This Friday, Sept, 23rd, the incredibly talented band Strive Roots is opening up for classic funk band War. If you’ve never heard of Strive Roots, let this video recorded by MusicWithoutLabels at last year’s THC Music Fest, give you your first taste. Eli (lead guitar) does something with the guitar I’ve never seen ANYONE ever do. I still can’t figure out how he does it. Check it out:
With tunes like that, and one of my favorites, Communicate:
along with a whole slur of new material, this show is going to be ridiculous! If you’re in Southern Cali, and you like to dance and jam the f*k out, you’re definitely going to want to catch this. Tickets are on sale here, or you can email Eli directly at eli@striveroots.com, and maybe he’ll hook you up!
Strive Roots also plays tonight at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood at 11:30 pm. If you don’t happen to be in town, you can check out all that Strive Roots has to offer at striveroots.com or on Facebook. This band is seriously going to blow up soon, unquestioned. Don’t miss em!
Ape Tit is currently in the studio working on getting their fans some kick ass music to groove too. I myself have seen the guys live twice and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of their deep grooves and phat beats! For now here is a little taste of what you can expect from Ape Tit!
The Audio and Visual Quality is not the best but I promise you when they get their first quality track laid down, I will be posting it without a doubt for you all to check out!!!
Photography By: Jimmy Iles | Director of Artist Relations | @JimmyMWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Big Slim & The Blues Invaders– “When We Were Young”
Click the pic for more concert shots!
From BIO: “Born in Muncie Indiana, John “Big Slim” Anderson started playing music at 9 years old. He played most of the brass instruments and by the age of 16 played the trumpet in his first professional band. Since that time, Big Slim has been in many bands, playing many styles of music. He switched to the bass and has never looked back. Since moving to San Diego, Big Slim has played in several bands as the front man. During this time, he began writing and performing his own music, a mix of blues, rock, and R&B…”
Newly Formed WRD is comprised of three mega talented artists that have been putting out great music for years. Though, they may have not been doing it together for all that time. These three heavy weights have decided to work together and recently formed their newest band, WRD.
Robert Wlater’s name makes up the “W” in the group’s title. This Jazz, Funk, keyboardist maybe best known for his slaying of the keys in the band he helped form back in the day, The Greyboy Allstars, with which he toured North America and Europe for 5 years before leaving for another band he formed called, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress.
The Greyboy Allstars – “Still Waiting”
A fun fact about Robert is that he makes a brief cameo apperance in the movie “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”, for which he helped write one of the soundtracks titled, “(Mama) You Got To Love Your Negro Man”. You can see a brief shot of him as the keyboard player in the house band for Dewey’s 1970’s variety show, “The Dewey Cox Show” (not in the clip below)
Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersoundsbrings the “R” to WRD and is a master of his guitar. I have seen him live a couple times and this man’s guitar solos alone, will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor at the end of the night. Having helped form and playing in some of the UK’s top notch Jazz bands like, The Eddie Roberts Organization, The Three Deuces, and Gaucho. Eddie eventually went on to play in the band, The New Mastersounds, which I have seen live and was blown away by their heavy, fast paced, Jazz Funked sounds. Check it out for yourself….
The New Mastersounds – “Can You Get It”
The “D” stands for Adam Deitch, the man who keeps the beats flowing. Adam is probably best known for bringing his Hip-Hop/Funk and Jazz influenced drumming style to bands such as, Lettuce, which he founded and has toured with for the past 15 years and the Dub – Hop sounds of the Colorado based band Pretty Lights.
Pretty Lights – “VS. Summertime”
Not only is Adam a remarkable drummer, but, he has also produced tracks for some of today’s top emcees like, 50 Cent, Redman, Talib Kweli, Krs – One, and Jurrasic 5, just to name a few.
Given the backgrounds of these amazing artists, it’s no surprise that this show was one of the best ones of the year for me. I am glad I had the chance to cover these greats so early in the bands life. Enjoy the pics and keep an eye out for them in your city!!! You won’t regret it!!!
By: Jimmy Iles | Director of Operations | @JimmyMWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Give Till It’s Gone is the tenth studio album by Ben Harper. The album was released in Italy on May 10, 2011 and worldwide on May 17, 2011 by Virgin Records. It is Harper’s first solo album since Both Sides Of The Gun, released in 2006.
The album was preceded by the single “Rock N’ Roll Is Free”, released as a free download on March 22, 2011. In Italy, the first single from the album was “Don’t Give Up on Me Now”, released on April 1, 2011.
In the album, Ben Harper collaborates with the ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, who co-wrote and played the drums in the tracks “Spilling Faith” and “Get There from Here”. Another song from the album, “Pray That Our Love Sees the Dawn”, features American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne
According to an issued press release, the end result seeks to examine “the disparity between the man [Harper] is today and the man he endeavours to become… While its songs are highly personal, Give Till It’s Gone illuminates the universal struggle to find meaning and fully engage with life and one another.”
to keep up to date with all things Harper go to his Website
By: Shayne Byrne | Beat-Play Ambassador Ireland | @shaynewithMWL | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC
Not too sure how I let these guys slip by there but it may have something to do with this hip-hop trios limited track selection, keeping them a hidden gem in the independent hip-hop community. Treehouse‘s first track released early February of 2011 and really set the tone of originality holding an old-soul jazz feel native to their Chicago, IL roots. Their have been some hints towards an album release with shouts of recording sessions in the works, so lets hope to see something late this year! So kick-back and get a glimpse of the “Pocket Life”
To help back that previous statement concerning a possible album drop in the near future, Treehouse just recently released a new single entitled “Ana”. Apparently this one is ‘in ode to a fine Spanish chika named ‘Ana”. Simple enough… Let’s hear what they have to say!
Daptone Records out of New York is one of my favorite indie labels for one reason and one reason only, the ability to go above and beyond with their artists in production value and sound. OK fine that was two reasons, sue me. They have managed to keep the sounds of 60’s and 70’s soul and blues alive in a big way. Artists like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have flourished because they have been given an environment to create new music with respect to the old sounds. Now Dunham Records (an offshoot of Daptone) has found another diamond in the rough, Charles Bradley.
Charles Bradley – I Believe In Your Love
I read Mr. Bradley’s bio and I was blown away. Talk about hardship scarafice and true unadulterated love of music. The man has hitchhiked or traveled all over America, from Maine to Alaska, picking up odd jobs along the way. Basically living on the streets for a good part of his life, Charles Bradley has always had a love for music. After seeing The Godfather of Soul James Brown at the Apollo in 1962 he knew he wanted to be a apart of the scene, but circumstance after circumstance led Bradley away from what he loved.
Charles Bradley – The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
This record in a word, heavy. It’s a biography of a man’s life leaning on hard times and suffering. The thoughtful music is sung by a man who has not only felt these emotions but lived them. I’d tell you more about Charles, but I think I’ll let him fill you in better than I ever could.
Charles Bradley – Why Is It So Hard?
Bradley was discovered playing, his idol James Brown, covers in Bedstuy, NY under the name “Black Velvet” by a representative from Daptone Records. After listening to this record I can see where Bradley’s raw vocal talent comes from. He and his label mates knew it was time to put his story on tape. He like many other successful artists sings about what he knows and doesn’t pull any punches. Backed by the Menahan Street Band, Bradley is a vocal force reminiscent of the great James Brown who he loved so much. If you love the soulful sounds of the 60’s and 70’s do yourself a favor and check out Charles Bradley and the Menehan Street Band.
Charles is currently on TOUR and his new record “No Time For Dreaming” is available in many formats through the Daptone site HERE. He will be playing LA’s Echo on May 4th.
Here’s the title track and the last track from “No Time For Dreaming”
Charles Bradley – No Time for Dreaming
Charles Bradley – Heartaches and Pain
Check out Daptone as well. They are an awesome little label with an amazing roster. And as they say, I hope they “Keep Puttin Soul Up.”
By: Steve Rippin | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles | @stevewithMWL|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC
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