BLVD

BLVD: the only live band at the rave
By Jonathan Zwickel
01/03/07



BLVD by Jonathan Zwickel

It's almost 2 a.m. on a recent Wednesday night and the crowd at Mighty has distilled down to the hardcores. A holiday party for a local culture Web site has drawn a schizo smattering of dress styles, musical preferences, and income brackets that ebbs and flows as the evening turns. The tucked-in, after-work crowd was injected with a fashionista vibe early on, which took on a weird, scruffy Burning Man flavor around midnight. By now, jerking to bass-heavy house rhythms and twirling in front of the speaker stacks, the only ones left are the enraptured dancers from each contingent. That's exactly how BLVD, the band onstage that's moving the room, likes it.
"We're used to being the only live band at the rave," says guitarist Curtis Sloane, sipping a beer in the band's Balboa Park practice space a few days later. "Going 'til 3 a.m. on a Wednesday is no big deal — this town is crazy like that. That's why they put us in that slot."

Sloane, along with drummer Dylan McIntosh and bassist Tripp Bains, are crammed into a stuffy, low-ceilinged room, putting the finishing touches on an upcoming EP and getting ready for an extended national tour. Francisco Studios is a far cry from the high-profile dance clubs, like Mighty, 1015 Folsom, and Club 6, where BLVD made its reputation. It's even farther from Black Rock City and Burning Man, where the band has leveled revelers with its very rock 'n' roll take on house and breaks for the past three years.

"A big part of where we are at right now — which is obviously not a very glorified place," Sloane says, "is that we've managed to accomplish a lot of club playing in San Francisco over the last few years. We're doing exactly what we wanna do, being a part of these collectives — Lowpro Lounge, the Fringe, Anon Salon, Burning Man."

"And we've been doing it all on our own the entire time — all of our booking, our recording," McIntosh adds. "It's what we devote ourselves to in whatever way we can."

Sloane and McIntosh had been playing music together for a couple years before the 2001 epiphany that lead to BLVD.

"We were doing this guitar-based Phish shit," says Sloane, "and we were playing a lot at Last Day Saloon. And we debuted this song, 'Superphaser,' that was this more dance-music kinda thing. It totally changed the crowd."

"Everyone started dancing, they totally got into it," McIntosh says. "We were like, 'Shit, we gotta figure out this dance-music thing.'"

"Six years later, we're still trying."

They met Bains in 2002, a veteran bassist of various jazz and experimental outfits around the city. The trio started playing low-budget, unlicensed "candy raver" parties, wowing blissed-out teenagers in grungy basements and warehouses all over the city. The band's propulsive sound enamored them to dancers: McIntosh and Bains lock into deep, subwoofing grooves, mostly of the house variety, slower to wallow in funk or faster to slip into psychedelic space. Sloane delicately shreds on top, looping, layering, and warping himself electronically. All three improvise just enough to lead crowds through unexpected segues and hands-in-the-air crescendos. They self-released a pair of albums, the first self-titled affair close to their live sound, the second, titled Before We See the Sun, a more produced studio labor with MCs, vocalists, and guest musicians. Word spread, and BLVD began infiltrating the city's underground upper crust. Their unnamed EP, set for February release, comes out on S.F. Web-based indie Cyberset.

"It seemed really exciting, and it still does, to be the only live band in the club environment," Sloane says. "Now the parties are more mature and the audiences are full of our friends. At this point we're accepted into that scene, but I think part of what this tour is about is branching out, doing live venues. We're still watching as it all evolves."

- SF Weekly

By: Matt Thompson 03/04/09 2008 was a dizzying blur of firsts and foremosts for SF based BLVD. While whipping up crowds across the US with their fresh urban sounds this four-piece has positioned itself as a new champion of the burgeoning live electronic movement. The fallout of BLVD's blitz on premier west coast festivals in '08 (High Sierra, Earthdance, Joshua Tree, LIB, Shambhala, etc) lead to several licensing deals with conglomerates such as Victoria Secret, AOL, CBS, MTV and more. The band dropped its full length release (Music for People) last summer and toured heavily as the album garnered critical acclaim and remained in the top 40 on CMJ charts for 6 weeks. The release also got BLVD named to the "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists" of 2008 by Music Connection Magazine. The group topped the year off with a show stealing set at Sea of Dreams, the largest indoor NYE event in the US, alongside Thievery Corporation and Bassnectar.

2009 is expected to be an equally exciting year for this scene setting collaboration. They’re currently in the studio with well known producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, Fischerspooner, Two Gallants, The Sounds) crafting their follow up to 08’s Music For People and a spring tour will take them up the west coast, east to Hampton, VA for a Phish after show, and to the SXSW Festival in Austin. The tour ends with a string of dates alongside Lotus as they stop at the premier theaters in the North East.

BLVD's genre bending, life affirming music inspires a frenzy on the dance floor that rings in the ears and minds of its audience long after the party is over. Few bands can provoke the kind of electric atmosphere that BLVD has at its shows. This unconventional mixture of hip-hop vocals, rock guitars, street beats, and sub woofing bass is enough to galvanize and convert any crowd into a devoted fan base.

BLVD will be lighting up the Great American Music Hall on Friday, March 13th with special guests Break Science feat Adam Deitch and The Flying Skulls.
- MetroWize

BLVD
On the evening of Friday, March 13, BLVD is bringing a personal touch to the Great American Music Hall with a full laser light show designed specifically for the venue, performance art and special guests, in support of their mission to produce a next generation concert experience. With each pre-sale ticket BLVD is giving away the full digital download of their latest album, Music For People, along with a hand drawn commemorative Great American Music Hall poster. Founding member of Lettuce and long time Wyclef Jean drummer and hip-hop producer Adam Deitch will open the night with his Brooklyn based Break Science. Between sets, producer trio The Flying Skulls (their music can be found on upcoming 1320 records releases) will combine Hip-Hop, Dub Step and House to keep the crowd moving.

BLVD has signed on with well known producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, Two Gallants, Fischerspooner, The Sounds) and are busy in the studio crafting their follow up to last year's Music For People record which spent six weeks on the CMJ top 40 in 2008.

BLVD's spring U.S. tour takes them up the west coast with Break Science feat Adam Deitch, east to Hampton, VA for a Phish after show, back to SXSW, and finishing with 12 shows with Lotus, stopping at the premier theaters in the North East & Midwest. Regulars on the North American festival circuit, BLVD’s latest release, Music For People, is their first record featuring MC Souleye on vocals. 2008 proved to be a stellar year for the San Francisco based Electro Hip-Hop group, solidifying them a place in both the live and electronic music scenes. Highlights include Victoria Secret choosing Music For People album tracks for all of their Fall Fashion show advertising, licensing deals from CBS, MTV, AOL and Fuel TV, being named to the "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists" of 2008 by Music Connection Magazine and playing Sea Of Dreams, the largest indoor NYE show in the US alongside Thievery Corporation and Bassnectar.


- Jambase

2008 was a dizzying blur of firsts and foremosts for the San Fran based band BLVD.

While whipping up crowds across the US with their fresh urban sounds, this four-piece has positioned itself as a new champion of the burgeoning live electronic movement.

The fallout of BLVD’s blitz on premier west coast festivals in ‘08 (High Sierra Music Festival, Earthdance, Joshua Tree Music Festival, Lightning in a Bottle, Shambhala, etc) led to several licensing deals with conglomerates such as Victoria Secret, AOL, CBS, MTV and more.

The band dropped its full length release (‘Music for People’) last summer and toured heavily as the album garnered critical acclaim and remained in the top 40 on CMJ charts for 6 weeks. The release also got BLVD named to the “Hot 100 Unsigned Artists” of 2008 by Music Connection Magazine. The group topped the year off with a show stealing set at Sea of Dreams, the largest indoor NYE event in the US, alongside Thievery Corporation and Bassnectar.

2009 is expected to be an equally exciting year for this scene setting collaboration.

BLVD is currently in the studio with critically acclaimed producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, Two Gallants, Fischerspooner, The Black Keys) laying down a follow up to their 2008 album, ‘Music For People’.

A spring tour will take them up the west coast, then to Hampton, VA for a Phish after show, and to the SXSW festival in Austin. The tour ends with a string of dates alongside Lotus as they stop at the premier theaters in the North East.

BLVD’s genre bending, life affirming music inspires a frenzy on the dance floor that rings in the ears and minds of its audience long after the party is over.

Few bands can provoke the kind of electric atmosphere that BLVD has at its shows. This unconventional mixture of hip-hop vocals, rock guitars, street beats, and sub woofing bass is enough to galvanize and convert any crowd into a devoted fan base.

BLVD 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

6 Mar Tribeca Nightclub Hotel Hampton, Virginia
11 Mar Canes with Break Science and the Vokab Company San Diego, California
12 Mar Fais Do Do Los Angeles, California
13 Mar Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
14 Mar Opal Ultra Lounge- Montbleu Casino and Resort Lake Tahoe, Nevada
18 Mar SXSW 3.18 -3.21 Austin, Texas
24 Mar Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
25 Mar Lupos Providence, Rhode Island
26 Mar Port City Music Hall Portland, Maine
27 Mar The Wheel House Narragansett, Rhode Island
28 Mar Higher Ground Burlington VT, Vermont
31 Mar Vogue Theater Indianapolis, Indiana
1 Apr Crowfoot Ballroom Pontiac (Detriot), Michigan
3 Apr Old Rock House St. Louis, Missouri
4 Apr Kinetic Playground Chicago, Illinois
7 Apr Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, New York
8 Apr The Wescott Theater Syracuse, New York
9 Apr The Chameleon Lancaster, Pennsylvania
10 Apr Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
1 May Red Fox Tavern Eureka, California
26 Jul Oregon Brewers Festival Portland, Oregon

Souleye / BLVD on Twitter

BLVD Official Website
MySpace

- Bandweblogs

http://www.metrowize.com/blvd-san-francisco-great-american-music-hall

- MetroWize

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/16923/BLVD-Tour.New-Album
- Jambase

http://bandweblogs.com/blog/2009/03/05/blvd-tour-dates-incl-phish-after-show-sxsw/
- Bandweblogs

http://blvdsource.com/emails/blvd_news_3_09_mixed_bag.html

- Mixed Bag