Peter Tessensohn
THE X-STREAMS
-- The Best American 2-Tone Era Ska Band You've Never Heard!!
One of the most satisfying blog posts I've written to date has been a profile of The X-Streams,
An Arizona based ska band that played a part in the Los Angeles ska scene of the early 80's that
Flourished around the O.N. Klub. Their story is one that continues to draw me in.
Perhaps because they came so close to success before self-destructing. Perhaps because they brought an energy and intensity that was both mesmerizing and a little bit frightening to those who saw and heard them. Perhaps because for one brief moment they may have been the best hope for what an American 2-Tone era ska band could have been.
The band coalesced around Bob Steinhilber (drums), Peter Tessensohn (bass), Steve Kriol (guitar) and Lorraine Springer, a young woman from Trinidad on lead vocals. Springer had met Kriol in California and travelled with him to Arizona to start the band. The addition of local guitarist Kurt Mayberry was the final ingredient that took them to the next level, but also complicated their future. Much like
Pauline Black and Neol Davies in The Selecter, it was the vocal interplay and energy between Springer and Mayberry that set The X-Streams apart and captured the attention of LA-based producers and music industry veterans, who for a short time, were captivated by the band's live energy and their edginess.
Shortly after posting my original story about The X-Streams, I connected with Peter Tessensohn.
We've stayed in touch since and Tessensohn has been very generous in sharing old pictures and unreleased music with me that the band recorded during the early days. As an original member
of the band and the one who was closest to the late Kurt Mayberry, he has a unique perspective on the early days of the band as well as later versions of the band that played together into the early 90's.
He recently took time to share his memories about the band and to tell me more about the band's memorable shows at the O.N. Klub in Los Angeles in 1980. He also shared a treasure trove of never before seen pictures of the band at that O.N. Klub show and a song from a Warner Brothers record demo and gave me permission to post them. The pictures alone are worth an exhibition about the O.N. Klub's history. Until that happens, they provide a glimpse into the band at its peak and capture their intensity.
Can you tell me about your introduction to music and ska music in particular?
Yes, It was with my best-friend Kurt Mayberry, sitting on the front lawn of my parents house smoking a doobie, and acoustic guitars in hand. My introduction to ska and reggae came about by accident.
Back in 1979, Kurt Mayberry joined up with a some interesting characters playing a music genre that was beyond New Wave/Punk Rock and could not describe. Yet, it was right up his alley and enjoyed the syncopated offbeat rhythms. In turn compliments his own unique style of guitar playing.
How did the X-Streams get started? Did you know the other members of the band
beforehand? Why did you decide to call the band The X-Streams?
As I remember, founding members:Loraine Springer lead vocals & front person, Steve Kriol – rhythm guitar, Bob Steinhilber – drums, Kurt Mayberry initially played bass at the first gig and immediately thereafter on vocals, rhythm and lead guitar.
Kurt invited me to come about and analyze this new unfamiliar music during a rehearsal session, located at a place known as “The Hate House”.... Upon arriving, I noticed a bass guitar leaning against a fender bass amp and fifteen inch speaker cabinet and no bass player.... It practically had my name written on it. “This is a
set-up” I thought and reluctantly agreed to play for that practice session only,
Kurt and members of the band were praising me “on very fine job I was doing”
with Bob Steinhilber saying out loudly “You’re in the band”. Loraine creatively
entitled us The X-Streams, specifying the “X” having five focal points with her in
the “center”
Where did the band fit into the Arizona music scene of the early 80's?
We fit right up there with the New Wave, Reggae Ska Punk scene. The music genre we performed in was versatile, not classified in just one.
Would you describe The X-Streams as a ska band, a reggae band,
A "Trinidad Ska Rockers America band"
Peter Tessensohn
