Chicken Blues

Shots in the Dark were formed in Rome in 1999, offering original songs into foundational sounds: Ska, Rock Steady, Early Reggae, Soul and R&B.

They shared stage with the likes of The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, Johnny Clarke, The Selecter, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Trojans, Banda Bassotti, Bad Manners, The Aggrolites, etc. and accompanied live as backing band of artists such as Roy ‘Mr. Symarip' Ellis, Gaz Mayall or Dr. Ring-Ding.

In 2001 they released their first EP ‘From Kingston to Rome’ and in 2002 the first album entitled ‘Shots From The Ghetto’. The self-produced album consisted of original songs and reinterpretations of classics from Jamaican musical history. In 2003 the album was also released on vinyl by the German label Conehead Records. During the following years, the band devoted itself almost exclusively to the live activity that led it to play in more than 150 concerts in Italy and Germany.

In 2008 they released a second album entitled Spaghetti Skank, which contains 12 tracks, including the single 'If You're Not Around’ from which a music video was produced. Also, in this case, the band alternates original songs and covers of the repertoire of Ska classics, as well as reinterpretations of historical rock'n'roll songs in a Jamaican key. A period of intense live activity for the promotion of the album followed.

In 2013, 3 songs of the popular Roman tradition in Ska version were recorded and made available for free in digital download in the mini EP ‘A Roma’ and the video of ‘Fiori Trasteverini’ was shot. The warmth and enthusiasm with which the songs were welcomed by the public pushed the band to release in 2016 a vinyl together with Hellnation Records: a 7” containing the Roman classic folk ‘stornelli’ songs  Fiori Trasteverini and Sinnò me moro.

In 2017 the EP entitled ‘Unchained’ was released, produced by Raged Records, which includes 3 tracks: 2 rock steady covers and the single ‘I'm Outnumbered’, featuring Roy "Mr. Symarip" Ellis.

On 17 September 2022 the prestigious Spanish label Liquidator Music will release the band's third album, the LP entitled ‘Chicken Blues’, which contains the work done during recent years by the new and close-knit line-up and which takes advantage of the precious collaboration of Alfredo Council from Aloe Vera Records mixing and mastering.

Shots In The Dark new album officially contains 9 original songs, but you can download the full album plus two bonus tracks including the reinterpretation of a tune taken from an Italian 70s erotic movie soundtrack. 

The disc is the result of a long and intense work in the recording studio and, although faithful to the tradition of Foundation Ska, it brings out a new aspect of the band: the search for the origins of black music, where solo styles meet and embrace each other. apparently far away, where Ska, Blues, Soul and R&B are ‘shaken, not stirred’ with the grace with which a tropical drink is prepared and with the experience of those who have always loved this music.