Tayo Branston - Drums/Vocals
Tom Towers - Congas/Bongos
Justin Kennedy - Shekere/Percussion
Carl Julig - Timbales/Percussion
Neil Towers - Bass
Oliver Gibson - Guitar
Gabe Boothroyd - Guitar
Ryan Naso - Trumpet
Max Murphy - Bari Sax
Dameian - Tenor/Alto Sax
Nimish Parekh - Trombone
Influences
Fela Kuti, Santana, James Brown, Kool and the Gang, Tower of Power, EarthWindandFire, Antibalas,Parliament Funkadelic, Tito Puente, Prince, Rick James and the weather.
Five Alarm Funk is Vancouver's own afro-funk orchestra. For more than
four years the band has brought their relentless grooves to clubs and
major festivals across Western Canada. Intense horn lines and
percolating afro-beat guitar combined with the interplay of four
percussionists create an unstoppable dance party.
The 11-piece phenomenon has performed over 120 shows throughout Western Canada, sharing stages with such artists as Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Herbaliser, Sly & Robbie, Fishbone and Xavier Rudd. In the process the band has built an enthusiastic fan base, large enough to twice fill the Commodore with over 900 fans in 2007.
Voodoo Hairdoo, the band’s second studio album, captures the boundless energy of Five Alarm Funk’s live show. It is a journey from fast funk and dance-crazed Latin to epic reggae and thunderous Afro-beat.
The title track blends a tight funky groove with punchy horn shots, searing lead guitar and outerspace keyboards. The song then shifts gears, dropping to a percussion groove that builds to an epic Afro-beat climax.
“Keeps Me Up At Night” is a slap-bass driven, heavy funk workout reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire. The song features guest appearances by soul-singing powerhouses Tim Fuller and Dawn Pemberton, adding a new element to the band’s trademark instrumental grooves.
“We spent over three weeks in the studio to record and mix the 10 brand new heavy-hitting tracks,” says Justin Kennedy, one of the band’s four percussionists. “We were able to isolate each part and make the grooves pop like Orville Redenbacher’s freshest kernels. This album will make the land that rhythm forgot remember.”
HEY! FIVE ALARM FUNK! You got a lot of nerve! When was the last time you guys played the east coast! I swear! We worry so much about you! You never call, you never leave any messages. Your father and I talk about you every day, a visit now and then would be nice.
hey guys~~ send me your promo schnitz and CD to Shara General Delivery Dunster, B.C. V0J 1J0
send it to me.....i will be waiting...Don Alder was here last year and highly recommended you guys for our fest!! keep in touch~~~ have a wicked summer..... rock n roll for life~~
Ya, Nice to get back in touch with you guys! Funny...we leave for Vancouver on the 13th of June and we'll be there until the 20th. Shitty timing. Glad to see things seem to be going well for you guys. Looking forward to hearing the new album. I'll send an email out to our fan list...try to get some people out to the Republik. Have a good trip. Gareth.
Thx Broz ... Yeh not yet ... I Gotsto form a band yet!!! ... still there and growing! ... Feel free to suggest likeable peeps!!! ... I'm going to your shows during the jazz fest! ... twill be good to meetstyhazall ... Jah!!! ... =Q<
Yup that was me! Front row holla! You guys were the best band I saw all day too. =) I sent the pictures to Justin's E-Mail and he said they worked, but I can post them on a seperate comment from this one and after you save them you can delete the comment if you want? Would you want me to do that?
Hey Tom Great to meet you. Mean track on your myspace bro....whooo! We'd love to get out to canada one day. Who knows!?? Let me know what you think of the album! James BSM
