Upcoming Gigs:
6/21/2013 SHRINE w/ The Sol Power All Stars @ Tropicalia
7/12/2013 Elikeh w/ The Sol Power Allstars @ Rock and Roll Hotel
8/2/2013 SHRINE w/ Special Guest RICH MEDINA @ Tropicalia
Stylus.Meistro.Deep Sang with Hermon Farahi on percussionThe Sol Power All-Stars are twice-monthly residents at Tropicalia in Washington, DC
Booking:
info [at] solpowerdc [dot] com
Shrine featuring Tosin Beats and The Sol Power All-Stars.
Friday, Nov. 30
9pm
$FREE$
Tropicalia
2001 14th St. NW, lower level - corner of U & 14th
Tosin relocated to the United States in January of 2001, right after a two-year stint touring with the famed Afrobeat exponent Femi Kuti, and he has been actively involved in the music scenes in Washington, DC and New York ever since. His musical career has also taken different shapes as a bandleader, sideman and instructor.
An incredible drummer in his own right, Tosin has shared is drumming skills with a lot of producers and artists, including Spyro Gyra, Femi Kuti, Andres Levin, Jon Carroll, Antibalas, Julie Dexter, and many others. As major influences, Tosin cites the following artists: Haruna Ishola, Tony Allen, Fela Kuti, Art Blakey, Steve Jordan, Salif Keita, Sade, Keziah Jones, Sting, Majek Fashek and John Lee Hooker.
At Shrine, The Sol Power All-Stars draw inspiration from Fela Kuti’s home base nightclub where epic jam sessions stretched from night until morning. But since Tropicalia is a true global dance hall, Sol Power sets touch every classic and contemporary corner of the tropical music spectrum — from roots reggae to latin pop to deep afro-house. And with Sol Power consistently teaming up with amazing live bands from around the globe, Shrine is a night that always stays fresh.
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Before there was swag, there was #SWENKA.
Get some. Tomorrow.
If you haven’t experienced the SWENKA dance floor yet, here’s what to expect: Brenda Fassie clashing with Fela blending with Buraka Som Sistema. SWENKA is a celebration of the creative genius of the African Continent, from technology to music to fashion. It’s the sounds of the modern diaspora - kuduro, afro-house, tropical-electro, bashment, azonto, reggae, and more. It’s African riddims + beats from the past, present, and future.
SWENKA!
Friday, Sept. 27
with DJs Mothersheister, Brian Senyo and Stylus
9:30 Club Backbar
815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
$5
Top Ten All-Time Sol Power Joints: #5 Luisito Quintero - Gbagada, Gbagada, Gbogodo, Gbogodo (Louie Vega EOL Mix)
#5 Luisito Quintero - Gbagada, Gbagada, Gbogodo, Gbogodo (Louie Vega EOL Mix)
There’s so much I could say about this record, but none of it can really describe what it feels like to ease it into a mix and envelop a dancefloor with it. When I drop this, it’s a signal that I’m in a zone.
There’s more to this 12 minute slice of afro-house perfection than how it rocks a party, and you know we’re all about context over here. “Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo” was originally recorded by Fela Kuti and derived from a Nigerian folk song. He even says so in the lyrics, recreated exceptionally well by vocalist Francis Mbappe on percussionist Luisito Quintero’s cover version.
Quintero’s cover hews pretty close to the original, until Louie Vega got his hands on it to apply his impeccable remixing touch. With his band Elements of Life, Vega transformed “Gbagada” into a deep, sexy, churning house burner with bubbling keys and rolling percussion. You can get it at the usual spots (Amazon, iTunes) or head over to Traxsource for all of the versions to add to your DJ tool kit.
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Sol Power All-Stars EP out AUGUST 27
We’ve been sitting on these tracks for months and are really excited they will be released next month on our favorite cheeky remix label, GAMM Enterprises. Check the sampler below and be sure to cop the vinyl (August 27) or the digital files (September 28 - with a bonus cut and exclusively at www.junodownload.com)
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Chris “Daddy” Dave, aka Young Tony Allen grooving on Fela’s “Zombie”.
Idan K & The Movement of Rhythm
You might recognize Idan K & The Movement of Rhythm from some of our live mixes. I met Idan I think in 2007 in Tel Aviv and he gave me a cd of some of his unreleased joints, which haven’t left my play crate since. I helped him shop his then unreleased LP around a bit to the limited label connects I had, but, to my surprise, no one bit. Eventually it did come out on very small independent label whose name is escaping me, but, as far as I could tell, it wasn’t really promoted. I’m not sure what happened — it’s not on the big digital retail sites anymore— but you can still cop it direct from the Idan K & The Movement of Rhythm bandcamp page. Go get em!
And check them crushing it live in Israel!
Afrolicious - Never Let No One
Afrolicious, the DJ duo/music collective, are probably best known for their weekly party at the Elbo Room in San Francisco. I’d be willing to bet that pretty soon they may be better known for their production. Last year they released a solid EP on ESL Music, and they’re coming back with an afro house jam called “Never Let No One,” a thumping original production featuring the vocal stylings of Fresh is Life, from Trinidad. Check the tune below, and if you’re passing through SF on a Thursday, do yourself a favor and check out Afrolicious live.
Afrobeat Blues for Don
Afro-mash of Stevie Wonder that I did in tribute to Don Cornelius and neglected to post here. Always relevant though.
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