in the garage in college doing reggae covers,” Pueschel said. “I don’t think anybody had any intention of making it a full-time career.”

But after the members, most of whom are Hawaii natives, earned degrees at U.C. Santa Barbara they decided their sound was unique enough to pursue music careers. Eight years later, the band has kept its focus. No one has any children or has gotten married.

However, original member Kai Rediske, who shared lead vocals with Pueschel, opted out in 2013.

“He was my best friend since we were little kids, Pueschel said. “He was never 100 percent happy being onstage and with this lifestyle. We picked up Micah Brown and that was a natural progression for our sound.”

So Iration now as two Micahs, Brown on guitar and vocals and Pueschel the same, and two Joes, Dickens on drums and King on the dub controls. Cayson Peterson plays keyboards and Adam Taylor is on bass.

Iration has been in a studio the past few months, Peuschel said, and its goal is to release its first record since 2013’s “Automatic” by summertime.

Iration appeared with Rebelution and Stick Figure last summer at Tahoe Vista on the “Count Me In Tour.” It is traveling again this summer with Stick Figure and doubtless that band’s mascot, Coco, a mellow golden retriever who during showwanders about the stage and audience.

Hours Eastly is the opening band on the tour.

Tales from the Sea
Iration
Openers: Stick Figure and Hours Eastly
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13
Where: Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno
For: All Ages
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $65 for reserved box seat
Purchase: LINK