Craig Mitchell & Motor City
Burlington, Vermont, United States | SELF
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Craig Mitchell describes his new R&B band, Craig Mitchell & Motor City, as “if Prince, Jamiroquai and the Black Keys had a baby.” Generally, I’m loathe to use the descriptions bands provide of themselves — especially when they rely on the tired “if so and so had a love child” thing. But I’ve always liked that one.
First, hyperbole aside, it’s pretty accurate. I’ve written about Mitchell on a number of occasions over the years. And regardless of the subject, whether it’s about DJing, house music, his anti-bullying work or just shooting the shit, the topic of Prince often pops up in the conversation. He’s probably Mitchell’s single biggest musical influence, and it shows.
Second, I just friggin’ love the Black Keys. Having caught Motor City a few times now, I can understand the comparison. The band’s sultry, at times bluesy neo-R&B evokes a similarly gritty — and somewhat seedy — sensuality.
As for Jamiroquai … OK, I’ve never been a fan. I liked him better when he was called Stevie Wonder. But, hey, two out of three ain’t bad, right?
Anyway, this Thursday, February 16, at Nectar’s, CM & MC take the stage for the first time in three months. And they’re packing heat.
Later this month, the band will release its debut EP, Hard Tellin’ Not Knowin’, on Mitchell’s label, Slanted Black Records. The five-song EP will be available through the usual online channels — iTunes and the like. But you can check out a prereleased track, “Another Lover,” at the band’s website, cmmcband.com. And I recommend that you do.
As dynamic and powerful a vocalist as Mitchell is live, he’s equally measured, engaging and technically impressive on record. And, given the full studio treatment by the Tank’s Ben Collette, Motor City is up to some seriously cool sonic shenanigans. I gotta say, if the rest of the EP sounds anything like “Another Lover,” we might have an early candidate for local album of the year — you know, if such an award existed. - Dan Bolles
Discography
Hard Tellin' Not Knowin' EP (www.cmmcband.com)
Photos
Bio
Internationally acclaimed House DJ and vocalist Craig Mitchell fronts one of the most innovative new bands in Burlington, VT: Motor City. Comprised of some of the most sought after players of jazz, soul, R&B and hip-hop in the region, Motor City is two parts Prince, one part D’Angelo and one part the effect drenched disco dance party, the true music of 2012. By combining an appreciation for rock, R&B, soul, techno, experimental music, and old-school funk, Craig Mitchell & Motor City is the quintessential modern American band. CMMC has been rapidly gaining attention due to tight arrangements, infectious grooves and hooks, and a live show packed with originals, off-the-cuff instrumentals and spontaneous medleys paying tribute to their influences. This formula inspires an incredible amount of dancing, ensuring time and again that the audience is having as much fun as the band.
cRAIG mITCHELL, founding member of the chart-topping production team “The Orange Factory,” fathered and cultivated the dance music scene in Burlington, Vermont, recording for Global Underground, Transport, and various other compilations on such labels as Twisted, Kult, Groovin’, Kinetic, V2, Mind Train Records, and more.
Motor City was formed in March of 2011 in the musical melting pot of Burlington, VT. The band consists of Jake Gold and Tyler Mast (Keyboards), Harrison Shulman (Guitar), Josh Weinstein (Bass), Daiki Hirano (Percussion/Electronic Drums), Dan Ryan (Drums), and cRAIG mITCHELL (Vocals). These experienced road warriors have played at such venues as NYC’s Blue Note, CBGB’s, Brooklyn Bowl, Tunnel and Limelight nightclubs, Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival and Higher Ground, Miami’s Electronic Music Festival and Twist nightclub, LA’s Spaceland and Knitting Factory, and have traversed the US and entertained international crowds in Canada, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Members have shared the stage or studio with Yoko Ono, Manny Ward, The Orange Factory, John Creamer, Anthony Braxton, Masta Ace, Eddie the Gun, Ray Vega, Jennifer Hartswick, Everton Blender, Maria Schneider, and many more.
The band’s debut album, due to drop in March 2012, features six bangin’ tracks, each more exciting than the last. The project was recorded and mixed by Ben Collette (Phish, Gogol Bordello, Trey Anastasio Band, etc.), and mastered by Fred Kevorkian (The White Stripes, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews Band, etc.). Buzz is already building around the album’s release.
Mitchell describes his new band as “if Prince, Jamiroquai and the Black Keys had a baby.” According to Dan Bolles, of 7days Newspaper, Burlington, VT, “That’s not terribly far off the mark, actually. But I’ll go a step further and say that Motor City is the kind of music that would be on the hi-fi whilst Prince, Jamiroquai and the Black Keys were making said baby — how’s that mental image?"
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ64C2Q_jZ4
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