I had the honor of seeing Funk.Soul.Family for the first time at Tip’s about two weeks ago, and I saw them again at Loyola a few days later where I could really hear the music clearly, and only became more enamored by this band. Funk.Soul.Family is an 8-piece “musical force” and they are bringing back good music in a big way. I have been waiting so long (seriously) to see a group of young musicians do what this band is doing.
With their eight members, Funk.Soul.Family is able to create those big huge awesome arrangements that make music so enjoyable to listen to: killer lead guitar, talented lead and backing vocals (and the wonderful mixture of male and female voices), a fat/bad-ass rhythm section of bass and drums, fantastically melodic harmonies with two keyboards, and the cherry on top: a horn section. Think Stevie Wonder meets Erykah Badu meets Big Band meets Sam Cook meets Rock & Roll, and you’ll still be surprised by what this band brings to the table.
They weave original arrangements of very tasteful covers, and some great originals that I enjoy even more. Musicality is abundant not only in mind-blowing solos, but moreso in the subtleties, like expert control of dynamics and spacial allowance. A band with a lot of members (especially talented ones) can easily go wrong with cluttered and too-loud arrangements; you will find none of those here. You will find yourself bobbing your head to a tight bass and drum beat, dropping your jaw at a guitar or sax solo, stomping your feet to rockin’ builds, sighing at consonant harmonies, and on your toes during tension-packed hits and holds. If you like music, I don’t think you can NOT like this band. I have no hesitation when I tell you that these guys (and lovely lady) are going places. Check them out.
The new Gnarls Barkley video for their song “Mystery Man” is crazy dope. It looks like it was made from hand drawn cut outs. I love it. Mystery Man rides his bike and flies around the world, then has to save it from some giant typography monster.
It used to be that a funeral procession consisted of a line of mourners solemnly following the pall bearers who carry a beautifully ornate wooden box, the final resting place of a loved one’s earthly remains. Then, behind that line, was a second line, this one of onlookers who could not resist the smooth scream of the trumpet, the deep thump of the tuba, and that sassy trombone that made up the brass band following the funeral procession, “funkin’ it up” all the way to the cemetery.
While the popularity of the jazz funeral has fizzled, that second line has become a staple of New Orleans culture. In case you didn’t know (and I sure didn’t until I was told by my cousin, Gip-the guy in the picture), this is “Second Line Season.” Lately, on Sunday afternoon, around 1 o’clock at the corner of Louisiana and Claiborne, you will find men, women, and children watching a parade of men dressed to the nine’s in colorful suits and pants with a crease so tight you can cut bread with it, fedora hats complete with a turkey feather that matches the feathered fan that completes the outfit, topped off with some Blues Brothers-esque black sunglasses.
This is the new Second Line, preceded not by a funeral procession, but only by a brass band playing everything from “Do Whatcha Wanna” to an all-brass rendition of my personal favorite, Levert’s “Casanova.” The Second Line is how we get the party started at a Saints game and always the very last song played at a party, serving as a polite way to say that it’s time to go. It’s so much fun to lose control of yourself and throw around a handkerchief (or a napkin, whichever’s handy) while yelling “Reeee-birth” and doing dances you didn’t know existed. Some of you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, just listen to this song and pretend to be in this picture.
Kanye’s new video Heartless is ripe with 1980s styled animation, pop colors, and fake space backgrounds. I still can’t tell if I like it. What do you think?
If you haven’t already heard of the phenomenal Goapele, shame on you! Hailing from the Bay area, she has a soothing sound that’s inspiring and will mellow even the most hectic days. The following is from her album “Change it All”
I added some excellent Voodoo photography from Victoria and Juley to a photo gallery. Click here to view the slideshow.
If you have any photos you would like to contribute ...
Curious Tribe Vote Zine
I must admit that I am on pins and needles thinking about the election. I will be waking up at 5:30AM tomorrow to make sure I beat the crowds and ...
Curious Tribe is what happens when a group of friends decide that they have the power to change the world. One project at a time, we plan to redefine the way the media portrays youth culture. We call New Orleans home, but we plan to affect everyone everywhere.
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I had the honor of seeing Funk.Soul.Family for the first time at Tip’s about two weeks ago, and I saw them again at Loyola a few days later where I could really hear the music clearly, and only became more enamored by this band. Funk.Soul.Family is an 8-piece “musical force” and they are bringing back good music in a big way. I have been waiting so long (seriously) to see a group of young musicians do what this band is doing.
