Wednesday, April 24, 2013

John Brown's Body Returns to the Studio and The Stage with Kings and Queens

John Brown's Body, one of the dopest bands on the planet creating and representing contemporary roots reggae music is about to tour the USA in support of their new album, Kings and Queens, out April 16, 2013 on Easy-Star Records.  JBB has been working for years to build a solid reputation around their world-class musicianship and stage presence.  I've seen them perform several times in venues large and small, and they never neglect to put on an amazing show.  Lead singer Elliot Martin is the focal point on stage but the tight horn section and funky rhythm section keep things skanking along nicely throughout.  JBB is touring coast to coast, so find a way to catch them live.  You won't be disappointed.




4/26 Water Street Music Hall | Rochester, NY – BIG UPstate Reggae Fest  
4/27 Paradise Rock Club | Boston, MA  
5/17 The Jewish Mother | Virginia Beach, VA 
5/18 Electric Factory | Philadelphia, PA -with SOJA  
5/23 Tralf Music Hall | Buffalo, NY 
5/24 The Rex Theater | Pittsburgh, PA 
5/25 Dark Star Jubilee Festival | Thornville, OH  
5/26 Summer Camp Music Festival | Chillicothe, IL  
6/23 Onondaga Lake | Liverpool, NY –with Rusted Root
7/12 & 13 The Beachcomber | Wellfleet, MA
7/19 Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival | Trumansburg, NY
8/01 Horning’s Hideout | North Plains, OR 

Kobo Town Brings a Fresh Take on that Old Calypso Sound

Kobo Town re-introduces Calypso to a contemporary audience with their new album Jumbie in the Jukebox, out today on Cumbancha Records.  Light and flavorful like all good calypso, Kobo Town has something fresh going on.  Updating the sound with some Latin flavor, reggae skanking, and dynamic percussion, Kobo Town is something new and different to catch your ears.  Just like Trench Town in Jamaica, Kobo Town is a reference to the neighborhood in which Calypso was born.  From Kobo Town to the rest of the world, this album puts calypso back on the map.  Dig a free track from the album below.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Zongo Junction, Federator No. 1, Uhuru Afrika Bring the Afro-noise to The Middle East Tomorrow Night

Afrobeat returns to Cambridge, MA tomorrow night.  Zongo Junction, Federator No. 1, and Uhuru Afrika will be hitting the stage at The Middle East Upstairs tomorrow at 8pm.  It will be a night full of afro-flavor.  Mmm I can taste it already.  Delish.  Get tickets here.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

ANerGy Afrobeat Ensemble EP and Tour


French Afrobeat group ANerGy Afrobeat Ensemble are about to embark on a tour across France in support of their new EP, Afrobeat for the World.  If you're across the pond and can make it to one of their shows, definitely check them out.  For the rest of us, dig the preview mix of their new EP.




6th May 13 : Saluting The Black President Fela Kuti w/Ginger Baker, Tony Allen/Inna Modja, ANerGy Afrobeat & more at "La Bellevilloise" 20PM Paris (France)
25th May 13 : Kiala invite Anergy Afrobeat at Chinois  20PM Montreuil (France)
15th June 13 : ANerGy Afrobeat at Chinois 20PM Montreuil (France)
06th july 13 : Peniche Cancale 20PM Dijon (France)

Charles Bradley - Victim of Love

Soul icon Charles Bradley is returning to the spotlight this spring with his new album and supporting tour.  Victim of Love, the second chapter in the soul saga of Charles Bradley was released April 2, 2013 on Dunham Records.  For those who fell in love with the soulful, sultry voice of Charles Bradley after No Time for Dreaming, you're in for a treat with Victim of Love.  

The pain, the hurt, the love, the attitude, all the things that make Charles Bradley who he is are all back in full force on Victim of Love.  That amazing combination of The Menehan Street Band backing up Charles Bradley is such a rare combination of musicianship and vocals.  If ever there was a match made in heaven when it comes to producers and frontmen, Tommy Brenneck and Charles Bradley are it.

I remember the first time I saw Charles Bradley perform I saw him open for Sharon Jones in Buffalo, NY in 2011.  He absolutely stole the show.  He came out in a 3-piece red velvet suit and lit up the stage.  The crowd went absolutely wild, and he soaked up every bit of it.  Knowing the story of how he struggled for years in soul obscurity, dealing with all kinds of trials and tribulations, I could see how much he was loving performing as the star he was born to be.

Be a part of the next chapter in Charles Bradley's incredible story.  Catch the documentary about his life, and definitely see him live when he comes to a town near you.




Apr 21 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Apr 24 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
Apr 25 Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall
Apr 26 Lafayette, LA - Festival International de Louisiane
Apr 27 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Apr 28 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
May 01 Austin, TX - Ant one’s
May 02 Dallas, TX - Trees
May 04 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
May 05 St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House
May 07 Minneapolis, MN - The Cedar Cultural Center
May 08 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom
May 09 Chicago, IL - The Metro
May 10 Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
May 11 Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre
May 13 Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
May 16 New York, NY - Apollo Theater
May 17 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
May 18 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
Jun 12 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie
Jun 14 London, England - Islington Assembly Hall
Jun 15 Bergen, Norway - BergenFest
Jun 16 Oslo, Norway - Norwegian Wood
Jun 17 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
Jun 19 Hamburg, Germany - Grünspan
Jun 20 Dresden, Germany - Beatpol
Jun 22 Ballinlough Castle, Ireland - Body&Soul
Jun 23 Duisberg, Germany - Traumzeit Festival
Jun 25 Aarhus, Denmark - Posten
Jun 26 Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
Jun 28-30 Glastonbury, England - Glastonbury Festival
Jul 02 Vienna, Austria - Jazz Fest Wien
Jul 03 Karlsruhe, Germany - Zeltival - Tollhaus Karlsruhe
Jul 07 Arras, France - Main Square Festival
Jul 08 Argelès-sur-Mer, France - Les Déferlantes Festival
Jul 11 Bilbao, Spain - Bilbao BBK
Jul 13 Juan-les-Pins, France - Jazz à Juan
Jul 14 Rotterdam, The Netherlands – North Sea Jazz Festival
Aug 2 – 4 Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
Aug 10 Burnaby, BC, Canada - Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival

G&D Live in South Africa

I don't quite know how to describe Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins (G&D).  They've got old-school black power vibes mixed with futuristic hip-hop jazz modalities a la Madlib for days.  They truly are original.  Their new album, The Lighthouse, out May 21, 2013, is about as next level as it gets.  Wet your beak with a podcast of their live performance in South Africa from late 2010.

Friday, April 12, 2013

New Video from Nikhil P. Yerawadekar and Low Mentality



Nikhil P. Yerawadekar, one of the coolest cats on the scene, and his band Low Mentality have an awesome new video out for their single Run Fast.  It premiered on OkayAfrica a couple weeks ago, but I figured it couldn't hurt to post it here as well.  Nikhil is a veteran of afrobeat heavyweights like Antibalas and Akoya, with appearances along the way in bands like Superhuman Happiness and Ikebe Shakedown.  All that to say, Nikhil is down with some of my favorite musicians on the planet.  Dig the video and cop the 7" from Ubiquity Records when it drops.