Be good to your earholes and bring in the New Year with some incredible music! I certainly will be taking advantage of the Holiday music extravaganza by entering the dragon with one of my favorite bands, Kung Fu. Not only do I plan to catch them at B.B.Kings in New York City for their Phish After-Party with Dopapod and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (another Music Vibes favorite) on December 29th, but also at their New Year’s Eve concert at the Fairfield Theatre Company in their native state of Connecticut. On December 31st The Bobby Paltauf Band and The Heavy Pets will be warming up the stage for all you funk fiends out there!
Starting out as an improvisational Monday night gig, Kung Fu has grown into a renowned high-energy funk band invading festivals and concert venues worldwide. Their performance at the Fairfield Theatre Company should be quite the personal show, as they began their musical journey as a cover band at their friend’s Grateful Dead theme bar in Connecticut, Stella Blues. After only their second performance they sold out every show. Their evolution from a talented cover band to a kick ass, high-energy psychedelic jazz-funk fusion band, started with 4 or 5 original tunes, including “Shit, Yeah, Let’s Get it Ready!” By the end of 2009, the band began receiving offers to play at other venues. Kung Fu is unique in that each musician stems from another band, and all from within the Northeast Coast.
Todd Stoops, Kung Fu’s keyboardist, also plays in RAQ, guitarist Tim Palmieri, bassist Chris DeAngelis and drummer Adam Tramontano play in another local Connecticut band, The Breakfast, and Robert Sommervile rocks out on the saxophone in both Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout. Kung Fu is a staple at festivals such as Catskill Chill and Gathering of the Vibes, frequently opening up the festival. They often play with young guitar prodigy, Bobby Paltauf, whom The Music Vibes had the pleasure to witness tearing up the stage with Kung Fu at Equifunk, the All-Inclusive Music Festival in Pennsylvania. This collaboration was one of the most impressive performances of summer 2013 and we look forward to seeing them both perform together again at the Fairfield Theatre Company for New Years Eve! Hopefully, we will get a sequel to their epic collaboration from over the summer- Kung Fu and Paltauf create a mind-blowing musical presentation.
When discussing their relationship with 13-year-old Paltauf, Stoops has said:
He’s 13, he’s unbelievable! He had a show last year and his dad is his manager, his dad is great. I have a five year old who’s a drummer, so I’m going to be that guy. When Oskar is 13, I’m going to be that dad! Bobby is amazing and we heard him play and we’re like holy sh*t, he’s playing like B.B. King and he’s 13. So, we invited him to play with us. We did a late-night slot at Gathering of the Vibes this year and we brought him up on stage. It was the biggest crowd he’s ever played for, it was like 4 or 5 thousand people. He looked out at the people and (mimics Bobby’s brief moment of hesitation) you could see the look in his eyes for a second then he was like (mimics Bobby shredding). I got a goose bump just now telling you about it. He owned it, head in the air! He’s like a 75-year-old blues guy from Mississippi in a 13-yr-old little Connecticut kid’s body. Very, very cool, he’s going to be a name to remember. By the time the guy’s 18 he’s going to be a f*ing nightmare for other guitar players, “What, I’ve been doing this for 30 years, are you kidding me?!” He’s like Larry Carlton- [Chris] Michetti, my guitarist for RAQ and for Conspirator, we were talking the other day on the phone and he says, “Dude, that Bobby Paltauf kid you guys play with-he’s amazing…” He’s getting a lot of respect from other guitar players. When you were 13, when I was 13- what were we doing?
Well, we were going through puberty, not rocking out like Bobby. The Music Vibes believes he is another legend in the making. When asking Stoops about what advice he would give to young musicians he responded:
Just play. Just play as much as you can and hopefully your parents are as supportive as Bobby’s dad. Bobby’s dad is a musician, too. My buddy Adam Deitch from Lettuce, his parents were musicians, went to Berkley and all that, so he grew up in that environment. You want to foster it from a young age, you know. If you have cool parents that let you jam in your basement or garage and let friends come over, milk it for all it’s worth- never move out of your house! Pay rent if you have to, as you get older. My advice would just be to keep playing. Express yourself, musically.
Even more exciting, the band is working on a new studio album. Considering that their first self-titled album, Kung Fu, was incredible, we cannot contain our excitement for their new release! Nothing is better than “Entering the Dragon” and kicking it with Kung Fu. I cannot imagine a more danceable jazz-funk fusion than what they play. These guys always keep it fresh.
The Music Vibes had the opportunity to ask Stoops a few questions before catching them during their New Years run:
Rebecca: The Blockley is in many ways our local music hub here in Philly (although we are sad to hear that it will be closing in the New Year). Is there a hometown venue, maybe Stella Blues or Toad’s Place, that’s the same for you?
Todd Stoops: Definitely Toad’s Place here in New Haven, CT. They host national and regional acts of all sizes throughout the year – Stella Blues is also a great club although much smaller than Toad’s (about one quarter the size). Stella Blues is where Kung Fu began, and where many smaller acts can break into the music scene here in CT…
R: I saw your performance at the Fairfield Theatre Company on April 6th and was blown away… Can you tell us a little about your relationship with that venue and why you picked it for NYE?
TS: FTC is a great, intimate room to perform – we wanted something close to home but on the smaller side, to keep a “family” type vibe for the night.
R: NYE & Halloween are two of the biggest nights in music, so the opening acts tend to include bands that have a history together and want to hang out as much as they want to play. Why did you choose The Heavy Pets and Bobby Paltauf Band?
TS: The Heavy Pets are good friends of ours – even though we live on the two opposite ends of the East Coast we frequently perform together during the year, not to mention festival season – many a night has turned into a weird morning hanging out with those crazy guys!
Mia: Can we expect to hear any new tunes on NYE?
TS: Absolutely!! We just premiered three new songs at Toad’s Place last weekend so expect to hear them!!
M: What’s a typical session like when you guys get together at this stage- are you rehearsing or writing more?
TS: Neither – nowadays we all bring our extensive collections of circular-style coupons and have four hour marathon couponing sessions. Oh the savings!!!! 😉 Just kidding – we are in a creative upswing these days, writing new material for 2014 and getting it ready for the road…
R: Now we’re in the age of mp3 files but let’s take it back to cassettes. I remember that when I was old enough to work a cassette player and listen to my own music my parents gave me two cassette tapes… Billy Joel and Whitney Houston. What are some of the first albums that you played? What do you play for your children?
TS: My first cassette tapes that I purchased were Beastie Boys “License To Ill” and Van Halen “1984” – also around that time I owned Twisted Sister “Stay Hungry” and Rush “Moving Pictures” – my kids listen to all sorts of music – they are really diverse – Oskar, my youngest, is into Ozzy Osbourne’s Iron Man right now – he’s taught himself the song on drums and keyboards already! Not bad for a five year old 😉
M: I was quite lucky this summer to catch both Kung Fu and RAQ at Catskill Chill. Rebecca had the opportunity to see both Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout at Gathering of the Vibes. So when do you think is the next time we might have the experience of catching a double header of your exceptional musicianship?
TS: Relatively soon actually! Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout are co-headlining the amazing Capital Theater in Portchester, NY on March 13th!
R: Any chance of both Kung Fu and The Breakfast performing together? It would be a really cool and such a personal experience given that both bands hail from Connecticut and share many of the same members, such as DeAngelis, Palmieri, and Tramontano…. Is this something we can plan on looking forward to in the future? … I know it is definitely something that us Music Vibers dream about….
TS: We never rule anything out – its a ton of actual work though for Tim, Chris, and Adrian – both band’s repertoire are extremely demanding…
M: You’re kicking off the New Year with an appearance at Jungle Jam in Costa Rica followed by some shows with Dopapod then Umphrey’s McGee. Anything in the upcoming year you’re especially looking forward to experiencing?
TS: I’m looking forward to all of it!! Mainly the new material we are writing – and definitely looking forward to recording Kung Fu’s third studio album this year!
M: What is Kung Fu’s New Year’s Resolution?
TS: Take No Prisoners!!!
You heard that Music Vibers, Kung Fu will be taking no prisoners in the New Year! So what better way to bring it in than with the band’s performance at the Fairfield Theatre Company? Being an intimate venue, the FTC will act as the perfect dojo for Kung Fu’s badass black belt beats. Sight, Sound, Sensation- seeing Kung Fu live is not just any musical experience. Their music will rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. The band’s psychedelic recipe consisting of jazz, funk, rock and jam, combined with intricate instrumental solos from each of the exceptionally talented musicians is the finest ambrosia for your cochlea. Remember, your ears won’t be experiencing this musical euphoria on their own. Just as their name suggests, the band has achieved their musical mastery through discipline, study and practice and has sought only excellence in their improvisational, groove-striking dance music. So be sure to slap on your dance shoes and prepare for a long night of getting down with the Fu and your Funky self!
“Do the Right Thing” and be sure to catch Kung Fu play with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Dopapod at B.B.Kings in NYC on the 29th. Then make your way to Connecticut for an explosive New Year’s Eve with some seriously LETHAL FUNK at the Fairfield Theatre Company, as Kung Fu takes the stage again on the 31st!
Preview by Rebecca Wolfe
For more articles on Kung Fu check out:
The Music Vibes Earns a Black-belt in Funk with Stoops from Kung Fu (and RAQ, too!)
Pulp FUNKtion: Kung Fu Live at the Highline Ballroom
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