VGB and the Power Plus Crew

Every so often a new band puts out something as half-baked as it is promising. “Unton the Maximum” by VGB and the Power Plus Crew falls squarely into this category. This is unapologetically raw, unpolished, and stripped-down music with a certain vibe and attitude that somehow works. Part of the charm here is the bass and drums duo seem to either not care or are entirely unaware of just how mediocre this is. Their blissful ignorance seems to give them carte blanche to give 110 percent on these tracks and, well let’s face it, that’s where real greatness begins. Make no mistake, this is a band that gives it all and seems to have a lot of fun doing it. In the end it is that sort of rambunctious fun that is an important part of music and that is predictably missing from a lot of musical “product” these days. So if you don’t mind things raw and trashy, VGB and crew get the job done.

So what does VGB and the P.P. Crew sound like? I hear echoes of indie rock, hip-hop, funk, and punk, but it really has its own sound going. Sonic ballpark reference points might be 311 minus the guitars or early pre- “Mother’s Milk” Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed with a bit of the brattiness of early Violent Femmes. While this CD doesn’t hold a candle to the finer works of those bands, it’s a decent debut for some obviously talented musicians.

VGB (Vince Guthrie Brabhan) who raps and vocalizes while playing bass is particularly impressive. Playing involved bass lines like the ones here while performing vocal duties is a rare talent. The bass playing is creative and accomplished. The vocals on the other hand are a little monotone for my ears and the lyrics can get pretty trite and even pretentious at times. Some of the vocal phrasing sounds awkward and forced as well. All that being said though, the bass skills and fearless vocal delivery clearly shows a talented natural-born frontman developing.

On the skins Nick Brabhan holds his own. He creatively keeps tunes flowing through a variety of ADD arrangements, unexpected changes, and dramatic tempo shifts. The two seem very tuned in to each other in a way that makes exciting and interesting music happen.

VGB and the Power Plus Crew is off to a good start, but has a long way to go. Over the years I have seen a lot of similar bands that could eat these guys for breakfast. At the same time, they deserve credit because they don’t sound like anyone but themselves and definitely stick out from the local crowd. If you are a fan of raw, trashy and energetic bands with a unique blend of ingredients, you might want to check out this joyously cantankerous debut. - IN MICHIANA Magazine