COMMUNITY News:
This week the Los Alamos County Summer Concert Series will be at the Thursday, July 4th Kiwanis Fireworks Spectacular event at Overlook Park in White Rock.
Music for the July 4th festivities includes a Battle of the Bands.
3 p.m. Boo Koo – a Los Alamos roots-reggae-Americana and rock band, Scott Beguin-drums and percussion, Peter Young-guitar/vocals, Greg Mechels-bass.
(3-5 p.m. next to the bandstand – join the crowd for the “Thrill of the Grill” Chicken Challenge Cook-off between Police and Firefighters!)
3:30 p.m. State Road Four – Classic rock & blues from Los Alamos, Guy Raper-lead guitar, Jonathan Dowell-dulcimer, Eddie Padilla-drums, Kent Scarborough-Bass, Ronda Jones-fiddle.
4 p.m. Higher Ground Bluegrass – bluegrass and folk from northern New Mexico, Fred Bolton guitar/vocals, Dave Devlin-mandolin & dobro, Pat Mahoney fiddle/vocals Laura Leach Bass/vocals, Duke Weddington banjo/vocals.
4:30 p.m. Triple Trouble – a Los Alamos band of lovers of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble & other blues/rock bands, Eric Tylor-vocals, Eunsung Park-guitar, Kent Scarborough-bass, Eddie Padilla-drums.
5 p.m. Skydivers
5:10-5:30 p.m. Syzygy – a harder rock band from Los Alamos, Michelangelo Lobato on guitar/vocals, Daniel Yamada-guitar/vocals, Kile Ulenbrock-drums, Dave Hemsing-bass.
5:30-6:45 p.m. LA Community Winds under the direction of Ted Vives.
6:45 p.m. Announce winner of Battle of the Bands and encore song by them.
Awards to bands— $300 for first, $200 for second, $100 for third.
7:10 p.m. (untill fireworks with announcements as needed) Eddy & the Nomads – Classic rock of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s by Los Alamos’ favorite band.
8-8:10 Flyover with Will Fox and friends.
8:30 p.m. Best Seat in the House Drawing and announcements.
9:10 p.m. Fireworks Extravaganza!
Friday July 5:
7 p.m. Friday, we’re at the LA Food Co-op Market with the classic nu-funk band, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. Friday is Holiday Inn & Suites* LA Co-op Market* NM Consortium Night.
Let me tell you about funk music and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. If you like the name of the band, you’ll probably love the concert.
Friday, July 12 we’ll be back at Ashley Pond with a great band from Nigeria and Ghana called the West African Highlife Band. This show will be our KTAOS FM 101.9 Night. Oh! OK, here’s more about our great funk band YMBFBB. They started out as a party band, evolved into a sound and are now an institution out of Asheville, NC. They say, “…Their goal is to shake the world, one cheek at a time.” A lot of their fans refer to them as “The Booty Band”.
The Booty Band call themselves “nu funk” since they take elements of 70’s funk and fuse it with some of the other music of today that they love like soul,hip-hop, electronica,New Orleans brass, dub-reggae, Afro-beat, Latin, jazz and rock. Their favorite bands and influences include George Clinton and Parliament, Galactic, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus.
You’ll hear the early sound reminiscent of the funkiest, Little Richard and James Brown. Early Motown and Sly Stone funk may move us but it’s the sound of something like Funkadelic that’s going to make you shake your booty tonight. They’re still a party band and their philosophy is for them and their audience to have great fun and feel good. Some of the covers that we’ll probably hear include music by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Allen Tousant, Rage Against the Machine, the Doors and Bill Withers.
If you’re not that sure about what funk is, it’s music that deemphasizes melody and harmony in favor of rhythm; the rhythm of the bass and drums. Guitars are often used as a percussive instrument although the YMBFBB’s guitarist is outstanding. The whole band is tremendous but it’s their bassist that really moves them. Check them out on youtube and at www.nu.bootyband.com. Next week is the West African Highlife Band.
Enjoy, Russ Gordon
