Grand Ole Party

I must be the devil’s daughter/ what a dark father to dwell in me oh I must be the devil’s daughter/ such a dark father to dwell in me bastard child that I am/ oh you can see it in my swagger in the palmist’s lines of my hands/ in my lips that bud like daggers look out young son/ when I bloom you’ll come a-crawling – “Look Out Young Son”

How do you explain on a piece of paper the elements that make a band truly exciting and genuinely unique? Sometimes, a good starting point is simple geography. When Grand Ole Party sets the stage for their live show, the placement of their drums and amps is the first cue: three abreast, with the drum kit front and center. The uninitiated will then experience the next surprise when the three-piece takes the stage and the lone female musician moves her diminutive frame behind the kit. The third moment of wonderment comes when lead vocalist Kristin Gundred opens her mouth to sing and a cavalcade of power and passion comes out. But none of these things are gimmicks, and Grand Ole Party isn’t trying to shatter your preconceptions, they just wanna rock out.

Since late 2005, musicians Kristin Gundred (vocals, drums) John Paul Labno (guitar) and Mike Krechnyak (bass) have been writing music, touring clubs and putting on the kind of live show that makes friends tell friends to get off the couch and into the club. The trio met while attending University of California, Santa Cruz, jammed together in a loose collective, then decided to get serious, taking the newly-formed group around the U.S. until they found a place that seemed like a good fit. San Diego is where they landed, and where they have gone on to cultivate a rabid following of fans devoted to their raucous live show.

It has all unfolded very quickly, as tends to happen with bands who have that rare combination of fierce songs and onstage electricity. Grand Ole Party’s first show was at a friend’s house in February 2006, and the word spread like wildfire about their compelling live set; they’ve played a host of club dates, including opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs just eight months after their humble beginnings.

The group was nominated for the 2006 San Diego Best New Artist Award in and set out to record their debut CD in March 2007 with Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley and The Elected at the helm. It was a blitzkrieg of 12-hour days, five days straight, largely live-to-tape, according to front-woman Kristin: “We recorded live because we wanted that same energy from our live show to be present in the studio. We were pretty excited because recording Humanimals made us more self-aware of our sound and took us from a live-only project to a tangible, playable thing.” Guitarist John Paul Labno also echoes the enthusiasm of Sennett’s production talents:“In the studio, his biggest asset was in coaxing us to do good takes, and knowing when we had them. It kept it exciting. He had certain ideas and helped us experiment with them. In the end, it sounded just like GOP.” That Grand Ole Party sound – freshly infusing raw funk and stripped-down soul into primal, infectious rock and roll – was truly captured on Humanimals.

Listen to tracks like “Gypsy March”, “Dirty Spirit Rag” and “Belle Isle” and you’ll hear a host of timeless influences coming clearly through Kristin’s vocals; the singer cites inspirations including Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith, Grace Slick and Motown girl groups. “It took me until I was 20 to break free from total shyness and start actually doing something,” explains Kristin. (She’s now 23)“When we play together I feel whole… It’s me at my best.” While you’re listening, take note of disc closer “Radio” which was remixed by dub legend The Scientist.

Bassist Krechnyak confirms that Humanimals was a challenging process, but believes that every ounce of energy invested was well worth it: “We have sacrificed a lot but it has never been a very tough decision to do so. Music and art in general is a way of living…it’s also a response to the world around you, it’s survival. This record, and the music we’re making, it’s a very natural thing for us because it’s what connects us to the elements, to the world.”

The word is spreading fast, brothers and sisters. Just prior to a fall tour with Rilo Kiley the group was once again nominated at the 2007 San Diego Music Awards, this time in two categories: Best Alternative Artist and Artist of the Year. Without question, the more they play, the more the excitement builds.

This is your official invitation to the Grand Ole Party. false 292844 GrandOleParty http://www.myspace.com/grandoleparty 2007-07-27 17:29:00 1 — 47472 Jake Jasmine Vancouver 53 jakejasmine@jakejasmine.com false alternative indie rock 386884 JakeJasmine 2007-07-28 01:45:00 0 BC 47473 Leather Britches Glen Allen 46 23228 540-223-5031 elgee50@yahoo.com Leather Britches came to be out of desperation and dutch courage. Way back in 1975, Jim Mohr and a friend walked into a bar (no it’s not a joke)in Richmond, VA and left with a booking to play there in two weeks. This forced them to put together a band and with the inclusion of Linny Greer and another friend on bass, Leather Britches was born. In the beginning the musical focus was mainly bluegrass with numerous nods to rock and blues. Over the next 30 years, Jim and Linny played in numerous other groups, together and separatley and most of the bluegrass fell by the way but the acoustic instruments stayed. The band now consists of Linny, Jim and sometimes Wyatt Allen, our youthful and dynamic bass player. We make our home in central Virginia and play a mix of music that can best be described as Blue Ridge Acid Folk-Rock. false Acoustic eclecticism for the connoisseur 386566 LeatherBritches 2007-07-28 15:09:00 1 VA 47474 Jimmy Dix Terre Haute 14 47809 812-617-0720 scottyc_47501@yahoo.com false Funk, rock goodness 386950 JimmyDix 2007-07-28 16:20:00 0 IN 47475 Mixed Breed Boulder 6 80304 720-231-5304 info@mixedbreedmusic.com We represent those people who need to keep it real – nasty guitar licks and nasty lyrics – softcore types need not apply – like Ween? you’ll like MixedBreed! false mix of Zeppelin, Chili Peppers 386956 MixedBreed 2007-07-28 17:09:00 0 CO 47476 2 DBiles a lazile montreal 62 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 2DBilesalazile 2007-07-28 22:17:00 0 QC 47477 Derrick Gardner 0 Derrick@Gardner.com false 254045 DerrickGardner 2007-07-29 06:52:00 0 — 47478 The People Project 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 ThePeopleProject 2007-07-29 08:25:00 0 — 47479 Flavie 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 Flavie 2007-07-29 08:27:00 0 — 47480 Pocket Patty 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 PocketPatty 2007-07-29 08:28:00 0 — 47481 Trio VLG 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 TrioVLG 2007-07-29 08:30:00 0 — 47482 Bharath & His Rythm Four 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 Bharath&HisRythmFour 2007-07-29 08:31:00 0 — 47483 IQI Balam et Le Band de Gaza 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 IQIBalametLeBanddeGaza 2007-07-29 08:33:00 0 — 47484 Le Cabaret Rouge 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 LeCabaretRouge 2007-07-29 08:34:00 0 — 47485 The blowups 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 Theblowups 2007-07-29 08:36:00 0 — 47486 Jean-François Lessard 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 Jean-FrançoisLessard 2007-07-29 08:38:00 0 — 47487 Papa Groove 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 PAPAGROOVE 2007-07-29 08:42:00 0 — 47488 Vanessa Rodrigues Soul Project 0 olivierdecotret@hotmail.com false 202839 VanessaRodriguesSoulProject 2007-07-29 08:47:00 0 — 47489 Cause and Effect 4b Hemlock Springs rd 4b Hemlock Springs rd Derry 29 03038 16038456298 pistola711@hotmail.com false jam groove instrumental original fresh 367011 CauseandEffect 2007-07-29 15:47:00 0 NH 47490 Whiskey Hill 0 thewhiskeyhillbluesband@hotmail.com false Funky and soulful blues. 387044 WhiskeyHill 2007-07-29 17:24:00 0 — 47491 Gemini Soul 407 29th Street, #6 San Francisco 5 94131 415-826-7972 pearljazz@excite.com Gemini Soul (Andrè Ajamu Akinyele – bass & drum programming; Jon O’Bergh – piano, keyboards & programming; Andrew Foster – percussion; and Alex Marks – drums) originating from the San Francisco bay area are known for their eclectic blend of smooth jazz/funk fusion with an electronic element known as “Cyber Jazz.”

Andrè Marcel Ajamu Akinyele (Ah-jah-moo + Ah-kin-yay-lay) recorded as MARCEL from 1998 to 2004 and had independent success with several releases throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. As MARCEL, he released five CD’s ranging in style from Funk to World, but as Ajamu Akinyele (name change in 2004 meaning “Strong Warrior” in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, Africa) embarked on his first Cyber Jazz CD titled Supernova,” in 2005. In 2006 the world witnessed just how far Ajamu would go; he released the double CD “Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience,” which established him as a true contender in the jazz industry.

Jon Carl O’Bergh, whom Ajamu has known since 2002, had previously written and produced 6 CDs, including “Song of Fire,” currently unreleased; “Songs from other Planets;” “Carta,” which was #1 nationwide on the NAV chart; “Meditations from a Lost World,” which reached #3; “Sacred Spaces”; and “Millennial Landscapes,” which reached #2. He also co-produced songs for MARCEL, now known as Ajamu Akinyele, on Marcel’s 2003 release “Uptown : 2025 A.D.,” and for R&B recording artist JARROD on his debut CD “Every Part of Me.”

Ajamu and Jon joined forces in 2005 with the release of “A Cyber Jazz Holiday;” Gemini Soul was born fusing smooth jazz and funk fusion for a new generation. Two years later on January 9, 2007, Gemini Soul released their second offering “Liquid Soul,” which features 13 tracks of new original music, plus favorite standards such as Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” Stanley Clarke’s “Yesterday Princess,” Sade’s “Kiss of Life” and “Hang On To Your Love,” and Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.” And on July 25, 2007, the world has witnessed their third release “Live : The Liquid Soul Tour,” which captures Gemini Soul doing what they do best, performing live.

In late January 2007, Gemini Soul added Andrew Foster on percussion. Andrew’s transition from one skill to another is like Sade’s tune “Smooth Operator.” Growing up in the early seventies, listening to many styles of jazz including Brazilian and traditional jazz, inspired Andrew to become a percussionist. He met with producer/bassist Ajamu Akinyele one evening after a Gemini Soul show and the rest is history. Andrew recalls during the first jam session, “It was like magic playing with Ajamu Akinyele and Jon O’Bergh…it just came naturally.”

In early June 2007, Gemini Soul added Alex Marks on drums. Alex is influenced by drummer David Silveria from the rock band Korn, and the drummer John Bonham from the 70’s rock band Led – Zeppelin. So, why jazz? Alex’s first drum teacher suggested that he listen and learn from the music and styling of Miles Davis, Tower of Power and John Coltrane. Alex’s music teacher also wanted to encourage him to play different styles of music, making him a well-rounded musician. Alex loves funk, fusion and Latin jazz. By joining Gemini Soul, Alex brings his influences of rock and funk/fusion, enhancing Gemini Soul’s Cyber Jazz experience.

Gemini Soul’s current set list concentrates on their collaborated works as Gemini Soul including their new release “Liquid Soul” and Ajamu Akinyele’s 2006 critically acclaimed double CD “Black Magic The Cyber Jazz Experience,” which gained Gemini Soul exposure on the morning television show Sacramento & Co., (ABC affiliate KXTV). Their music has been featured on the hit television shows Girlfriends, The Tony Danza Show, and Entertainment Tonight. They had the privilege of opening for Pete Escovedo at the 2007 San Jose Juneteenth Festival. Pete Escovedo said, “Ajamu is one FUNKY bass player!”

Gemini Soul’s sound “Cyber Jazz,” which is a blend of smooth jazz – funk fusion, reflects the influence of bassists Me’Shell Ndegèocello and Stanley Clarke; the smooth sounds of Sade; the funk fusion of jazz legend Herbie Hancock; and the pop funk jazz – fusion of Miles Davis. Their stage performances are visually exciting and entertaining, while engaging and energizing the audience in the manner of pop super star Prince and the pop funk fusion of Miles Davis. Gemini Soul also provides an overall smooth ambience reminiscent of Sade, an experience to behold.