Keyboards Wanted for Funk/Mash-Up Cover Band

Novato CA

Description

Seasoned North Bay drummer and bassist starting a mashup/re-interpretation live band project-a cross genre hybrid with its feet firmly in 2 camps, old school 70’s funk/soul and current and classic pop. There might be the occasional safari into arena rock or underground sub genres for one song on any given gig, but this WON’T be a regular cover band by a fair amount. We are seeking a keyboardist who has similar passions (obsessions?) for those idioms and loves deconstructing “cover music” for a lot of fun and perhaps a little profit. The idea is to play live 1or 2+ times a month when restrictions lift. We imagine a weekly practice on a set day far in the future, for now file sharing, zoom calling ideas/jams and basic song structure between the the two of us and you is the starting point. Influences include bands in the style of Scary Pockets, Pomplamoose, Vulfpeck, Cory Wong, etc., and the original artists whom they draw inspiration from.   A good fit would be someone comfortable creating their own parts that reference old school and new school tones, textures and vibes across different genres. Having a joyful taste for irony, absurdity and sarcasm will probably turbocharge our collective cohesion. Basic song schematic will be mashing 2 or more songs together and stylistic morphing the new idea by either changing the tempo/groove/chord progressions and/or phrasing of the existing song(s) and/or overlapping songs to create something new. Funk will be mined at every possible opportunity. B-3, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer and clavinet patches (or the real deal) sprinkled with bombastic samples make us weak in the knees and weeping for joy. Conflicting genres and irony/wordplay/whimsy that can be made to groove is the big intent. Retro fused to current smash hits will be a goal to strive for. Motörhead, Radiohead and Talking Heads in a 3 way groove race (as played uptempo by the Meters) for a “Once in a Lifetime Ace of Creep During Wartime”? Please sign us up! Pointer Sisters, Van Halen and House of Pain (as played go-go style by Trouble Funk) for a “Jump Jump Jump Around for My Love” ? Yaasssssss! If you get the idea, and it excites you, then you will definitely excite us. Playing wise, definitely the less is more rulebook. Chops that help the groove will be welcomed! Chops that don’t may get a guest appearance once a set if we can pull off the Queen/Run-Dmc (“My Adidas”, of course)/ELO thing one of us has been cogitating on during insomniatic nights.   We are mindful of Covid-one of us is fully vaccinated, the other is fingers crossed for very soon. At this time our basic idea is to solidify the band’s core, initially by internet at first and as restrictions ease and safety increases, start bringing in singers. We have a large warehouse practice space with a PA in The San Rafael/Novato area. The goals, in rough order, are to: enjoy playing together, bring in singer(s) who are into our thing and have great voices, and as soon as possible, entertain, enlighten and confuse local Bay Area venues.  Day job might be a damn good idea, just saying.   The following examples give a decent idea of the general direction we are coming from: Pomplamoose mashing Bill Withers and Lizzo together: https://youtu.be/zYQPVCPCRYY Scary Pockets doing a funky version of Adele’s interpretation of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love”: https://youtu.be/WProLXn-UxQ Scary Pockets mashing Steve Miller and weezer together: https://youtu.be/ZaghGOKi3Q8 Pomplamoose w/dodie doing a “Break-up/mash-up”: https://youtu.be/nUdFR7uFWkw Scary Pocket’s soul/funk version of Zedd and Kehlani’s good thing: https://youtu.be/AEAw1nPjhAo Texts will be answered promptly, emails at end of day and longer conversations can be done Fridays or Saturdays (Kev’s days off). We look forward to corresponding with you! Thanks for taking the time to read all the way to...here. Best, Curtis and Kevin.