Primitive Sound System - The Lamp Post - Oct 15th 9PM - Closing

Hello Y'all,
I had a such blast spinning my way Downtown JC that I am really looking forward to doing this again. Last time out I basically had to grab records that were organized to be filled away since there wasn't a lot of time to prepare. Luckily there were some of my favorite records I own in those boxes waiting to be put a way so mixing up a set was quite easy. Since it was such a good time I am going to keep things on the Soulful side again. This time I am going a bit heavier on the New Funk and Soul including some very recent releases like the Bamboos covering Kings of Leon. Also with All Hallows Eve creeping up on us I'll be giving out some audio Halloween candy. I am not kidding, it was a genuine good time so please come out, come out where ever you are. As always Steff will be holding down the bar (and the taps) so please make nice with the tipping. See you Wednesday.

- pat.
Primitive Sound System - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 15th
Spinning from 10PM to Closing
Lamp Post Bar & Grill
382 2nd St
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201)-222-1331
http://www.myspace.com/lamppost
Steff's Lampost schedule:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=71579&blogID=356928615

45's:
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - "This Land Is Your Land" (Daptone Records cat. 1019)
No event is more disturbing than the Presidential election. It is a time when we see how unfortunate our system has become. But, maybe it never was stable. Maybe that is what makes the USA so unique. A certain amount of instability or unpredictability that doesn't allow itself to become grounded. I can probably go on far too long but this is not a political soapbox. So instead, like most of us, I will forge on and continue to be an American regardless of the ruling party, economy and of course the rise of mediocrity. Warts and all... Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings put this out four years ago when most Americans saw there was something horribly wrong with the current administration. There is a somber horn that opens this funky take of the Woody Guthrie Folk classic. Ms. Jones talks each word as to remind us of the importance of the song's message. No matter who, what, where, when or why this land is ours and we always need to remember that. Barack Obama is not a Muslim. Sarah Palin is not folksy. John McCain is not a Maverick. Joe Biden is not a dick. All of them, like all of us, are Americans. This is a brilliant arrangement and much credit should go to Mr. Gabe Roth (who I assume handled this) for taking a standard and making it new. Toward the last half of the song the tempo picks up keeping things from being simply preachy and making sure they are always funky.

The Bamboos featuring Megan Washington - "King Of The Rodeo" (Tru-Thoughts cat. TRU7177)
The Bamboos have always been one of my favorite New Funk bands. They have always been willing to take a chance and make sure they were being different rather than just simply funky. Funky is not a difficult thing to be. It is how you present it that makes one band the JB's and another band just shit. The Bamboos are never shit. On this cover of a Kings of Leon song (that is damn good in its original version) the Bamboos certainly prove that they can take someone else's work and make it their own. The brilliance of this version is that the lead vocals of the original are showcased and used almost as another instrument in the arrangement so rather than imitate this, the Bamboos added the wonderfully soulful vocals of Megan Washington which are out front and take charge. The Bamboos don't change their typical lineup and this version so no less of its time than the Kings of Leon original. This is easily one of my favorite new records, nothing like a cover to spice things up.

The Grits - "Mmwauu" (Music With Soul Records cat. MWS002)
The Grits are the same band that did the amazing "Boom Boom" on the always great Freestyle label. Where "Boom Boom" was simple "Mmwauu" is a bit more complex and at times possibly a little difficult. Heavy ass drums kick this off but then some corny effects from what I could assume is a Rhodes or Yamaha electric keyboard pepper the intro. These are NOT corny to the point where you will fold over laughing or be embarrassed while it is playing but the effects are noticeable and do stand out. I get the feeling someone left the keys in their studio so they felt compelled to use them. The heavy drums, bass and guitar MORE than make up for the kernels left scattered about the studio and the guitar solo about half way through is blistering. Here the effects are combined perfectly with the guitar and drums and suddenly you don't want this to end. What I like about this most is the desire to try something new. Luckily for them, and us, the results are very, very good.

Baby Charles - "Hard Man To Please" (Record Kicks cat. RK45 021)
Baby Charles the band is a well oiled machine. They create a mood, feeling, sound and atmosphere with ease and aggression in equal parts. Too often a ballad is played limp wristed and that is not a crass bash but a fact. Watch one drummer attack the drums regardless of genre or style and then listen to a less aggressive drummer in the same circumstances and you will know exactly what I am referring to. "Hard Man To Please" is by no means a ballad but it needs to be said to understand the power of Baby Charles. Baby Charles attacks. The amazing Dionne Charles is one of the few who can be out front of such an onslaught and stand her ground unfazed. There are times when you can tell that she is building her own attack and bursts open like the top of a volcano. At others she whispers and wraps herself around you in the way a snake may do before striking. It's both beautiful and surprising and it's all Baby Charles.