Incognito Music, Models, and More (April 2012)

Incognito Music, Models, and More

Featuring:

Cover model Sexii Davii Carne Cruda The Schomberg Fair Drag the River and more

Vol. 2, Apr 2012

Incognito #2 Chief writer, Editor‐in‐chief: Gary Schwind Copy editor: Bob Brower Copyright Groovy Rutabaga Publications 2012 Submissions and advertising inquiries gmail: incognitomusicmag Twitter: incognitomag mail: PO Box 2070 Mission Viejo CA 92690

The post-latIn sounds of Carne Cruda .

An interview with Camilo Landau by Gary Schwind Describe Carne Cruda for someone who has never heard the band.

Thatʹs always tough. Finally after years of thinking about that very question, I came up with post‐Latin. We have heavy influence in Latin music. However, Latin music has solidified into these specific styles, none of which we do straight ahead. We also do rock, cumbia, soul, funk, all of these other different styles that we incorporate into a new sort of thing. I donʹt know, for someone who has never heard it. Even saying that, describing the style of music, that doesnʹt describe the feeling of it, the fun factor of it. Thatʹs a tough one for me. Iʹd like to hear what a writer like you would describe it as.

Itʹs not easy for me either. Itʹs somewhere at the crossroads of all the Latin styles, ska, rock, and funk.

Yeah. Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.

How did you come to incorporate all these different styles into your sound?

It came naturally because weʹre out there playing with salsa bands, cumbia bands. Weʹre all professional musicians. We play not just with one band but with many bands.

Different styles on different nights of the week. We play all of those different styles in their pure forms. In our own process it comes out as a giant mix of all of those.

We grew up in the (San Francisco) Bay area. Walking down the street, youʹd hear one guy blasting salsa, the next guy blasting hip‐hop. The next guy has banda. You turn the dial on the radio and you hear every one of those styles right after the other.

What does it mean to you that Carne Cruda has supported so many well‐known acts?

It can only enhance our musicality and the depth of our music. When our drummer went out on the road with Lauryn Hill, he came back with all these rich experiences. They went to Brazil, they were all over the place. Her music is also a pretty crazy mix of a lot of different stuff. It was an African‐American band he was playing with. Guys that came

out of playing in church, gospel stuff, mixed with hip‐hop and R&B. I feel like that can only enhance our music, having everybody have such diverse experiences.

Do you find when y ou travel that you kind of incorporate the music of the places youʹre visiting?

In a way. In one sense, the music comes from where we come from. In another sense, when we travel we try not to shut ourselves out from the world. Weʹve been to Macedonia, Serbia, Poland, a lot of European places. We tried to soak up as much of the culture as we could in a short time.

How do you feel when you see the response you get in a place like Macedonia?

Itʹs nice that people have that kind of music appreciation. Here in the United States, music education is being cut left and right. People hear whatʹs on the radio and they think in those terms. Sometimes we feel a little bit cheated here, because weʹre trying something new and thatʹs not what people want. Sometimes when we travel abroad, we get a different experience that people are interested to hear new stuff. Thatʹs always nice.

I couldnʹt agree more. With whom would you most like to tour or tour again?

One of our big influences is Reuben Blades. He was one of the biggest salsa stars of the 70s. Heʹs more than a salsa musician. Heʹs always bringing in influences from all over the place and incorporating them in a mainstream way. Heʹs become hugely popular throughout all of Latin America. His songwriting is always great. His musicianship is incredible. Iʹve always thought it would be a dream to be his backup band where weʹd play our set and go out and play a set with him. Thatʹs always been an idea of ours.

Weʹre such a versatile band that we could be the backup band for anyone. We are the backup band for a few other bands, like the Cuban Cowboys. When other artists come to town, we offer to be their backup band. Itʹs pretty cool. As musicians we donʹt get the opportunity to turn down many gigs. The more you can work, the better.

What would you be doing if you werenʹt making music?

I donʹt know. Iʹve always done this. I never thought about anything else. http://carnecruda.com/

Sexii Davii They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Looking at our featured model (from Atlanta) for this issue, we couldn’t agree more.

How long have you been model‐ ing?

I have been modeling about four years now.

How long did it take before you were really comfortable in front of the camera?

Instantly. I have always been comfortable in front of the camera.

What has been your best model‐ ing job or feature so far?

That is very hard to say. I have loved them all for the most part.

What is your trick for getting such great photos?

You have to be confident and relaxed.

What is the most difficult part about modeling?

Some photographers want to play around instead of getting right to business.

You like to read self‐help books.

What are some of the books you recommend most? Why? The Secret. It gets you focused and gives you a new perspective in life.

What is the most important thing you have learned in your acting classes?

To practice and learn your craft.

With what actor and director would you most like to work?

I would love to work with Denzel. There are so many great directors. It is hard for me to choose.

If you could only appear in one more publication, what would it be?

Incognito.

(Editor’s note: Wow! I guess now we can all die happy!)

The Schomberg Fair: speed gospel Speed gospel? Please explain.

Gospel music with greater speed, intensity and balls without compromising the severity and seriousness of the genre.

What kind of reaction do you get from people when you describe your music this way?

They are intrigued.

What is essential to every The Schomberg Fair song?

Passion.

Describe one of your shows for someone who has never attended one.

Banjo, thundering drums, fuzz bass, bass wah, sweat, banjo again, tribulations, redemption.

What band have you most enjoyed playing with? Why? One my favorite bands to play with are the Speaking Tongues. Groovy, two piece blooze rock, also from Toronto. They opened for us on an Eastern Canada tour last summer, they always got the party started no matter the situation and they always make us excited to play.

If you could write and perform a song with one artist, who would you choose? Why? I would choose Townes Van Zandt. I would have liked to steal some of his magic for myself.

Why should I have your music in my collection?

It is unique and familiar at the same time.

What would you be doing if you werenʹt making music?

Painting.

Have you heard…

All reviews in this section by Gary Schwind Bahama Soul Club Some albums catch your eye simply because the sleeve design is so eye‐catching. And then you give the CD a listen and realize all the interesting stuff is right there on the front of the sleeve. Other times, the physical appearance might be what catches your attention immediately, but the music demands your attention too.

Such is the case with Bossa Nova Just Smells Funky (Buyu Records, 2010) by The Bahama Soul Club. I don’t have any doubt that the cover art caught your attention as much as it did mine. And then the music comes on and you realize what the album title means. This is an equal mix of bossa nova and funk.

Bossa nova can be pretty mellow and jazzy. This is jazzy, with a healthy dose of funk, but it is kind of dirty bossa nova. Raise your hand if youʹre like me and you think that dirty is a complimentary description of music. This has that raw funk feel of Funkadelicʹs first album. You donʹt have to know a lot about bossa nova to like this album. You just have to be a fan of music that makes you want to move. http://de‐de.facebook.com/bahamasoulclub.

Infamous Stringdusters (Nashville) Bluegrass is a form of music that doesnʹt get enough attention.

The trouble is that when people think of bluegrass, they think of some guy on a broken‐down front porch picking a banjo while a jug of moonshine sits at his feet. Yes, this music comes from Appalachia, but if you just take the time to listen to it, youʹll hear a lot of talented musicians and a lot of songs that will get you moving no matter how much you resist.

The Infamous Stringdusters is a band from Nashville that plays honest‐to‐goodness bluegrass music. This isnʹt newgrass. This is the real deal. And this band can play. Pick one. The mandolin player, the fiddler, the guitarist…all of them are excellent musicians.

Just try to keep still when you listen to this music. If ʺWell, Wellʺ doesnʹt at least get your toes tapping, maybe you just donʹt like music. And the mandolin in this song...Wow! Yes, itʹs that good.

So maybe bluegrass has never been your bag. Do yourself a favor. Open up your mind and give this band a listen. You might just find out that bluegrass is your bag after all.

And hey, opening your mind is never a bad thing, right? thestringdusters.com Lone Wolf one‐man band Iʹll admit it. I have a thing for one‐man bands. Ever since my introduction to one‐man bands came while listening to Trash‐o‐Matic Garbage‐A‐Go‐Go here in southern California. And what is not to love about one‐man bands? Take any one‐man band and just examine the artist. Here is a guy that can play several instruments simultaneously better than most people can play a single instrument. I mean, that has to count for something, right?

Take Lone Wolf for instance. If you go to Bandcamp and listen to the one track (I know, I wish more of them were posted too) this artist has available, you will hear a banjo, a harmonica, and a drum. All played at a pretty good tempo. And of course while playing all those instruments, the guy also provides the vocals. Just stop and mull that over for a moment. Here is a guy who is already occupied playing three instruments and he has the skill to sing while heʹs doing it. Iʹm not ashamed to say that I canʹt do that.

And those vocals. This guy sounds like an odd cross between Seasick Steve and Mojo Nixon. Let me tell you something else too. This song will get your toes tapping. I just want you to be ready once you hit play because youʹre going to want to more—a lot more.

So check out Lone Wolf. Yeah, he is a one‐man band, but no, he is not a novelty act. This guy is pretty fearsome on all of his instruments. ʺDown at the Tracksʺ is available for your listening pleasure on Bandcamp. Once youʹre there, you can purchase the entire album. Thatʹs 13 tracks for the low price of $10. Iʹd call that a bargain. http://lonewolfomb.bandcamp.com/album/lone‐wolf‐one‐man‐band

Darstar (Dallas) I don’t know about you, but I find it admirable when a band claims to be “defenders of quality rock and roll.” In part, because there are so many bands out there that don’t really qualify as quality rock and roll.

Darstar has a very 90s rock sound, mostly leaning toward a grungy guitar‐driven rock, but there are also some harmonies (“Trapdoor Spider”) reminiscent of Belly.

Oh, and there is a tip of the cap to riot grrl bands with the song “Millenium Maiden” in which Lisa Hardaway sings, “Fuck you stupid bitches. I’ll put you all in stitches.” Another nod to the riot grrl attitude is in “Space Blanket”, where Hardaway sings “I’ve got your teeth in my back pocket.

A pretty surprising thing happens in “Quantum Psychics”. This song sounds a lot like Clutch, especially in the instrumental break. It’s not out of order when this band self‐ applies the label “defenders of quality rock and roll.” Check out Darstar on Facebook or ReverbNation and see for yourself. reverbnation.com/darstar One Night Standards (Davenport, IA) I donʹt know about you, but I think there are just not enough outlets that feature surf music. Oh, I know there are some. The GaragePunk Surfcast is dedicated to this great (if underrated) genre.

Whore‐hay of Radio Free Bakersfield is a big proponent of surf music from around the world.

One of the great things about surf music is that it is just good‐time music. (And youʹll find that your humble narrator is really into good‐time music. Life is too short to listen to stuff that depresses me.)

So there are some good outlets for surf music, which is a good thing because there are a lot of good surf bands out there. Take One Night Standards for instance. This band is from that thriving capital of surf music: Davenport, Iowa. Thatʹs right. Surf music from Iowa. And Iʹm telling you this is a band that knows what itʹs doing. This is everything instrumental surf music should be. It is driven by reverb‐heavy guitar and backed with strong rhythms. I could sit here and sing the well‐deserved praises of this band, but instead I will invite you to try something. Go to this bandʹs ReverbNation (a fitting place for a surf band, no?) page and listen to any one of the songs. If it doesnʹt get your head or your feet moving, check and see if you still have a pulse. If you like what this band does, buy some of the tracks and become a fan at ReverbNation.

Flashback Drag the River is a band I have really come to enjoy. (And not just me either. My three‐ year‐old son regularly asks to hear Live at the Starlight or Hey Buddies.) My collection includes quite a bit of Drag the River. But for me, it all started with Hobo’s Demos.

I remember reading about this band in a local alternative weekly and thinking it sounded like the kind of music I would dig. I should go back and thank the writer responsible for that piece, because it was this album that made me the fan of Drag the River that I am.

The album (like every Drag the River album) is a roots rock gem. It begins with “Disbelieve,” a song about a busted relationship that leaves one person looking at the other person in the rearview mirror. The band also shows its roots in punk rock. Yes, that’s right. There is a lot of twang in any Drag the River song, but vocalist‐guitarist Chad Price was formerly in the band ALL and vocalist‐guitarist Jon Snodgrass was in Armchair Martian. “Mars Motors” (originally done by Pinhead Circus) is a good uptempo tune that will get your toes tapping. And Drag the River truly puts its own stamp on the song. When you listen to this version, you wouldn’t necessarily guess it was originally done by a pop‐punk sort of band.

The one thing about this album that is different than all the other Drag the River albums is the fact that the vocals between Chad and Jon are pretty similar. Maybe you can chalk that up to this being an early recording of the band. It certainly is easier to tell the two apart on later albums. The album was released in 1997 on Suburban Home Records. If you are a fan of roots rock or alt‐country, give this album a spin. You just might find yourself adding a bunch of Drag the River albums to your collection also.

Reviews Way Out from the Hideout—The Best of the GaragePunk Hideout, Vol. 4 This compilation from GaragePunk.com is a great example of how you can be rewarded if you actively seek new music. The GaragePunk Network has carved a nice little niche for itself by playing music that is low on the production tricks and high on volume. This compilation kicks off with an excellent instrumental surf song from Pirato Ketchup. It is a good way to get things moving. From there, you get healthy doses of the raw and the trashy with bands like Les BOF! (from France) and Cyco Sanchez Supergroup. If you like your rock and roll with healthy doses of trashy guitars and well‐placed screams, you should check out the GaragePunk Network and this album. Don’t cost nothin’. All you need to score the GaragePunk compilations is create an account on the site and join the group GaragePunk Records. Then, crank the volume, sit back and enjoy.

C.J. Chenier—Can’t Sit Down Loyal reader, do you ever feel like you are being bombarded by misleading and outright false information? Well, allow me to tell you that there is no false advertising with this album. It is called Can’t Sit Down and sure enough you will be unable to sit down or sit still while you are listening to it. That is generally the case with zydeco. This is a kind of music that exists to get listeners shaking their booties. And that’s exactly what you will do from the very first notes of the title track (a cover of the hit by The Dovells). You will shake what your mama gave you and you’ll be happy to do it. Chenier also shows some range, adapting a Tom Waits song (that’s right) to the zydeco style. You’ve probably never heard a Tom Waits song quite like this. So what are you waiting for? You like to have a good time, right? Well, if you can’t have a good time listening to this album, there may not be a lot of hope for you.

Chris “Sugarballs” Sprague and His 18 Wheelers—Miles Away Let’s face it. The “country” music that comes out of Nashville is nothing but pop with just a touch of twang. Now, if that’s your bag, who am I to condemn that? But if you like real country music, you have to go beyond your local country music station. And let me tell you, this band plays real country music. Specifically, this band plays trucking music.

From “Driving along on 18 Wheels” to “Lot Lizard Lucy,” these 18 (what else?) songs are honest honky‐tonkin country songs. If you like real country music instead of Nashville pop, this is an album you need to add to your collection. Do yourself a favor. Get this album, put on your dancing shoes, turn up the volume and get ready to do some two‐ stepping.

The Smoggers—Chinese Food A recurring theme in this publication is the pursuit of music. Specifically, how the pursuit of new music can be its own reward. I found The Smoggers one day when perusing the garage tag on Bandcamp. Not garage Spain. Just garage. This is one of the albums whose cover art caught my eye and I decided to give it a shot.

Chinese Food offers everything that makes garage rock so great: tremendous energy, a raw sound, and lots of volume. Oh, and songs about monsters and zombies. ʺMutant Monsterʺ is an instrumental treat that would fit in perfectly with some B monster movie.

The Smoggers deliver their songs more like sonic punches, which adds to the raw power

of each song. The longest song on the album is 3:12. Yes, you read that correctly. Since each song is so short, youʹve reached the end of it before you know it. Guess that just means youʹll have to put it on repeat to get a bigger dose of this band. Trust me, you wonʹt find anything wrong with putting this on repeat.

in our next issue

Riese McDonald, the pride of Columbus, OH Plus: Interviews with Leche de Tigre and Jedi Elvis Flashback to The 5.6.7.8s Get to know: The Cosmonauts, Whiskey Avengers, Whistle Pigs and a brand‐new column.