Category: Funk/Soul/R&B

Turkuaz and lespecial Funk It Up Night Two at Brooklyn Bowl

Turkuaz continued their 2016 Digitonium Tour with a 3 night run at Brooklyn Bowl, featuring lespecial for their second night. If any NY funk lovers were looking for something to do for 3 days in April, this was it.

lespecial opened the night of groovy dancing and brought a lighter, funkier version of their death-funk/future-groove with some staples from Omnisquid such as “Fruit Wolf Dance”, “Sugaboi”, and “Pressed For Time” (guitarist/vocalist Gruskauskas’ vocal range truly shines on this track). The trio from Boston also featured classic cover of Les Claypool’s “My Name is Mud”, some new music in collaboration with some Turkuaz members and even a cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” I’ve mentioned before in previous reviews, lespecial is truly one of my favorite bands to experience live as their genre-bending capabilities are unmatched!

Succeeding their funk-band-in-arms, Turkuaz took the stage and opened with a fitting “Introduction” from their recent album, Digitonium. Following a strong intro, a very funked up “The Rules” from the 2011 album Zerbert , had the crowd dancing and bopping from the floor to the bowling lanes. It was at this moment I realized what I had been missing; Turkuaz truly brings the funk and I had seen the light in only their second song of the night. Each piece of the band plays a very integral part as each member not only brings their extreme talent to each instrument and vocal aspect but also their own unique style. Some favorites from the night included “The Generator” and “King Computer” from Digitonium and “Tip Toe Through the Crypto” and “It’s So Hard” from the Stereochrome EP.

Turkuaz’s second set was very special as they dedicated the entirety of it to The Band. They opened with a very funky “Chest Fever” followed by an affectionately soulful “Ophelia” and then an extremely heartfelt “The Night They Drove Dixie Down.” “Up On Cripple Creek” seems to have been made for them to cover as they certainly shined in all aspects whilst rocking the track. Naturally, during “The Weight”, a beautiful sing-a-long manifested from the crowd and a very dancey “Don’t Do It” got everyone moving and shaking. Closing out with a fervent and almost spiritual “I Shall Be Released” it’s an understatement to say that Turkuaz did these anthems justice; they put their all into every track and made each one a unique experience. Turkuaz is an amazing spectacle of talent, color and funk. If you consider yourself a fan of live music and have not experienced a Turkuaz show, you’re doing yourself an injustice.

April 19, 2016
Hearing Aide: The New Mastersounds ‘The Nashville Session’

In the last five years, funk has made a resurgence to the music scene in seemingly endless variations. There is the explosivity of Lettuce, the grooves of the Motet, and the thrill of Turkuaz – all of which boast impressive brass sections. Then there is The New Mastersounds who, without horns, are providing a sophisticated and perhaps jazzier version to the beloved genre for a new generation of funk feigns.

With 16 years under their belt, the British four piece has released nine studio albums, two live albums, one remix album and three compilations released in the U.K., United States and Japan. On April 22, they will release The Nashville Session, recorded at Welcome to 1979 studio right in music city.

The album contains 10 tracks from throughout their catalog. There are no overdubs or guest collaborations, leaving the listener with The New Mastersounds in their purest form. It’s an ideal introduction to the band for anyone who recognizes their name but has yet to dive in.

After recording to one-inch tape and then mixed down to quarter-inch stereo tape, the album was then cut directly to vinyl lacquer. They have released 1,000 limited edition vinyls before the digital version becomes available on May 27.

There is a certain level of clarity you get on each instrument that you don’t necessarily hear on their studio albums. Most notably each note of that quintessential funky bass line is crystal throughout each track. Like staring at a top spin on a flat table, Pete Shand lays down the foundation for what is a reliably fast paced and mesmerizing experience.

Eddie Roberts brings audible precision to the guitar, a clear indication of their jazz influence. On several occasions, the listener may become hypnotized by the steady rhythm only to be jolted back to reality by the pure skill of his craft.

“Burnt Back,” is bursting with mood-lifting energy and includes the only noticeable lyric on the entire album – a faint “woo!” during an appropriate pause. Though it’s not clear whether this originated from the band or one of the handful of guests having the pleasure to witness the recording.

“Drop it Down” is probably the most unique of all the tracks. It begins with a stagnated and heavy bass that hops throughout the intro. It begins dark and mysterious before swirling back to a smooth groove.

During “The Minx,’ Roberts delivers the familiar “bow chicka bow wow” modulation like the “Shack” theme song. It pairs nicely with his own style, often referred to as “roughneck.”

The only song not their own is the last track, James Brown’s “In the Middle.” Roberts provides a stellar take on jazz guitarist Grant Green’s arrangement. The finished product is fast and sassy. Dance to this in front of the mirror and watch yo sly self start to move to the perfected rhythm and groove!

The Nashville Session should be listened to in its entirety. While some could say all their songs sound similar, this consistency will make for a fun Friday night happy-hour in a dimly lit bar, while suitable for a sophisticated yet cheerful dinner party at home.

April 14, 2016
The Budos Band Strikes at Brooklyn Bowl
Slated for two nights at Brooklyn Bowl, the 9-piece Staten Island based Budos Band played to a small but excited crowd on Friday, April 1. Initially known for their instrumental funk and soul sound, The Budos Band has evolved into a darker and more psychedelic rock band.

This was evidenced on Friday night throughout their frenetic performance. Drum, bass guitar, and percussion beats were deep and the organ bellowed. The horn section blared a noisy sound while lead guitarist Thomas Brenneck chaotically worked his way around the stage with his guitar in perpetual motion; at one point he even wedged the head of his guitar between two amps to distort its sound.

The Budos Band is certainly unique – soulful afro-beats shaken and stirred with psychedelic hard rock. I had expected to experience a relaxed show with funky beats, but instead was greeted with an unconventional loud, frenzied night of music. The new sound of The Budos Band is upon us. Their fifth album, Burnt Offering, was recorded in Brooklyn and released in 2014 on Daptone Records.

The Budos Band:
Jared Tankel – baritone saxophone
Thomas Brenneck – electric guitar
John Carbonella Jr. – congas, drums
Mike Deller – organ
Daniel Foder – bass guitar
Andrew Greene – trumpet
Rob Lombardo – bongos, congas
Brian Profilio – drums
Dame Rodriguez – percussion
April 14, 2016
Festy News: Inaugural Bear Creek Bayou Music Fest Announced

The producers of the Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival have announced a new festival taking place at Mardi Gras World in the New Orleans bayou Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The Live Oak, Florida festival ran for eight years at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. The 2015 edition was to have featured a funk heavy lineup, including Galactic, Soulive and Dumpstaphunk but was unfortunately canceled. The new fest promises a menu rich with the traditional sounds of New Orleans and bands similar to past Bear Creek headliners.

Mardi Gras World is located in the New Orleans Warehouse District along the banks of the Mississippi River and offers a view of the New Orleans skyline.

The full website for the fest will be launched soon, along with the initial band lineup.

April 12, 2016
Oneonta Audience Grooves With Jimkata and Space Carnival

Breaking in the new month, Jimkata, a musical trio from Ithaca, and Space Carnival, a fiery four-tet based out of Oneonta, hit the Oneonta Theatre on Saturday, April 2. Fans were raging about the floor and craved some more.

Space Carnival unlocked the stage and were born into the atmosphere as they unleashed magical sensations throughout. With Jeremy Kraus on guitar, Cameron Fitch on keys and vocals, Chris Meier on Bass, and Nick Tassinari on drums, these four gentlemen took the night and fed their fans more of their funky psychedelic slippery disco.

This group has become outstandingly popular; having been to several of their shows, they never seem to disappoint. Since their formation in 2013, they have created a beautiful fan base and evoke a sphere of jam and funky madness. On this night, they pumped the smoky carnival air with tunes such as “Regal Krad”, “Moon Boots”, “Uh Oh I Slipped My Disco”, “Rango”, “Mister Sam”, “Plibt”, and “Entree The Giant”. It is pleasing to witness how they have progressed over the years and it is an honor to watch them continue to grow into galactic flowers.

Space Carnival meshes funk, progressive rock, and high-energy disco all while melting brains and hearts. They have a unique rhythm and spatial sound which all keep their fellow dancers afloat and on their toes. They performed covers throughout the night along with their fresh jams to keep the spacey flow going. Stay tuned as they are currently recording their debut album Drawn In By The Sun.

Following Space Carnival, Jimkata settled the night in the most perfect way, allowing the audience to cool down and sooth to the smooth moves of soft soundwaves. This night was about the promotion and celebration of their newest album In Motion. This band is much more than what they seem; their anthemic-synth-washed rock n’ roll and pop take you through the night and underground on a happy rollercoaster with sweet melodies and charming hooks. One can feel the emotional energy that emanates from their gentle tunes. It has an adventurous, continuous flow of undulating waves.

On this night of the tour, Evan Friedell (guitar/vocals), Aaron Gorsch (synth/guitar), and Packy Lunn (drums) collectively embraced their listeners with a fresh perspective of feeling. Their music lures you with emotion and hits your body with the beat. The crowd cheered to some of their hits such as, “Wild Ride”, “Innocence”, “Won’t Let You Down”, “Jumping Out of Airplanes”, and “Ride The Wave”, all from their most recent album.

They have a very natural sense of feeling and breath of life that they fuse into their hits. The background jams tune into the vocals as it creates a fresh experience all around. It shifts into different forms along the journey of each song. They were able to evolve their music, as they are now three members instead of four. They were able to successfully regroup after their recent transition. It was certainly a reflective time period for them; it is all about positive energy for Jimkata, a beautiful balance.

April 8, 2016
The New Mastersounds to Headline 3-Night Weekend at Brooklyn Bowl

The New Mastersounds have a simple mission: create and share an ebullient energy with a receptive audience. They’ve been accomplishing this swimmingly with their bouncy, funky instrumental grooves for a decade. New York City will have its chance to get down New Mastersounds-style for three consecutive nights at Brooklyn Bowl on April 14-16.

In the UK where there are no John Scofields or Galactics to create a rich jazz-funk jam tapestry, The New Mastersounds started out as a band filling that void with free reign. Nowadays they run widely in the US festival circuit and collaborate with Mike Dillon, Grace Potter, Maceo Parker and Art Neville. Their music is fast and relentlessly euphoric.

The Saturday date at Brooklyn Bowl will also include an afternoon family show for all ages beginning at noon, in addition to the show that evening. The matinee appearance has become a tradition for the band over their last two appearances in Brooklyn. The New Mastersounds first appeared at the Bowl in 2010, and three-night runs have occurred there at least once yearly since 2013. New York funk fans are doubtless hungry to have them back.

Brooklyn’s own Moon Hooch will support The New Mastersounds on Thursday, April 14. Their primitive dance music played in sax-sax-drums power trio format is sophisticated and provocative. In a league with other contemporary artists who blur the line between live acoustic performance and sleek electronica production, Moon Hooch have an unprecedented sound and an attitude that’s always carrying them into new musical territory. Aficionados will want to be there at 8 PM when they get the party started at Brooklyn Bowl, kicking off a three-night weekend with The New Mastersounds.

April 7, 2016
Thursdays at Funk n Waffles, Presented by NYS Music

NYS Music is once again proud to host Thursday nights at Funk n Waffles in April. A stellar lineup of music is on tap across multiple genres.

Thursday April 7 MISTER F and THE HEAVY PETS

Formed in 2013 from members of Northeast regional acts Timbre Coup and Capital Zen, Mister F is an eclectic, high-energy 4-piece band that takes a no-holds-barred approach to blending genres while keeping your feet moving. The members of Mister F are no strangers to the music community. Their first show on March 1, 2013 was so well-received that they’ve taken their show on the road to cities as far as Denver, CO and Atlanta, GA and are even performing with their previous bands at festivals such as Mountain Jam, Summer Camp, Camp Bisco, moe.down, and snoe.down.

The Heavy Pets are an American rock band that blends rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, disco and reggae with rock & roll. Called “A living, breathing force of nature,” by Relix Magazine, the Pets are known for their soulful songcraft and powerhouse live performances. Riding high on the success of their most recent studio effort, Two Horses, look out for The Heavy Pets as they continue to hit the road hard.

Thursday April 14 ROOT SHOCK and THE CORNERSTONE

Formed in the winter of 2012 by regional veteran musicians, Root SHOCK blends roots reggae, dancehall, heavy drum & bass, and soulful vocals with conscious lyrics into positive dance music that will make you want to move! Spearheaded by the stunning vocals of Jessica Brown, the band has been surprising and delighting crowds across the Central New York region and beyond with their unique high-energy style. Root SHOCK’s love of reggae music flows deep. The band’s dedication to spreading music with a positive message has paid off in entertaining, elevating, and energizing music lovers of all walks of life in a wide range of settings!

Root SHOCK will be anchoring a monthly Syracuse reggae night designed to bring the best and most diverse acts that modern reggae has to offer to the area. They’re not stopping there, though; Root SHOCK recording their first studio album and are set to hit the road to spread their uplifting message and vibes and take their renowned live performances to the masses!

Fronted by lead singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist Jackson Wetherbee, The Cornerstone is a Reggae, Rock, Funk band hailing from the South Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. The band also features musicians formerly of The Aldous Collins Band and Last Call, two New England Music Award winning bands. Their sound is similar to that of Spiritual Rez, UB40, The Police, Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They put on a fun, energetic show where crowds dance, groove, and sing along to their tunes.

Thursday April 21 SPIRITUAL REZ and GRAYAK

With their latest release, Apocalypse Whenever, Boston’s beloved reggae-rock funkateers Spiritual Rez deliver their most triumphant musical offering yet. Produced by lead singer Toft Willingham, co-produced by bassist Jesse Shaternick, and mastered by legendary engineer Howie Weinberg (Ramones, Beastie Boys, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers), the 14-track collection of infectious anthems is chock-full of rollicking guitar riffs, ocean-bathed melodies, swagger-centric basslines, crisp soaring horns, and ska-infused jam sections that have come to define Rez’s progressive signature sound. While their groove is primarily rooted in rock, reggae, and funk traditions, the septet draws stylistic influence from nearly every musical movement of the 20th century. Over the past nine years, Rez has tirelessly toured the country ten times over, cemented their status as a consistent festival favorite, and honed their exhilarating live show into an incomparable, unabashed musical extravaganza. They have shared the stage with artistic visionaries including Toots and the Maytals, Rubblebucket, Gogol Bordello, the Dirty Heads, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, Jimmy Buffett, and Bernie Worrell. Evoking their personal power animals, they fearlessly forge into a bold new chapter of their epic musical journey and prepare to hit the road for a nationwide tour once more….

Thursday April 28 JERRY JOSEPH AND THE JACKMORMONS

Joseph is a prolific and accomplished songwriter who has written hits for Widespread Panic. He has released 30 albums in his more than 30 year career, not only as a solo artist, but also with the Jackmormons, supergroup Stockholm Syndrome, his burning two-piece The Denmark Veseys, and with his beloved 80s cult band, Little Women. Playing over 150 shows around the globe a year, Joseph is a relentless live performer. He has toured with Vic Chesnutt, Chris Whitley and Walter Salas-Humara, just to name a few. Not only has he toured Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast with the Jackmormons, but also solo through Nicaragua, Mexico, south-east Asia, Israel, Nepal, Lebanon, and the bulk of Europe. Most recently he volunteered as a rock school music teacher in Kabul, Afghanistan. Over the years, Joseph and his Jackmormons have shown a penchant for picking a spot on a map, taking over a town, and putting on a festival. Last year, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons released a live concert DVD, Nicaragua, recorded over three nights just outside of Rivas, Nicaragua. Joseph was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in October 2015. He will be touring in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand this Winter and Spring in addition to the States. Check the Jackmormons’ web site for tour dates.

April 7, 2016
Bearsville Theater Announces Spring Schedule

It’s no surprise that the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock released an exciting schedule for the spring.

This unique venue draws a variety of world-class artists throughout the year. This April and May will feature familiar names from several genres including folk, jam bands, reggae, funk and DJ sets.

Bearsville Theater sits in a wooded area about one minute outside of Woodstock. Guests can enjoy the Bear Café next door while checking out the Sawkill Creek. Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST FM also shares the property. Fans of the venue return time and again for both the music and the incredible atmosphere.

Next week features rising stars Pink Talking Fish on April 7 followed by a funky treat a few days later on April 10: Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Radiators, James Brown and the Meter Men.

Grateful Dead fans can get their fix on April 15 with the Garcia Project and April 16 with Skeleton Keys featuring Todd Stoops of RAQ (formerly Kung Fu) and Alex Mazur of Gratefully Yours.

Folk group Elephant Revival from Colorado will play on April 30 and rising jam band stars Formula 5 take the stage on May 13.

A full schedule is available below. Please visit www.bearsvilletheater.com for details and tickets.

April 1 – The Mountain Goats

April 7 – Pink Talking Fish

April 10 – Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators, James Brown, and The Meter Men

April 15 – The Garcia Project

April 16 – Skeleton Keys with Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) & Alex Mazur (Gratefully Yours)

April 23 – Ladies Night with DJ Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite and DJ Lady Verse

April 30 – Elephant Revival

May 6 – Feast of Friends (Doors Tribute)

May 7 – Tangoman & The Latin All Star World Beat Dance Band

May 13 – Formula 5 with Hayley Jane and Justin Hancock of Hayley Jane and the Primates

May 14 – Gary Nest Pine (former lead singer of The Wailers) & The Big Takeover

April 3, 2016
Lets Fool Around in Saint Augustine

Hurry! Lettuce and Griz will be headlining the inaugural Fool’s Paradise April 1st and 2nd! The festival will be celebrated at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre which is located in the oldest city in the United States and is famous for its Spanish style architecture. Located just an hour from Jacksonville and Gainesville and just two hours from Orlando, Fool’s Paradise could not be in a more picturesque and ideal location. The festival is hosted by Purple Hat Productions and Live For Live Music and is sure to be an amazing two day funk filled event. So pack your dancing shoes and come be part of the beginning of something spectacular! The music begins Friday at two’olock on the Shipwreck Stage.

There will be two stages, one of which is the Amphitheatre and the other is The Shipwreck Stage. There will also be late night sets by Vulfpeck and Break Science at the nearby Elk’s Lodge on Friday then Goldfish and a Fools of Funk Superjam on Saturday. Tickets to the late night sets are sold in a limited quantity and as a separate from the main event. There is also more late night music just two miles away at “Fool Moon” which is a staple in the St. Augustine music scene. Featured late night artists are Jacksonville’s own Herd of Watts, on Friday and Saturday, Gainesville’s Morning Fatty and Manyfest will play Saturday and Orlando’s Groove Orient will close out the night. Camping is available in an offsite location but all passes are limited. There are also a select amount of vip hotel packages. Which are available on the “Fool’s Paradise” website.

This festival is reminiscent of Jam Cruise because it offers fun excursions with the performing artists. There will be mini golf with Lettuce’s Adam Deitch and Jesus Coomes on Saturday at one o’clock, Sailing with The Shady Horns and Shmeemans at noon and also a zipline adventure with Break Science’s Borhahm Lee at twelve-thirty. All excursions are sold separately from the main event and the tickets are going fast!! There will be limited parking but fortunately there are many cab companies and Uber available.

Now that the basics have been covered, let’s get to the fun part, the music! Yes! finally Lettuce and GRIZ will be collaborating during the second half of GRIZ’s Friday night set in the ampitheatre. The remaining line-up also promises exciting funky fun times for everyone. There’s Chris Robinson’s Soul Revue featuring featuring George Porter Jr of The Meters, with Ivan Neville, The Nth Power, Goldfish, Corey Henry of Snarky Puppy, Marvel Years, Brasstracks, Herd of Watts. The Groove Orient, Morning Fatty and Love Chunk.

So pack your gear and prepare yourself for an awesome two days of music, and good times! Tickets are available on the website, and The St. Augustine box office.

March 31, 2016
Big Mean Sound Machine Shakes B-Side Ballroom

On March 11, Big Mean Sound Machine blew multiple minds away on a groovy Friday night at B-Side Ballroom in Oneonta, NY. A collection of nine talented souls graced the little nook of a stage that night, and gave it their all. It was evident that this group loves what they do, and are extremely cheerful about it. Throughout the night, they brought funkadelic afro-dance madness, with hints of worldly, succulent, jammy beats full of jazz and wonder. It can really get the best of someone in the best possible way, and I know it got the best of me.

Having been the first time seeing Big Mean perform, my breath journeyed its way up through my esophagus and exited only to create electrical gasps. Smiles filled the air as each musical build up was brought to the attention of the B-Side audience; it was impossible to look away. It channeled energies and was not only mesmerizing, but jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring.

To put the night into perspective, envision a tiny stage within a restaurant/bar, packed with assorted instruments and intense skill. Everyone was hanging out at first, but the next thing you know, the floor was filled with dedicated dancers who yearned to experience the largest and meanest sounds that this machine created. ‘Twas a machine indeed, and it lit up the floor and crowd, as if fanciful fireworks were exploding into thin air.

The show commenced, and the performers wooed the audience with a song called “Whoa Gosh,” one of many various fresh tracks from Big Mean’s most recent album, Contraband (2014). The Ithaca, NY, band has the power to gather the vibes that instruments generate and transform sound waves into jiggy, psychedelic beauty. With their unique sense of musical style, Big Mean raises the bar with their originality and feel-good atmosphere.

Angelo Peters rocked out on the bass, whileto his right Bobby Spellman owned the trumpet. Andrew Klein beat the drums to death, as Lucas Ashby brought the congas to life. Dan Barker and Ray McNamara created rhythm and movement with every jam from their guitars. Rob Tate hit up the audience with some electric rhythms, as Tyler Burchfield soothed souls with his baritone saxophone and Alicia Aubin danced the night away with her trombone.

The fans handled every sound the band threw at them; the rhythms made each soul move and each body shake that night, bringing a sense of euphoria and enlightenment. Throughout the show, Big Mean rocked the stage with even more hits from their newest album, some of which included “In the Name of What,” “Contraband,” “Sweet Tooth” and “Wolfpack.” They also threw in “Marauders,” a classic from 2012, that brought a different sense of style and flair to the set.

Big Mean Sound Machine is more than just a group; they are a beautiful arrangement and outstanding collective that brings life to every stage they perform on. Their jiggy style makes you want to move all night and it will resonate with you, as it is quite contagious my friends.

March 29, 2016