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THEESatisfaction
Le Vice
Fri, June 22, 2012
Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:00 pm
The Independent$12 ADV - $14 DOOR
Tickets Available at the Door
This event is 21 and over
http://www.theindependentsf.com/event/118331/
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THEESatisfaction
THEESatisfaction are Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White. Stas was born and raised in Tacoma, Cat in Seattle and Hawaii. The pair live/laugh/love/dance and create in Seattle, WA. They write, produce and perform their own material, funk-psychedelic feminista sci-fi epics with the warmth and depth of Black Jazz and Sunday morning soul, frosted with icy raps that evoke equal parts Elaine Brown, Ursula Rucker and Q-Tip. They met by what was clearly cosmic happenstance at the University of Washington and haven’t stopped the flow since.
There’s an album by ‘70s Blue Note flautist Bobbi Humphrey that’s suggestive of THEESatisfaction. The cover is black and white, Humphrey’s afro full and wide; next to her radiant smile a description is inscribed, a paraphrase of which might read:
THEESatisfaction. Where are they coming from? Where are they going to? If we’re straight on our priorities, you’ll be listening to their album while I tell you about some of the answers…
First principle: they’re positive energy. Black energy, black women leaping oceans and continents at a single bound. With positive strength of purpose.
Further, they’re black purity. Hear that in their intonation. Without trickery. They know the gimmicks, scorn to use ‘em. Rather, they’ll face you and relate what’s in their hearts, faithfully and incorruptibly.
Immediately embraced for their singular sound, unflinching commentary, and immortal groove, Stas and Cat made friends, fans and family from coast to coast via their own immaculate grind; a combo of sharp digital hustle and self-booked, self-financed tours that connected them to like minds everywhere. Even crowds with nary a right foot between them find the steps when indoctrinated with THEESat’s unorthodox but right-on-time rhythms. Synchronized, sinewy and sensuous, the regal Stas and Cat channel the higher, whipping like waves of space-borne radiation onstage, leaving a trail of glowing observers abuzz like Geiger counters.
Like their comrades Shabazz Palaces (you may have heard these two on last year’s move Black Up), THEESatisfaction came upon the scene with lovingly handmade CDs of their self-released mixtapes, the first of which was 2008’s That’s Weird. All has been in preparation for the album they’ve envisioned for years, their debut full-length on Sub Pop Records, awE naturalE.
THEESatisfaction, the Queens Supreme. Bring yourself.
Le Vice
Imagine fix wheeled bicycles chained to a yacht, dirty Chuck Taylor's and Dom Perignon, Hip Hop and R&B with a hipster twist. This San Francisco foursome has managed to craft an indulgent sound that takes advantage of all the things we love to hate - a little sparkly bling bling mixed with a dash of dirty hipster.
Le VICE is an Indie Hip Hop and R&B band that's really an Urban-Indie-Rock- Electro-Funk-Hip Hop-Pop band. With as much swag as Lil B but the talent of highly paid session musicians, LV is on track to be the coolest new band in the business .They were recently coined one of the Bay's "Bands on the Rise in 2012" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, one of the Bay Area's most popular weekly publications. Their LARGE sound includes throwback 80s synthesizers, Rick James bass lines, angular guitar licks, and 808 drums. This is topped off with front woman Alex Lee's hip hop swagger and soulful singing. The result is part throw back and part futuristic. LV's sound refuses to fit into any 1 genre, but instead seems to borrow from all genres, leaving them with a sound that literally has something for everyone who listens.
Le VICE's 2010 self-titled debut was a hit on college radio, getting rotation on over 80 stations nationwide. The album hit the top of many of these stations charts, often holding on to the #1 spot for weeks at a time. The week their record was released they also made the CMJ Top 20 charts for "Most Added" to radio stations. Others on the list that week included Best Album Grammy winners Arcade Fire and Best New Artist Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding. Esperanza was only one spot ahead of them. All of this college buzz got them a coveted showcase at that year's CMJ Festival in Brooklyn, NY.
With a new project entitled Neverland slated to drop July 17, 2012, Le VICE is ready to take their college success to the pros. "People really like us. We got the talent and the drive, and this project murks our last one. It's only a matter of being seen by the right people and I'm sure we'll be competing with the big homies," says Alex Lee when asked how she feels about the upcoming release. This "project" of sorts contains everything from sex to Peter Pan quotes, from Rihanna's Birthday Cake to the SF Tenderloin. They even have a feature from Bay Area legend, Mistah F.A.B. If anything, this record proves that LV's diversity is still their strong point.
Le VICE's band members come from a variety of backgrounds and musical tastes. Alex Lee (vocals) and Sean Stillinger (bass/keys) spend a fair amount of their time riding bikes and hustling in San Francisco's music scene. Renzo Staiano (guitar) is about as precise and diverse a guitar player as they come. He's studied everything from Funk and Jazz to Metal - and has been known to play with some Peruvian guitar masters from time to time. Darrin Thomas (drums) brings the soul to the group. He's a heavy handed drummer who started playing gospel for his local church as a kid. Later he became a successful touring soul and jazz drummer.
With a band this diverse, skilled and based out of San Francisco, you can't help but wonder.. is Le VICE is a 2012 reincarnation of Sly and the Family Stone?
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