*L!VE* At the Station Up For Grabs!

BLOUNT HARVEY – LIVE AT THE STATION CD

June 26th, 2009 | Posted by: leeway

Blount Harvey delivers an infectious mix of hip-hop, rhythm and blues, and soul in this skillfully executed “live” recording from 2007.

Blount Harvey hails from Greenville, NC (coincidentally where HGMN was founded)  and fuses hip hop sensibilities with well-delivered funk, jazz, and rock rhythms.  “Live at the Station” documents a well executed live show that serves up nine tracks of engaging, intelligent hip-hop. In a press release from May 19, 2009, the band quotes “Erykah Badu, James Brown, Tribe Called Quest, and KRS-One” as a list of influences.  That would also be lofty company to strive for, but there is a definite charm to this recording that legitimizes the comparison.  The band delivers tight, polished arrangements that are warm and well-produced, while MC Rudolph Lyrics contributes excellent rhymes and vocals to the mix.  The current lineup of the band has shifted and morphed since this recording from 2007, so I will be curious to see what happens with future releases, but this album has definitely garnered my interest in the meantime.  

The album begins with “Crunktrain,” featuring Rudolph Lyrics’ infectious vocal delivery, Jonathan Caison’s trumpet work, and the smooth, refined grooves that pervade this song and the album in general.  “It’s Love” introduces the soulful Lady Bri on vocals, as she is pitted against sparse accompaniment from MadShah and his slinky organ skills.  The song picks up steam on the strength of energetic horns as they playfully dance around Lady Bri’s vocals.  Rudolph Lyrics contributes one of his smooth vocal passages, as crystalline, searching trumpet punctuates the middle movements of the song.  “The Flow” spotlights Rudolph Lyrics on vocals, while JohnBeez’ turntables and Lady Bri’s vocals complement the airy light-hearted groove of the song.  Ben Sparrow contributes excellent saxophone work to close the song.  The “Hot Shit (Marvin Remix)” is playful and energetic, with Lyrics delivering the charming vocals and energetic rhymes that are present on the best moments of this album.  

“Interlude” begins with a relaxed, yet sophisticated groove, as Rudolph Lyrics’ rhymes are splashed with playful turntable and horns.  This brief track segues into “After All,” which spotlights polished horn play and Rudolph Lyrics’ signature rhyming skills.  Wistful trombone punctuates the latter stages of this song, as the band delivers a loose, jazz-based jam spiced with turntables and the applause of an approving crowd.  “Something in the Drum” begins on the strength of MadShah’s organ skills, eventually lending the stage to Lyrics, before MadShah reclaims prominence in the middle of the song.  As with the majority of the tracks on this live recording, there is warm, polished quality to this track, with an intimacy that sounds as if the band is in your living room.  The album closes with “Tighten Up,” and the title is definitely representative of the tone of this song.  Precise, mathematical grooves yield to loosely-arranged passages, followed with Lyrics’ syncopated delivery.  Blount Harvey shifts such gears frequently throughout this song, and it demonstrates the different “hats” that this band wears in its live performances.  An unlisted “bonus track” captures a few moments of Lady Bri and her band mates in a loose, seemingly unscripted jam.

“Live at the Station” demonstrates Blount Harvey to be an enthusiastic group of musicians with a warm, contagious sound.  The tracks on this live recording can be quite fresh and exciting, as the fusion of freestyle rap, turntables, and jazz sensibilities often proves to be quite fertile in these songs.  There is a definite charisma present in the rhymes of MC Rudolph Lyrics, as his energetic voice and delivery culminate in many of the best moments of the album.  The other members of the band offer excellent contributions with their playing, and the resulting mix of horns, guitar, and keys (both organ and Rhodes) are quite seductive in various parts of this album.  I had not been aware of Blount Harvey until hearing this recording, but the tracks presented on “Live at the Station” definitely have me interested in their “live” performance capabilities.  Word is the shows are even better now that they have a new dynamo female lead singer, TyKee. Any band that features such a big “live” sound, with great grooves and intricate arrangements should prove to be entertaining, and the tracks on this album are exciting testament to that.

- By J. Evan Wade

http://homegrownmusic.net/product-reviews/blount-harvey-–-live-at-the-station-cd

It's official --

Check it!

http://homegrownmusic.net/bands/blount-harvey

Congratulations! :)

Less than a month away...

...is BLOUNT HARVEY rockin' this year's 8th annual 

FloydFest 8 :: Revival 

in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, July 23-26, 2009 in Floyd, V.A.!  

Flyin' Under the Radar, Blount Harvey will be performing with artists including Blues Traveler, Toubab Krewe, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, EOTO, Donna the Buffalo, Grupo Fantasma & MANY, many more! See the entire list of the amazing performers this unique festival has in store, at: http://www.floydfest.com!

For a sneak preview -- visit http://www.youtube.com/user/blountharvey & view their 2009 HD Promo Video; then catch 'em live at FloydFest on Friday at 9:00PM on the Garden Stage, & also performing on Saturday at 1:45PM on Hill Holler!

For more information on the festival & the REViVAL, visit the links below:

• Leeway's Home Grown Music Network @ FloydFest -- http://www.homegrownmusic.net/festivals/floydfest
  
• Across-the-Way Productions -- http://www.atwproductions.com
  

All Amplified >> Inspired...Desired

Today, in this gloomy 'economic recession' - it's pretty easy to let the discouraging attitudes surrounding you leave you down in the dumps, & unmotivated when it comes to seeking and scoring a desirable job that offers opportunities for leadership, an already-outstanding reputation that allows you as an employee proud to say that you are a part of, financial stability, and most importantly, one that you actually ENJOY doing. But - I happened to have just watched one of my favorite movies earlier, 'Waking Life' -- & one of my favorite quotes from the movie fits perfectly with this weeks' discussion board topic:  "Whatever you do, don't you dare be bored. This is absolutely the most exciting time we could have possibly ever hoped to be alive. And things are just starting." I believe that we, as a group of educated, youthful graduates from an established, credible University such as East Carolina represent an extremely powerful movement and should be overwhelmed with motivation. Today, people absolutely must start from the very beginning with the drive and energy necessary to thrive within the current economy & job market; not to mention every day life. You must have a passion to BE - to WANT & to accomplish something of your dreams & you cannot allow negative obstacles to create barriers in your way. I personally believe that I am my own worst enemy; & if you truly think about it - this is a blessing in disguise. Go ahead & be your own worst critic - because you shouldn't ever let other people steer you in a negative direction or make decisions for you regarding your goals. They are YOURS; not anyone else's - & you have the capability to fulfill each one of them in time. If you let people steer you away from your own self-drive, your motivation for success will undoubtedly result in failure of achieving your goals. What I have learned over the past few years is that it is so easy to get overwhelmed, anxious & let negative attitudes drown the positive opportunities that surround you - but it is just as easy to cease this from happening by changing your attitude. I firmly believe that in all aspects of life, it is always 10% of what happens to you, & 90% of how you react to it. Make the best of everything that happens - whether you can see the good in it or not - by thinking positively, taking time to reflect & having the courage to grow with each experience you encounter within your own success in today's economy. Think about the past six months: what life experiences have you put off, sworn you would never come back to, even approach - or otherwise procrastinated about? Trust me, when I think about my own past, there are many scenarios I could list that I regret letting certain prerogatives assist my judgement. Now, I feel confident to know & say that it's TIME; time to get out there & go for it with everything I've got. Loved ones, including my family, friends, previous employers, co-workers & even strangers have all added positivity to my current attitude about staying motivated, & here are a few tips I strive to keep in mind when I forget about the success that awaits (all of us!): SET realistic goals that incorporate your dreams. Never say never. Recognize opportunities where you fit in & seize them with confidence. Have a strategy beforehand & throughout your plan. Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk -- instead, learn the lingo & then make your mark. Enjoy the passing of time. Be agile - change is necessary & the ability to quickly adapt is one of the best personal traits you may develop, not to mention Employers' most-wanted characteristic in sought job candidates. Take risks; but take them wisely... practice application of managing them before you take a step towards something you are not sure of. Dare to discover what you are good at, move on once you have found it, & congratulate yourself for your courage. There is no failure in our attempts to explore new territories, capabilities or professions. Failure only ensures when motivation does not -- with the refusal to explore the limits of our capabilities. Check out some of the exciting events that I am so grateful to be a part of (!!!) with Home Grown Music Network at: http://www.floydfest.com, http://www.campbarefoot.org, and http://www.bearcreekmusicfestival.com.  "Fly on, little wing..."

KindWeb Concert Review

Blount Harvey - L!VE at The Pour House Music Hall - June 13, 2009 in Raleigh, N.C. (Concert Review) 

Chelsea E. Hutcherson  6/16/2009

Known for their eclectic sound, classically-inclined vibe, and high-energy live performances, East Carolina's own Blount Harvey undoubtedly represent one of the state's most talented underground ensembles. And their biggest fans, Greenville's ECU Pirates, are becoming fully aware that they can't keep this treasure a secret any longer. Existing somewhere between The Roots and Sharon Jones and the DapKings, Blount Harvey's stellar orchestration opts out of a Southern slant and instead, carves out a compelling space in time with a Philly-style state of mind; one in which ears, souls and minds of new listeners would be well served to immerse themselves.

Thinking locally but acting nationally, Blount Harvey's explosive 2009 tour debuting the certified siren known as Kid Vixen has turned up the volume of their all-organic, original flavor throughout the North and Southeast; intent on bringing the vintage essence of hip-hop and soul back to the modern day forefront. This Spring; however, the musicians have nearly blown the speakers - and the combination of their cutting-edge talent has landed the group a packed calendar of showcase dates newly signed under Degy Entertainment, in addition to the honed title of Leeway's Home Grown Music Network newest member, officially introduced this Fall.

After a full Saturday of free live music provided by Raleigh's Downtown Live summer concert series, one might believe that most audience members would have called it a night after headlining act Filter finished up. Surprisingly enough, The Pour House Music Hall opened its doors on at 9:00 PM and by 10:30 - the house was packed. Scheduled to perform Saturday, June 13th were the acts of Skywire, Mosadi Music Presents: John Anonymous and Blount Harvey - a musical line-up ensuring a night of funk-heavy hip-hop and rock.

Skywire took the stage around 10:00, showcasing a pioneering spirit and a strong sense of unity in their unique rock performance, wrapping up a forty minute set with an upbeat new track from their just-released 2009 Demo, Clouds Make the Best Cover entitled "Dying To Keep It Alive." 

Mosadi was up next, led by the group's original vocalist, bassist and published poet Shirlette Ammons and Mosadi guitarist Chris Boerner. John Anonymous members performing alongside included Adrian Duke and Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops, and HOBEX guitarist Greg Humphreys. Leaving a somewhat strange first impression as jazz, electro-rock and hip-hop merged in performance, the cool string sequence encompassed in drum-synths atop the confident rhymes and poetic lyrics from Shirlette quickly fixed the juxtaposition and melted into a creative, experimental balance of sound. 

Shirlette says, "I enjoy stretching myself beyond the music I thought I should be making, because I heard a different range of influences in the music Mosadi makes as a whole. Hopefully, Mosadi will exist as growth." It is safe to say that the group's unique set served as a deep tissue brain massage; leaving audience members with their ears perked and ready for the main event: the musical masterminds of Blount Harvey.

A task that's anything but easy to most, Blount Harvey takes music and revamps it in every live performance - as something groove-worthy, dance-evoking and irresistibly addictive in rhythm. Hitting the stage around 11:00 PM, there was barely any elbow room left for fans in The Pour House, and the crowd seemed anxiously ready to get live and loose. Just when you thought the exploitation of mainstream hip-hop artists had versed the final word, musical genius MC Rudolph Lyrics takes the stage with a fresh, curse-free gift of lyricism; a rhyme style all his own - known as wordy, but never frantic, cool-headed, but never boring. Teaming up with Kid Vixen and setting the stage for a smooth ride, Blount Harvey flipped a Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth track "Check It Out" and dropped it on the crowd; immediately testifying to truth with solid evidence that hip-hop LIVES.

With an extended solo on "Hot Sh*t (Marvin Remix)," John Beez unleashed a hype electronic freestyle on the unsuspecting listener, following with the crowd repeatedly chanting "DJ JOHN BEEZ!" for nearly ten minutes. Drawing upon one of their biggest influences, James Brown - Kid Vixen belted "Cold Sweat," a classic tune allowing saxophonist The Student to lay down the FUNK; next to illWill incessantly beating on the drums like they owed him money. 

The performance really hit the jackpot, though, when Greenville's well-known emcee Big Hop jumped up to join the Blount Harvey 'Fam' on stage. This power player demonstrated his raw talent performing "YEAH!" with high energy; not skipping a beat. In fact, Big Hop managed to keep the crowd involved and going nuts from the first bar to the last, while even wearing an arm sling due to a recent elbow injury. Additionally highlighting the evening was Blount Harvey's performance of ''The 3," an original track to be featured on their sophomore album hitting shelves in January 2010; the group's first single to be released for radio airplay at the end of this month. Truly shining on the track is the persona of each vocalist, as well as the texturized ivory foundation from Mad Shah on the keyboard. The gorgeous soundscape offered by Kid Vixen speaks directly to the audience, offering an engaging response that leaves no listener behind.

It goes without saying that upon review of this live performance, the overall production value of Blount Harvey's second album rides high; and both new and former fans alike made sure to get their hands on a copy of the 2007 release *L!VE* At The Station immediately following the show. An exciting adventure from start to finish, exploring a few genres but still staying rooted in the aim of keeping the energy live and the audience dancing, The Pour House managed to put together an unexpected Saturday night line-up of a musical threesome leaving fans thirsty for more.

This article can be located at: http://www.kindweb.com/reviews/review.asp?ID=24449

Kid Vixen at The Pour House Music Hall

Blount Harvey's TyKee killed it this Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. -- here's a clip of exactly how she put it down... & had 4 wedding proposals following... haha :)