funk

Video Comentary

Not everything in the seventies deserves a second go ‘round. Much of it deserves to stay buried in the decade. Yet some can have its own kind of charm. Disco, for example, often gets a bad rap, but one band is determined to change that.

The Deep Fried Five bust in with rich, soulful disco funk Thursday, April 18 at Tres Hombres. No hating-- this disco certainly does not suck.

Emerging from Nashville, Tennessee in 2008, keyboardist Justin Martin, bass player Alex Dilley, drummer David Whitlow, guitarist Andrew Muller, and guitarist and vocalist Eric Koslosky try to transport listeners to a groovier time, yet the treatment is fresh enough to feel just right for dancing.

In addition to the 1970s original recipe, the Deep Fried Five add some crispy flavors of jazz, rock, and blues to the menu. And if that isn’t funky enough, Martin explains that the Deep Fried Five is also heavily influenced by the spicy sounds of New Orleans and Cajun music. Other influences include George Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Rufus, the Isley Brothers, Chaka Khan, Sly Stone bassist Larry Graham, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

“We like a lot of the feel of that kind of music,” Martin said. “Stevie Wonder has a lot of funk in some of his styles, so do a lot of other songs from that era.”

It is not through the music but the lyrics that the Deep Fried Five try to get their audiences to shake loose and have some fun.

“Bring all your best friends along with you/The more the merrier is what they say,” Koslosky sings on the second verse to “Funk House.” “Bring all your supplies/The party’s on the rise/Follow us and we’ll show you the way.”

While Nashville, Tennessee, is internationally known as the capital for all things country, Martin said that, like other bands in different genres, the Deep Fried Five has had little trouble finding a niche in Music City.

“They have been really great to us,” he said. “There are several places around town where we get to play and have a good time.”

In 2009, Deep Fried Five began working on their first album, Saturday Night Funk, Sunday Morning Soul, and the band was able to expand their base from the Midsouth to the Midwest.

They plan to finish another recording later this summer. Martin said the album, Right Around the Corner, is currently being mixed and mastered at G.E.D. Soul Recording Studios in east Nashville. To take the record to the next level, the band has hired session musicians who have also worked with Paul McCartney and Van Morrison.

“It is going great,” Martin said. “We are working and writing and hoping to come out with something really soon.”

Martin said he hopes that the new material will help catapult Deep Fried Five into different markets and introduce the band to new listeners.

“We just want to get out there the best we can, and hope that people will like our music for what it is,” he said.

For more information, visit <http://www.deepfried5.com>.

who: Deep Fried Five

what: funk

where: Tres Hombres

when: Thursday, April 18

Video Comentary

The New York City-based electronic band Dopapod rocks out Thursday, March 7 at the Hangar 9. Lab Partner will warm up.

Currently on tour toting their latest effort, Redivider, Dopapod formed in 2007. The last few years have seen them on the road, working through the entire East Coast and much of the Midwest. Dopapod has also been a regular on the festival circuit, performing at Camp Bisco, Gathering of the Vibers, Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Catskill Chill, Burning Man, Bear Creek, the Big Up, and Rootwire.

Nightlife recently chatted up Dopapod guitarist Rob Compa about Redivider, the joys of rocking out, and finding inner peace on stage.

At the time he joined the band, Compa said he had dropped out of college to teach guitar when opportunity came knocking. Now, he is looking at a major milestone with his current guitar stint.

“We all have our anniversary days of when we first came on as part of the band,” Compa said. “The day of the [Hangar 9] show will be my fifth anniversary of the day I joined the band.”

Described as an electronic band without the computers as well as a metal band with groove and soul, Compa said he and his bandmates-- Eli Winderman on keyboards, Neal “Fro” Evans on drums, bass player Chuck Jones, and sound and lights specialist Luke Stratton-- have a great camaraderie.

Compa described the band’s music as “progressive funk with lots and lots of improv,” but added that trying to find the right definition is not an easy task. Much of Dopapod’s music needs enough room for the musicians in the band to explore and use each moment the way they see it.

“It’s the improvisation,” Compa said. “There’s always something happening. That’s my favorite part.”

Dopapod released their sophomore album Drawn Onward a year ago. For their third album, the city slickers of Dopapod borrowed a friend’s solar-powered barn on Tyrone Farm, located in the small town of Pomfret, Connecticut, and recorded Redivider during several days.

Compa said the unorthodox approach and scenic setting helped set a more relaxed vibe than the typical studio experience.

“It was great,” he said. “It was honestly the only time that I felt I could relax while recording. It’s usually always time is money, but not there. It was the funnest experience.”

While onstage, Compa said he tries to let go and rock out.

“As much as we put up with, I want to enjoy each and every moment that I’m up there because that is where I want to be,” Compa said. “I didn’t use to be like that. I used to stress and worry and wonder if everything is going to be right. But now, I don’t.”

For more information or to hear samples of the band’s music, including tracks from Redivider, check out <http://www.dopapod.com>.

who: Dopapod / Lab Partner

what: progressive, improvisatory funk

where: Hangar 9

when: Thursday, March 7

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Video Comentary

words by Leah Williams Wright

pictures by Christina Moschino Wilson

It is always a treat when musicians from Carbondale’s past return to their roots to show how they have grown since they called Southern Illinois home.

Break the Bread marks Sam West’s triumphant return to the studio, and on Friday, January 25, the singer, songwriter and superb bass player brings back his Trio to the Tres Hombres stage for a CD release party. The fabulously funky Sam West Trio also plays Saturday, January 26 at Rustle Hill Winery.

West was nearly everywhere in Carbondale during the first decade of the 2000s, releasing a first EP, Steady. West’s 2008 solo release Demonstrations continues to be available on iTunes.

West left Carbondale for Saint Louis and then Nashville, Tennessee. He spent much of 2010 and 2011 touring the East Coast and performing with different bluegrass and rock side projects around the Midwest, Ireland, and Alaska.

But this year it is about new music. West’s new album is a departure from the jazz-funk tunes he once played in the ‘Dale. He explained that the new numbers center on a more acoustic-songwriter sound.

For more information about West or to hear tracks from Break the Bread, visit <http://www.SamWestMusic.com>.

Nightlife recently chatted with West about his new release, dealing with hard knocks along the way, and coming back home. Read on.

How long have you been working on this album?

I started this summer 2012. First, we laid down the rhythm tracks with [guitarist] Andy [Novara] and [drummer] Ron [Coulter] here in Southern Illinois and finished it in Nashville. It originally set off to be a full-length album, but I decided to only release four of the tracks for an EP at the start of this year. Part of the reason was a break-in at my Nashville home, where I lost my upright bass and several thousand dollars’ worth of equipment and hard drive info, which set me back on finances and deadline. I dedicated this EP to my stolen bass, Ray.

What inspirations have you drawn from?

I listen to all kinds of music; it's really hard to pinpoint a specific inspiration. As a songwriter it's important to read, too, and I check out a lot of obscure poetry. I've always been a jazz guy, but these days I've been paying close attention to old-school country singers and how they turn a phrase and jump into their words.

How is this project different or similar to what you have done in the past?

It's definitely different than what I've done in the past. I've veered away from jazz-funk and focused more on songwriter-acoustic music, which is really where my musical journey started. My intention was to put lyrics and melody at the heart of the song.

Needless to say, moving to Nashville has provided exposure to some great artists and new music. In addition to Ron Coulter and Andy Novara, who are my long-time musical compadres, I was privileged enough to work with some great Nashville artists on this EP-- Billy Contreras on fiddle, Chris Scruggs on steel, and Rory Hoffman on accordion. I met all these guys by just being a part of the music scene, pickup gigs and going to the local old-time jams. It's been fun having my music lifted to another level by such great talents.

What is your favorite track on the record?

My favorite track on the record is "Heavy Load.” It uses a train as a metaphor for life and death, probably not a commercial hit, but it is a very reflective personal tune for me. Chris Scruggs on the steel guitar really sings.

Some folks in Carbondale will probably also be familiar with the track "Whisky is the Devil," which I wrote for County Line back in the days of Tuesday nights at Tres Hombres, I think about four years ago now.

How does it feel coming back to Carbondale?

Coming back to Carbondale is always a good time. I grew up in Southern Illinois, have great family and friends here, and consider it home.

who: Sam West Trio’s Break the Bread

what: jazz, funk, original rock CD release party

where: Tres Hombres, Rustle Hill Winery

when: Friday, January 25; Saturday, January 26

Video Comentary

Rubblebucket is really something special. It is almost hard to believe that they are coming to play in Carbondale.

Rubblebucket's music, songwriting, live show, and creative aesthetic express something in the realm of super sexy, Afrobeat-dance, indie pop, hip, subterranean funk, real hypnotic, punk, synth-wave rock. Sporting danceability and quirkiness akin to Talking Heads, Rubblebucket's sound doesn't really fit into anything. It is something all its own.

Rubblebucket was formed in Vermont and has since moved to Brooklyn, New York. The band is Alex Toth on trumpet and vocals; Annakalmia “Kal” Traver on lead vocals and tenor and baritone sax; Adam Dotson on trombone and vocals; Darby Wolf on the keys; Craig Myers on percussion; Ian Hersey on guitar and vocals; Dave Cole on drums, and last but not least Jordan Brooks on bass.

They have come a long way since their debut release, Rose's Dream, in 2008. In 2009, they were featured in Relix magazine's “On the Verge: Five Artists You Should Know.” In 2011 Rubblebucket released Omega La La, a great introduction to their music. Rubblebucket was also featured on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

Rubblebucket is touring to promote their just-released five-track Oversaturated EP, recorded at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle, Washington, where the Fleet Foxes recorded their self-titled album and their latest release, Helplessness Blues. Oversaturated was produced by Ryan Hadlock, who has worked with Ra Ra Riot and Blonde Redhead. Oversaturated presents Rubblebucket expanding in an interesting direction with sounds tickled toward synth-wave flavoring. Check out the title track and “Pain From Love” for explanation. Their next full length release is scheduled for 2013.

Check out media, tour info, and more at <http://www.rubblebucket.com>.

Nightlife recently spoke with band leader Alex Toth. Dig.

How has the tour been?

Really fun! We're touring with an awesome band. We just got a board game-- Settlers of Catan. We got drunk and played, that was fun. This is our first extended tour with another band, our friends Reptar. It's really positive!

Any tour highlights we should know about?

We played a sold-out show in Chicago. Doughnut Falls in Salt Lake City was awesome-- we visited an oracle. The oracle spoke good things to us. You can see the photo on Facebook.

How do you find an oracle?

Google.

How would you describe your sound for someone who has never heard you before?

I hate that question. Funking, funking, funking, sex-Afrobeat-pop-fire flame balls. We're definitely wavers-- jazz, punk, but super dance-y.

Beatles or Stones?

Beach Boys.

If the band was a mythical creature, what would it be and why?

[Alex by way of Kal]: The best we can get is that we are a grog of hobbits.

Where did your name come from?

Another oracle-- in Vermont.

Really?

Yeah.

I don't believe you.

[laughs]

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Most schools don’t tell you about how to turn your craft into a business. Songs are really important-- working on the art of songwriting, it’s endless.... [Have] crazy energy at live shows.

What can people expect from the show?

A wild, funky dance party, catchy songs with cool lyrics-- a shitload of energy, dancing robots.

who: Rubblebucket / Dumptruck Butterlips

what: awesomeness

where: Hangar 9

when: Saturday, September 29

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Video Comentary

For anyone who lived, worked, attended school, or just hung out in and around Carbondale from the late 1980s all the way through the first decade of the new millennium, there was no stronger fabric in the tapestry of Carbondale’s party soundtrack than the Jungle Dogs. While Carbondale has certainly seen more than its share of insanely popular bar bands, few reached iconic status and remain on the lips of people who remember the good times, good drinks, and good friends almost ten years after playing their last official concert.

Starting in 1988, the Jungle Dogs-- whose lineup changed throughout the years but eventually solidified with saxophone player Klaus “Rock the House” Bank, bass player Eddie Chapa, trombone player Larry Daly, trumpet and keyboard player Keith Huffman, drummer John Hunter, percussionist Matt Linsin, trombone and keyboard player Jim Owens, guitarist Dan Schingel, and trumpet player and frontman D. Ward-- took to the stage almost every Friday and Saturday night in bars and beer gardens all over Carbondale, and eventually into venues throughout the tri-state region. Weekend after weekend, anyone who ever attended a Dogs show tuned out the worries of a busy and complicated world, hopped on the conga line, and sang and danced away their cares. The group’s signature number, “Cold Beer,” became not only a crowd favorite but an anthem for an entire generation of students who put SIU on the map as a major party school.

The band grew (and moved) apart due to the growing demands of raising families and nurturing diverse careers and made the decision to retire from regular performing. For the fans who had loyally flocked to Jungle Dogs shows for about fifteen years, the last official Dogs show at the 2002 Main Street Pig Out was a bittersweet experience.

Although the Jungle Dogs came out of retirement to play the 2003 Main Street Pig Out, it wasn’t until five years later the nine-member reggae, ska, urban pop, and salsa band started to regularly rekindle their one-of-a-kind magic in a historic reunion concert at Pinch Penny Pub. The event brought together not only their original fans, but in many cases, their original fans’ children.

In the years since, the annual Jungle Dogs reunion show has become one of the most anticipated events of Labor Day weekend in Carbondale. The group took last year off, but the Jungle Dogs’ annual Labor Day weekend shows resume Saturday, September 1 in the Pinch Penny beer garden. In case of rain, the show will move into the Copper Dragon Brewing Company.

“We’re totally getting excited about this,” Chapa tells Nightlife. “We always get really excited about playing together again. We always do a little get-together the night before. We do a little rehearsal/party here at my house, run through music, and hang out. That always gets us really excited about being together again.”

Chapa says he is sometimes surprised that a group that began with the sole purpose of providing some fun relief from the stress of exams, term papers, and campus life has etched a place in the soundtrack of their audiences’ lives.

“I run into people from time to time, and the Jungle Dogs will come up in conversation,” Chapa says. “When they find out that I’m a member, they always say, ‘Oh, that was such a big part of my college career. It was a big part of what was going on when I was in school, and it was so much fun.’ It really takes them back, just like it does with us. For me, personally, the reunions are always really interesting. It’s really a two-fold thing. For the audience, it’s about getting together again and playing music and reviving that old feeling of what is in the past. But for us, it’s a chance to get back together and catch up and talk and enjoy being together again. For us in the band, the bond that we have as members of the Jungle Dogs is a really intense one. I always tell people that it’s like we’re brothers. It’s almost like a fraternity.”

While the group’s members went their separate ways for a time, Chapa says there was little doubt in their minds that the band, which had become a cornerstone of the Carbondale bar scene, would be back at some point.

“We joked when we retired the band that we would be one of those bands who did reunions and just never goes away,” Chapa says. “Inevitably, that’s what happened. Fortunately, we have people who still want to see us and we have some very loyal fans in this area. The locals still love to come and hear us play.”

Indeed, the Jungle Dogs still find a large, loyal audience at the end of every long, hot summer in Southern Illinois. And as with any artist or band that achieves legendary status, the group not only enjoys the friendship and support of the fans who followed them from stage to stage since the 1980s. They also find that a whole new generation-- sometimes the grown children of their original fans-- is discovering and enjoying their infectious blend of good-time calypso, reggae, and island music. Chapa says that seeing a new generation of fans embracing and enjoying the group’s music is gratifying and makes the reunions very special.

“We always see a lot of familiar faces of old friends early in the show,” Chapa says. “But it’s always interesting, because about midnight we see a lot of college kids showing up. It becomes like a huge party with the early crowd, and the college kids joining for the last set. Sometimes we have fans who show up who were college kids back in the eighties or early nineties, and they come out with their kids who are now college-age. That’s how it is with my kids-- I have two kids that are college-age, and they’re big fans. We’re really lucky that Jungle Dogs has always had a very wide demographic. We weren’t just a college band that appealed only to college kids. We appealed to younger people and older people; I think that’s why we did so well at festival shows. I’ve seen people with their grandkids at our outdoor concerts.”

Chapa invites anyone who has never heard the Jungle Dogs or experienced the pure, unadulterated fun of a Jungle Dogs concert to come out to Pinch Penny and expect a rip-roaring musical good time, the same kind of good time that has brought audiences back for almost a quarter century.

“We’re a very fun band,” Chapa chuckles. “That’s always been the one big factor for us. We always have fun ourselves, and that translates to the crowd. We’ve always called ourselves a rock band, but we have a lot of influences with the reggae and calypso and ska. We really have that island sound, even our slower songs. It’s a very uplifting, positive kind of music and vibe. It will make you feel great. If they come, they’ll find the gamut of music is very wide. It’s definitely a fun time, and they’ll hear some great music. It’s going to be a great party.”

For more about the Jungle Dogs, visit <http://www.JungleDogs.com>.

who Jungle Dogs reunion

what reggae, ska, funk, party rock

where Pinch Penny Pub Beer Garden / Copper Dragon Brewing Company

when Saturday, September 1

Video Comentary

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Asheville, North Carolina’s reigning renegades, are set to bring the funk Saturday, January 28 to Tres Hombres.

This is a show for those who are into music made for moneymaker-shaking.

This super-talented sextet (consisting of Derrick Johnson on trombone and vocals, Greg Hollowell on saxophone and flute, Al Al Ingram on bass and vocals, Mary Frances on keys, Lee Allen on drums, and John Paul Miller on guitar and vocals) use their impressive chops to create some of the catchiest, most danceable grooves this side of Soul Train. Hailing from an area of the country traditionally associated with rural mountain music, the Booty Band can certainly attest to a diverse and vibrant music scene in Appalachia.

Having honed their skills during several years, two albums, and countless national tours, even making an appearance on CNN’s AC360 with Anderson Cooper, the Booty Band is capable of handling a breadth of musical styles ranging from psychedelic and spacey to soft, slinky, and jazzy to full-on rowdy funk-rock designed for dancefloor decimation-- sometimes within the space of one song.

Those who want to hear or see for themselves can download several free live recordings at <http://www.archive.org>, or visit <http://www.BootyBand.com> for information, tour dates, videos, links, et cetera.

Though the band is almost constantly touring, recently Nightlife caught up with Yo Mama’s resident six-string slinger John Paul Miller for a discussion of all things booty.

Could you fill in Nightlife readers on the group’s background?

We’ve been together for over nine years now, touring all over the United States and even in Jamaica. We’ve gone through some personnel changes, but currently we have a solid lineup that has been consistent for the last two-and-a-half years. Al Al Ingram, Greg Hollowell, and I are original members, while Derrick Johnson joined the band about five years ago. Lee [Allen] and Mary [Frances], who were in the duo Eymarel, joined the band in August of 2009.

The sound of the band has changed somewhat since the beginning, but one thing remains the same-- the energy at a Booty Band show is always turned up to eleven. We always have and always will play highly danceable music for people to get down to.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Personally, I listened to a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Black Crowes, and Guns ‘n’ Roses when I was first starting to play guitar-- and those groups gave me most of my foundation. Later on I started listening to bands like P-Funk, War, and Sly and the Family Stone. However, other members of the band are into electronic music, metal, jazz, hip-hop... the list goes on and on. You definitely hear a wide range of influences come through in our music.

Tell us about some of the most memorable gigs you've played.

One of my personal favorites is probably our recent performance at the Telluride Blues Festival, but Jamcruise was pretty cool as well. On the flipside, I think our worst show ever was the Jimmy V classic. They weren’t ready for the ol’ school, rough-around-the-edges, potty-mouthed Booty Band to roll into their country-club event. It was pretty bad, but we’ve all grown up quite a bit since then.

Have you ever performed at Tres Hombres before? If so, how does it stand out among the countless places you've played over the years?

Yeah, we’ve played there before, and it’s one of those cool small venues that always turns it out. I’m not going to lie, when we first heard we were playing at a Mexican restaurant, we were not thrilled. But to our surprise, Tres Hombres goes from being a quality restaurant to a ragin’ music venue in a matter of hours. We’ve always had a really good time there.

What do you hope an audience will take away from one of your shows?

I just hope that if someone has a good time, they will tell their friends about us. That’s how bands survive these days. With the decrease of revenue from album sales, artists are relying more heavily on live appearances to make a living. That’s why many bands are coming out of retirement and doing reunion shows. Hopefully fans keep spreading the word about our band and connecting with us online. Those things really help bring new people out to our shows. Ultimately, these are the things that allow us to keep doing what we do.

A lot of bands burn out quick. What is it about music that has kept your group inspired for nearly a decade?

We all have a lot of ideas and a high energy level, and we always want to create new music. It seems like we hardly have enough time to write all of the stuff that is going through our heads, and as a result, many songs get lost in the process of touring, because we simply aren’t able to focus our attention on new material. However, once we get off the road, there is always a strong desire to write and record. Our motivation is to keep moving forward.

What's in store for the future of the band?

We are about to drop our new album Doin’ It Hard. It should be out by March and will be available in double LP, CD, or digital-download formats. However, down time isn’t really a part of our vocabulary, so by the time people read this article, we will have already recorded the foundation for the first half of the followup album, and we’re also scheduled to record four new songs in February at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville. In addition to that, we’ll be recording and releasing our first official music video, and touring the Midwest in February and March. As for the rest of 2012, it looks to be pretty busy as well. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a groundbreaking year for the Booty Band.

who: Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band

what: funk

where: Tres Hombres

when: Saturday, January 28

Video Comentary

The traditional Caribbean steel drum immediately conjures up images of a beach paradise, weekend vacations, and fun in the sun. But Jonathan Scales is out to change preconceived notions of the steel drum. The instrument can play much more than reggae, calypso, ska, and other island music, he said.

“I wanted to see what else I could do,” Scales told Nightlife. “Just like the guitar can be used for many different genres, we wanted people to know that the steel pan drum can be taken out of its normal setting. It’s just another instrument.... It doesn’t have to be the same, just like the guitar is associated with other kinds of music.”

Scales transcends the genres Friday, July 1 at Tres Hombres. Along with his Fourchestra, the classically trained composer enjoys shaking things up and then smoothing out his funky jazz-fusion.

Scales’s music career began with the saxophone in middle school and percussion in high school, but he was first introduced to the steel pan in 2002 while attending Appalachian State University. Scales was studying music composition, and he joined an extracurricular activity involving the steel pan.

While Scales continued playing saxophone through college, he said he really wanted to play the steel pan.

“I got really into it and I wanted to see more,” he said.

Scales formed the Fourchestra, which includes blues guitarist Duane Simpson, bass player Cody Wright, and drummer Phill Bronson, in 2007. The band’s latest effort, Character Farm and Other Short Stories, has nine original stories that take listeners on a ride with each bent and expressive note.

Special guests on the record include saxophone extraordinaire Jeff Coffin of the Dave Matthews Band and Bé la Fleck and the Flecktones, and Yonrico Scott and Kofi Burbridge of the Derek Trucks Band. Casey Driessen’s dazzling fiddle work is also featured on the album.

Coffin has been a frequent contributor to other Fourchestra work, including 2007's One-track Mind and 2008's Plot/Scheme.

Scales is influenced by a number of different artists, from bluegrass to hip-hop. Whatever inspires others can inspire him, he said.

“I can find it anywhere,” Scales said. “I love all types of music, and I can be influenced by many different things— everything that everyone else is influenced by.”

Scales said he is particularly influenced by Bé la Fleck because he feels a certain similar composing camaraderie.

“He took the banjo out of its traditional role in bluegrass and flips it around and does something else with it,” he said.

The Fourchestra has garnered a lot of buzz in the jazz world. Scales said it can be humbling to read the reviews of his music, but he added that it helps fuel his desire to do better.

“I’m always trying to get there,” he said. “I want to keep getting better.”

For more information about Scales, and to view the new music video for his latest single  “Music Vishnu,” visit <http://www.JonScales.com>.

who: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra

what: funky jazz fusion

where: Tres Hombres

when: Friday, July 1