Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 22, 2007 issue
Solos Unit Promotes Debut CD at Murphy’s Saturday, February 24
Story by David Brewer
If you believe the old adage that the best things come to those who wait, then you will have no problem understanding why it took Winston-Salem’s Solos Unit more than a year and a half to record and release their debut CD, Electric City.
The band will undoubtedly be touting the new disc when they return to the stage at Murphy’s this Saturday, February 24, at 10:30 p.m.
During the last three years, local live music fans became well acquainted with the Solos Unit’s relentlessly grooving live shows. If bands that play intense and exploding rock music thought they cornered the market on tension and release dynamics, a quick listen to the tight-knit quintet ought to quickly convert any non-believers regarding the power of live hip-hop, r&b and soul.
Though the band has been leveling audiences all over North Carolina with their live-band-meets-mic-smoking-MCs, the members of the Solos Unit wanted to make absolutely certain that their live energy translated into tracks that would not only make heads bob, but also would leap out of the speakers and demand the attention of the listener.
“We worked long and hard getting the tracking done,” said Solos keyboardist and mastermind Bill Stevens, a.k.a. $Bill. “We didn’t go the route of highly produced computer music and the outcome is something that is much more organic and natural.”
With the majority of the disc tracked live at Ovation Sound Studios by engineer and co-producer Evan Richey, Electric City teems with funky and original melodic textures of jazz, hip-hop and neo-soul. The solid musical package is rounded out by the intelligent, informed and optimistic lyrics and by MCs Renaissance and Mr. Mo’Halyn.
‘It’s been a long time coming and it feels good to have a product out with this group,” said Renaissance. “This album is the missing piece that we’ve been waiting for to present ourselves to the next level.”
In addition to Stevens, Renaissance and Mo’Halyn, the core of the Solos Unit includes guitarist Joey C-Note, a.k.a. Joe Hundertmark and bassist X-Ray, a.k.a. John Ray.
Though the Solos Unit has always employed a variety of more-than-capable drummers to keep a steady groove, several guests figured prominently in the recording of Electric City. In addition to drummers Shirazette Tinnen, Iajhi and Ivan Hampden, the band also welcomed famed bassist Oteil Burbridge and Brotherhood of Groove’s Jeff Vidal on saxophone.
Perhaps what aided the band the most during their first three years together has been their weekly Monday night gig at Winston-Salem venue Rubber Soul. Much more than just a secure source of income, Rubber Soul has served as a musical boot camp for the members of the Solos Unit to polish their lively show and sound to a fine sheen.
“It’s really like a breeding ground for new materials,” said Renaissance. “The interaction between us has become an instrument.”
Perhaps the greatest asset of Electric City is the disc’s ability to challenge the listener on different levels. The musical compositions certainly echo the North Carolina School of the Arts training of several members, while the lyrical content never strays into senseless or shallow commercial territory. And though the lyrics are never far from the picture, the band’s instrumental chops are given more than a small share of the spotlight.
“It’s all about the unit and the groove, not the individual members,” said Stevens. “You can have a dynamic hip-hop tune. It doesn’t have to sound repetitive.”
Now that the disc has been released, the members of the Solos Unit are ready to do what they do best in front of as many fans as possible.
“We want to get on the road and play for people so they can hear the music,” said Stevens. “We’re willing to make whatever sacrifices it takes to make this work. We’re going to take full advantage of the fact that we’re in a band that we love.”
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, February 24
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Location: Murphy’s
Cost: $5