j^Biack Ink
November 19
Band Profile: 24-7 SPYZ
a;
: SlJ-
tlii
m.
By Zach Manner
Hold on to your dreadlocks kids.
The funkiest, hardest, dopest jam mas
ters are back...and straight outta Cali.
24-7 Spyz, one of the premiere black
rock and funk bands in the nation, has
put together their sophomore effort,
Gumbo Millennium, and it shows that
they’re more than a flash in a pan.
Often compared to crossover suc
cess Living Colour, this San Francisco-
based group succeed in creating their
own style and keeping it funky at the
same time. Following the lead of Living
Colour and Bad Brains, 24-7 Spyz proves
that a black band can crack into the
punk/funk genre previously dominated
by white groups like Red Hot Chili
Peppers and the new fan-faves. Faith No
More.
The key idea to understanding and
respecting this varying-from-the-norm
style music is that art differs from person
to person. Blacks advancing themselves
in varying types of music should be
encouraged, not denounced. And the
Spyz have advanced into a top-notch
musical band of the ‘90s.
Spyz debut. Harder Than You, on
In-Effect Records, was well-received by
critics and funk fans alike for its hard-
driving bass and smokin’ vocals by lead
singer Peter Fluid. Their cover of Kool
and the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” got
some serious rotation on MTV in the
summer of ‘89.
It’s obvious that the band spent long
hours in the studio making sure their
new product was as clean and jammin’
as their last. The first track, “John Can-
elly’s Theory,” opens up with a*classic
caRoUIU unw PeRfoWWQ afWS JCRBS
»990-9f
Black Sabbath groove laden with thick
bass by bassist Rick Skatore. Skatore’s
muscle definitely pushes the band to
much heavier horizons than the last
album. Drummer Anthony Johnson
works in perfect synchronicity with
Skatore’s pluck/thump style providing
some def beats. Jimi Hazel holds things
together with a solid guitar reminiscent
of the late Hilel Slovak of Chili Peppers
fame. Finally, Fluid’s vocals paint a pic
ture of how often the lives of the Spyz is
spiced to its finest — 24-7.
Last Tuesday, the group opened for
Jane’s Addiction at Memorial Hall. The
set was jumpin’ the whole time the Spyz
were on stage. Movin’ the crowd like
Eric B. & Rakim, the four masters of jam
blasted out some of the best amplified
work ever down in those old-style walls.
It was a symbol of the new age invading
pDecmts
810152
mti;;
TICIMrrS
-fon. MOM
» 0 bouw»*»MMC grtMMnr*
• CAU. • •
the new.
The Spyz don’t play possum with
their beliefs as is evident in lines like:
“Niggers, crackers, ‘Spies and Jews/
Words the Devil likes to use/ Hate is
gonna slit your throat/ hold your ground
don’t be abused.” Words like these get
across their philosophy of racial har
mony without demeaning their house
rockin’ party ideal.
While flexing on most tunes, they do
some artistic range on tracks like “We’ll
Have Power” and “We Got A Date”
adding another dimension to an other
wise thrashing style.
If you’re already a Spyz fan and
happened to miss the concert, don’t
worry. Around spring time, the group
will be back around the area, so keep
your ears and eyes open. In the mean-
time, remember: Spyz is dope.
IWLriti
NIGHT
Shakespeaie’s
Classic
Comedy
M/tniib«r /i
IHMil
l«um(N!r 1
IhiKv tun.
Vll' |IWI
MitL /MIIIIM!e
A'Kj |Nfl
ItihM
ttfthuel
III ilHJt
kllUIIMlHlI
I,III HJ U4I
IMPCin4VI»nA6E'l*YfHMn-i^ Ulnr>linr.
usro Boots, LPS fcTAPES
CAUMM6
?s>
2s
CARRBORO
On November 19,
Get Some
for a Buck
f/i//'t,n /(m/ntA it/ii/ /(•'/
UNC is having its first mini Jazz
festival. Hear Fred Holmes at 12
in the Pit, Jerry Smith at 5 in
Lenoir. Group Sax will play at 9
in Great Hall, 81 for students, $2
for the public.