KC Roberts & the Live Revolution 2013 EPK from KC ROBERTS on Vimeo.
Commonly known as “the best live act in Toronto”, KC Roberts and The Live Revolution are reinvigorating the city’s live music scene with the performance energy of a sonic atom bomb. The band’s intricate sound combines the swelling vigour of a horns section with groove heavy rhythms and KC’s smooth, soulful vocals to create an army of sound that assaults audiences from so many angles that resistance to dancing is futile.
The funk fusion band was formed in 2009 after KC Roberts decided to expand the soundscape of his solo project, recording their debut Parkdale Funk 1 just a month after the band’s conception. Drawing from influences like Tower of Power, The Roots and David Lynch, the band was formed under the observation that the popular rise of electronic music was forcing the decline of public live performance.
KC Roberts comments, “When I look back to bands like Earth, Wind and Fire and Tower of Power who recorded live-off-the-floor with such complicated arrangements, it almost seems like during that era the music was bigger than the money.”
With their recent release, Parkdale Funk 2, the band refused to compromise on the integrity of their artistic vision. Enlisting the help of their large fan base, they began a crowd fundraising initiative, raising an impressive $26,000 to fuel the album’s production costs. Parkdale Funk 2 features over 40 guest musicians with a spectrum of skills ranging from strings to disc jockeys. The album features over 2 hours of content and was released in 2 sides. KC says “This record was an attempt to make something as good or better than our live show. And was based around trying to find one really focused artistic voice.”
The first side, Electric Believers reflects a more politically driven lyrical style and hard-hitting rock vibe. Concrete Motion, side 2, holds groovy rhythm with funky dance tunes that command celebration. Parkdale Funk 2 marked a new era of song writing technique for the band. Initially coming from a background as a solo artist, KC Roberts directed the bands creative course, the wider scope of style captured in the new album creating a larger platform for discussion. KC says, “Music for me is reflective of everything we are and not a pocket we just keep pushing into. We created our own landscape to do whatever the hell we wanted, drawing a shape from one end of the album to the next. It’s such a big record, it’s definitely not meant to be absorbed all at once.”
The band’s commitment to integrity is embodied in the symbolic use of a lion as imagery. Enlisting the help of Russian artist Viktor Miller-Gausa, the passionate album art represents the band’s dedication to self-honesty and the honourable fight to re-invigorate live performance appreciation among unfamiliar youth. Certainly making waves in the Toronto soundscape, KC Roberts and The Live Revolution enlivens fans like no other packing clubs in all boroughs of the city, from the Annex Rec-Room to Lula Lounge.
Fans can look forward to the CD release show at the trendy MOD Club on April 25th. The band will be playing alongside a militia of featured musicians on the album, playing two massive sets with DJs spinning in between. Currently in the works is a documentary to showcase the epic 2-year recording process. With present discussion with Japanese and German representatives and the band’s first US tour coming up in October, it’s safe to say that KC Roberts and The Live Revolution have as many people talking as they do have ears ringing.
Image courtesy of http://aestheticmag.files.wordpress.com
