Feroshus Sizzle

It's 2006, and FUNK is still a word that people just throw around with little if any thought. Or more specifically, “funky,” as in, “gosh, that Lenny Kravitz sure is funky.” Oddly enough, it seems the majority of folks who throw the F word around don't even listen to classic funk albums; the rest of them want recycled funk that is stuck in the seventies, a mere ancient artifact that represents nostalgia rather than our current days and times. Perhaps they should say “funk-ish” instead of “funky.” Enter FEROSHUS SIZZLE, a collective of die-hard funk purists who know that true stank needs to not only recognize its own history, but to CREATE its own.

Vocalist Tyrone, guitarist/saxophonist/vocalist Deep, and bassist/vocalist Ace Alan initially met quite recently in early 2004, after the three tried out for, and subsequently played in, a short-lived ensemble with some other local musicians. Finding an instant rapport, this trio of songwriters opted to branch off into their own thing in order to take it up a notch with their rapidly developing repertoire of funk originals.

Ace promptly recruited PJ, Ace's old partner in Skull Funk Tribe, a three album deep funk group that stankaslopped up the underground independent scene in the late nineties. With PJ on skins, FS recorded its first demo. The buzz from this recording garnered some podcast play and fans, but most importantly facilitated the recruitment of keyboardist Cornelius Von Morze, who joined the fold September of 2005.

The enthusiasm and camaraderie this quintet enjoyed soon birthed the band’s first official studio recording. Officially dubbed a “demo,” the self-titled release debuted March 2006. This raw concoction provides a succulent taste of the band’s relentlessly spiritual and enthusiastically thumpin original material. It should be evident to all soul fans that Feroshus Sizzle bypasses the typical meandering, acid-jazzy vamps of today in favor of focused compositions. The accessible but freaky-as-hell cuts, “Keep Yo Head Above the Water,” “SituationZ,” “Hustle (Fast & Slow),” “There You Go Again,” “Kickin’ Thru the Quicksand,” “Soul Survivor,” and “Feroshus Sizzle,” add up to over forty minutes of head-bobbin, hand-clappin soul. (See the MUSIC link to check it out).

This past year, besides the band’s regular performances as both supporters and headliners, FS launched its own quarterly party on Aug 12th of 2006 at the Balazo Gallery in the heart of SF’s Mission District. Lovingly dubbed “SWEATY WALLZ,” this down-home celebration of soul brings the Sizzlers a bit closer to the fans and will also feature other established as well as up-and-coming acts. The next SWEATY WALLZ features SoCal’s Substance Abuse and will be taking place on November 18th, 2006.

Feroshus Sizzle is also currently in the studio and will drop a full-length album by early 2007, featuring current crowd pleasers such as “Sweet Voodoo,” “Holla Back,” “Wild West,” “Salt Shaker,” “Juicy” “Get Down,” and several others. In addition, solo joints from both Payne and Alan, of course featuring performances from Deep, P.J., and Cornelius, will be completed by early 2007 as well.

Live, the band is an unhinged sex-machine. The members of Feroshus Sizzle are not solely inspired by the funk of the past; they also admire the other funk and soul acts on the current Bay Area scene who are committed to creating fresh and heartfelt anthems for our modern day generation of funkateers. Refusing to sit on the bench and watch, FS’ dynamic and danceable live act mixes three part harmonies with instrumentation rooted in the dirty ground, making them serious contenders in today's music scene. Do you speak the mutha tongue?