Underground System

The first-ever Capital Fringe Music Festival will be curated by Jim Thomson, a man who’s best known for co-founding Gwar, a metal band best known for spewing fake blood. But you don’t have to get out your prosthetic devil horns for this weekend’s event. The lineup Thomson has come up with is decidedly mellow.

“I like metal and loud, aggressive punk music, but I think anything really noisy would be at risk of getting shut down,” he says.

That’s because the festival will be at Old City Farm and Guild, an outdoor space in a residential neighborhood. Though there won’t be any hard-rock bands, plenty of genres are represented.

“I’m really into mixed bills, when genres collide,” he says. “I love that an indie pop band like Future Generations or Shark Week will be playing next to an Afrobeat band from Brooklyn or an Ethiopian jazz group from D.C., or Daniel Bachman, who plays an old form of blues. Maybe someone is going to get knocked over the head with something they didn’t expect to hear.”

Thomson has been booking stand-alone concerts for the theater and music organization for years, and is thrilled he got to put together Fringe’s first alfresco musical showcase.

“I love outdoor shows,” he says. “Being outdoors in the elements — it’s more primal and ritualistic, you know?”

Underground System

This 10-piece Afrobeat band represents a melange of cultures and musical influences. Black Italian-American frontwoman Domenica Fossati grew up in Miami and Venezuela and brings musical influences from all those cultures (and others) together in her jazzy vocals and flute riffs. “They play funk with West African rhythms — they’ve kind of invented their own sound,” Thomson says. (Sun., 9 p.m.) - Washington Post

Leo Mas dropped the original of Underground System`s “Bella Ciao” in his Boiler Room set last summer, when he revisited Ibiza alongside fellow Amnesia veteran Alfredo Fiorito, and Kelvin Andrews & Apiento, collectively representing old and new schools of Balearic Beat. Leo & Fabrice`s remix sends the NYC Afro of that original spinning in Dub, smoothing out its Punk spikes. A party going bang in the background. I can hear similarities with Golf Channel`s Central Executives, and its perhaps no coincidence that Leo & Fabrice have also recently remixed “the Exec`s” “Loveray 79”. Finger snaps and handclaps. Horns do the Masekela.

Their Dub proper gives the bass even more space. The “On Air” mix removes the drums but not the handclaps, and gives the track, and dancers, a chance to catch their breath. Psychoactive residuals still coursing. A tambourine carrying that party on inside your head.

On a separate 10” the “Laguna” version, credited to Leo, Fabrice and Gigi Masin, flicks the stereo from 45 to 33, cuts the BPMs from 120 to 90 The rhythm lolloping, supported by the shoulders of a piano and the ambience of a morning tide, has you taking in wonders as you slowly wind your way home. When a new day might be just enough to wag your tail. A dawn`s chorus, be it birds & cicadas or the beginnings of city traffic & steel storefronts rattling open. Witnessing first light first hand.

“Bella Ciao” is a song with a history. Adapted from a traditional holler of the rice weeders of the River Po basin, it was adopted by the Italian Resistance as they fought against the Fascist Social Republic during the 1943-1945 civil war. It has subsequently been translated into Breton, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, English, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Kurdish, Norwegian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Tagalog, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, and Ukrainian, and recognized as an international hymn of freedom. If you were listening you would have heard it sung as students protested against tuition fees in Parliament Square in London, when New Yorkers occupied Wall Street, from the crowds in Turkey`s Taksim Gezi Park, at the funerals of those murdered at Charlie Hebdo in Paris, by Greece`s Coalition of the Radical Left, and by the Kurds in Syria. - Test Pressing

This past February, Brooklyn based afrobeat band Underground System released Bella Ciao, a two-track EP that boosted the hectic rhythms, blazing horns and genre-splicing elements that the band is known for. Now, the 10-member group is prepping the release of Bella Ciao Remixed (via Ropeadope Records), a 5-track EP featuring reworked tracks from Brooklyn-based trio Archie Pelago, Underground System’s own band leader Peter Matson and Das Racist alum Kool A.D & Kassa Overall (aka Kool & Kass). Globe trotting beatmaker Chief Boima also appears on the EP, giving his own slowed down, bass-heavy rendition of the title track. Adding an explosive drum pad line and looping the female frontline chant into a hypnotic circle, Boima creates a down and dirty scorcher ready for dance floors across the world. The full-length Bella Ciao Remixed EP drops August 5th and can be pre-ordered/purchased on iTunes. Until then listen to Chief Boima’s “Bella Ciao” rework below and for more from Boima check out his Africa In Your Earbuds mix he did for us a while back. - Okayafrica

Fans of Fela Kuti, Afrobeat and funky good times can rejoice! Afropop is proud to present Chop and Quench “The Fela! Band,” Underground System, and Damian Quinones y su Nuevo Conjunto, with DJ Earl Maxton (Antibalas), at Brooklyn Night Bazaar this Sat., Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Anyone who has seen the Fela! musical on Broadway is familiar with the Afrobeat excellence of Chop and Quench. The group is made up of Fela! cast members, including the show’s star, Tony Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah, who thrillingly captures the unmistakable, magnetizing presence of Fela on stage.

Underground System, another of New York’s most explosive Afrobeat acts, stands out as one of the few led by a female singer (and flutist): Domenica Fossati. The band has expanded from its roots in Fela’s sound to styles as diverse as Italian folk and baile funk. They also put on a mindblowing show–definitely not to be missed.

Closing off the bill is Damian Quinones y su Nuevo Conjunto, a Brooklyn-based group that plays music of a different variety–including tropicalia and salsa—but in a similarly funky groove.

If you went to the last Brooklyn Night Bazaar show we sponsored back in July, you know that this is a fantastic venue with food, blacklight mini-golf and plenty of good vibes. Come on down and get in the groove! [165 Banker St., Brooklyn, NY 11222] - Afropop Worldwide

Pump up the volume and get ready to shake your thang to some high-energy Afrobeat! We're premiering Underground System's new video 'Bella Ciao'.
The Underground System team tells us: "The video for Bella Ciao takes place at a ‘zumba-esque’ fitness class gone terribly wrong. Frontwoman Domenica Fossati (a real life certified Zumba instructor and African Dancer) whips the band and friends into a frenzied dance, emphasizing the closing lyrics of the song: MORTO PER LA LIBERTÀ (Die for freedom).
Underground System front woman, flutist, singer and dancer Domenica Fossati is all over the place. Hailing from Miami, via Venezuela, this Afro-Italian artist is Trilingual and well-acquainted with Yoruba and Ewe ethnic tongues. She trained in traditional African dance during a stint in Ghana. As an instrumentalist, her whistling rolls have found a home with everything from modern chamber music, art pop, indie rock to Afrobeat. omenica leads the band with Peter Matson, guitarist, DJ, producer (Awkwafina) and *fun fact!* the great-grandson of Irving Berlin." - Afropunk

NYC Afrobeat | Underground System
Wed. June 22
10 p.m.
$8
Pour House

The 10-piece band Underground System formed in 2010 around a mutual interest in ferociously rhythmic Afrobeat music. Not that a band that big fell into place immediately. "It took a couple of years after we started the group to get it solidified with the core group we have now," says co-founder, singer, and guitarist Peter Matson. The band's initial sound was straight-ahead, percussion-heavy African music, inspired by a wave of renewed interest in that genre that was floating around the Big Apple, but they've since moved into a more exploratory, stretched-out style that blends in rock and electronic dance music. "The thing that's interesting about this style is that it can be misinterpreted as 'jam music,'" Matson says. "But essentially all the parts are written. Every part has to interlock with the rest of the band. There's a lot of rehearsal over time that makes you able to play well as an ensemble." Folks with a Dead on the Deck (6:30 p.m., Pour House) or Rebelution (6:20 p.m., North Charleston Riverfront Park) wristband will receive $3 off at the door. —Vincent Harris WEDNESDAY - Charleston City Paper

"Dig this video from Underground System Afrobeat, a Brooklyn based afrobeat ensemble who plan to release their debut EP in the coming months. This video is dedicated to the bootyshakers of the world..." - The Afrobeat Blog

De Afrikaanse up-tempo funk uit de jaren 70 zit duidelijk in de lift. Met de regelmaat van de klok worden oude highlife- en afrofunkplaten van onder het stof gehaald en zien nagelnieuwe afrobeat bands het levenslicht. Nu blijkt dat Brooklyn naast Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra nóg een ensemble Kuti-volge­lingen huisvest: Underground System Afrobeat. Hun debuut EP B.O.B. vond gelukkig snel de weg onze testbank.

De slechts twee nummers tellende EP is toch goed voor bijna twintig minuten afrobeatplezier en lost de verwachtingen van de titel B.O.B. — wat voor "Bootyshake OutBreak" staat — aardig goed in. Hun groove zit overduidelijk snor en de vrouwelijke lead vocals (zowel in het Engels en als in het Spaans) zorgen voor een welkome afwis­se­ling in het door mannen gedomi­neer­de afrobeat­wereldje. De jazz dimensie neemt bij wijlen de bovenhand in hun mix en hoewel dat niet bij iedereen in goede aarde zal vallen, kan onder­getekende dat best wel appreciëren. Hopelijk kunnen we deze elf­koppige band uit New York binnenkort live aan het werk zien in ons belganland, al zou dat nog een tijdje kunnen duren. In tussentijd kan u uw honger stillen met (de previews van) de EP op cdbaby.com en deze video teaser is uiteraard ook warm aanbevolen. - tropicalidad.be

"Eleven people total. Everyone is holding a live instrument in their hand. The group’s lead singer, Domenica Fossati, a curvy-cute mamma with an afro-like hairdo and a deep beautiful voice, has just put down her flute. She’s encouraging us all to move our hips a little bit more. “Thank you to all the beautiful ladies here,” she cooes into the microphane, her eyes & smile skirting across the front row of grooving women, “Thank you for coming out to daaaaaance! Now shake what your mamma gave you!” The song picks up and spirals back into a mesh-up of African beats – saxophones, bass, guitar, chanting, congas & keys.

I look around me – I am quite close to the stage – and I get the feeling that everyone in the room unanimously agrees that this is not just music, but good music. Heads are bopping and shoulders swing on their own accord. People are happy to be here. The band’s charisma and talent has drawn in everyone within earshot. Even the guy who would normally be found leaning against the bar & enjoying the show without moving a muscle has inched forward and begun to tap is feet. The Brooklyn-based band is a smashing success. When in need of a healthy release, a fun night, or just good music, check ‘em out and dance it out – Underground System Afrobeat. - MicChloeQ

The 11-member band called Underground System Afrobeat hails from Brooklyn -- but they are a pretty global group. Frontwoman Domenica Fossati is Venezualan-born, Miami-bred -- and the band puts a New York spin on a classic West African pop sound.

Download the track “B.O.B” from Underground System Afrobeat. The band plays Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday night. And, catch members of Underground System Afrobeat live in The Greene Space on September 7, 2012. More information here. - WNYC

Photo coverage of our first performance at The 2011 Bear Creek Music & Art Festival in Live Oak, FL - Jacksonville.com

Modern Afrobeat from Brooklyn – with a unique vibe! This is the debut EP from Underground System Afrobeat – recorded after honing their craft on the live scene for a solid year-or-so – long enough to really get it down! This is the way contemporary Afrobeat ought to sound – heavy rhythms, tight horns, funk & soul guitar, bass and keys – played by dexterous musicians. One thing that sets USA apart in a fertile New York scene is their strong female vocal front. Multilingual singer and flautist Domenica Fossati is on lead vocals – and she's great, not to overlook a sharp ensemble. Players include founder and guitarist Peter Matson, guitarist Bob Lanzetti, David Cutler on bass, drummer Yahoteh Kokayi, Yoshi Takemasa on congas, Greg Sanderson on tenor, Jackie Coleman on trumpet, Colin Brown on keys, and Maria Christina Eisen on baritone sax and vocals. Includes 2 lengthy jams: "BOB" at 8+ minutes and "95 South" at just short of 12 minutes. (Includes code for digital download.) - Dusty Groove America

"One of those "hidden gems" is Underground System Afrobeat, an all star group of afrobeat musicians, some who have been a part of the Tony award winning musical "FELA!" about legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti" - O Town Scene