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Last Updated: Nov 15th, 2008 - 05:38:01 |
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(Photo courtesy of Tsunami Publicity)
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Chicago-based band Lubriphonic is the grease that keeps the live, stage-rattling wheels of funk, blues and R&B a-turnin.' "It's because we're all musicians who have made our living for the past 15 years, playing seven nights a week with blues and soul and R&B bands in and around Chicago," said Lubriphonic drummer Rick King. This time around, Lubriphonic is bringing their slick sound to the neo jam-band venue, Owsley's Golden Road, on Lawrence Street in Denver. "People are just so passionate about their music out there in Colorado," King said. "Seeing it is believing it, and it's a beautiful thing to see people up and dancing and enjoying the music."
Tell me a little about Lubriphonic.
The band is based out of Chicago ... and the band is definitely born of the Chicago blues and soul scene. We all met each other and we've known each other for over 15 years from working together and with all of these legendary blues and R&B and soul acts. We all speak the same language and ... it just seemed like the natural thing to come together and do our own funk and rock and roll show.
You call yourselves "groovy, organic, funky rock." Tell me what that means, exactly.
I've always thought that one of the things that makes soul music, and to an extent blues music, so appealing is the sense of compassion, a story that people can relate to. And that ... makes it the kind of music that makes people feel good. We're attracted to that, and that's the kind of show we want to throw down, something that makes people feel good and makes them move. It's definitely a show where you'll see people dancing at.
In what way has Lubriphonic embraced that style of showmanship that was so prevalent in many of your influences?
That's definitely a direct result of the school we come from, and that is legendary blues and soul and R&B acts out of Chicago. It's not enough to just get up there with your instrument — you've got to perform. You've got to be an entertainer. And that's the school we come from. Everybody's got their own thing, but this is ours.
Who are some of your influences?
On different days, I have different influences, depending on how I feel. Right now the band is listening to a lot of James Brown, The JBs, a lot of Isley Brothers, Al Green and Parliament-Funkadelic. That's what we've been listening to in the van lately.
I read that your last album was recorded live. How do you translate studio sounds to live performances?
We have a home spot at a place called the Live One in Chicago, and that's been our residency now for a couple of years. We've had some really great live shows there, so we decided to record a live show there and make it a release. That album was made inside a week for the most part, if you look at actual days recording. We recorded all of the songs in one day and then came back and put a few over-dubs and polishes here and there. But we record live, all of us together, so that we can get the same kind of vibe that we do when we're ... onstage. We play live; we record live, and we're definitely a live act. That's just the flavor we have.
The Mizel Museum, in conjunction with Sheryl Renee Productions and Hazel Miller Entertainment, will present "Music of Freedom: An Homage to George and Ira Gershwin," at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Tivoli Turnhalle at Auraria. The 3 p.m. show will be followed with a brief Q&A session.
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Sheryl Renee will bring George and Ira Gershwin's sound back to life in "Music of Freedom," with her stirring Ella Fitzgerald impersonation.
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Honoring the Gershwin brothers' contribution to American culture, "Music of Freedom" will feature eight of their most memorable songs, backed by Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine and performed by some of the top local vocalists, including Renee, who will be doing her critically-acclaimed Ella Fitzgerald impersonation. Fitzgerald was one of the Gershwins' favorite singers, and Ira once remarked, "I never knew how good our songs were until Ella sang them."
Miller will offer historical perspectives throughout, highlighting the common bonds between Jewish and black Americans through music, as well as the timeless influence of the Gershwins' legacy and the impact of their groundbreaking folk opera, "Porgy and Bess." The event will also feature actor Gary Cames as Ira Gershwin.
"Music of Freedom" is sponsored by CCD, UCD and Metro. Admission is free for all Auraria students (with valid ID), $10 for adults and $5 for teachers and all other students. Reservations are required.
For more information or to make reservations call the CCD Student Life office at 303- 556-2597 or the Mizel Museum at 303-394-9993, ext. 104.
The experimental Alaskan foursome Portugal. The Man will be taking the stage at the Marquis Theater Nov. 14 in support of their most recent album Censored Colors.
The band draws many comparisons to The Mars Volta, but after their sophomore effort Church Mouth, which had more in common with a backwoods gospel revival than anything else, the band's sound is hard to pin down.
Censored Colors combines the experimental sound of their debut and the stripped down blues of the follow-up to create a unique blend. With a growing catalog of distinct and powerful songs, Portugal. The Man should put on an electrifying show for everyone in attendance.
--Matt Pusatory (mpusator@mscd.edu)
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