Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
July 3, 2008 issue
Wilmington Groove Masters Sci Fi Hosts CD Release Party at Flipside July 12
Story by David Brewer
For only a three-piece band, Wilmington’s Sci Fi can pump out big grooves that seamlessly incorporate jazz, funk, break-beat, dub reggae and trance into down-tempo dance masterpieces. On Saturday, July 12, the band will host a CD release party for their debut disc at Flipside in Boone. The show begins at 10:30 p.m.
Sci-Fi consists of Tyler Simmons on keyboards, Tim Philpott on bass and Justin Heter on drums and percussion. Ignoring musical boundaries, the versatility of the band allows the trio to design sets that can work in a number of venues. From live music halls to house parties to jazz restaurants, Sci Fi’s versatility is their biggest strength.
Recorded at Earth One Studios in Atlanta with producer Alex Ginz, Sci Fi features 13 original songs that attest to the band’s diversity. Compositionally, the songs on the disc flow with an effortless cohesiveness that keeps the listener from skipping through the tracks. Sci Fi’s ability to meld different styles while retaining their musical identity provides a grounded approach to traversing vast musical soundscapes.
In addition to the core members of the band, Sci Fi features the vocal talents of former High Country resident Laura Reed, guitarist Benjamin Forehand and sax work by Yo Momma’s Big Fat Booty Band member Greg Hollowell.
While the band’s debut disc is in many ways tied to their live show, Sci Fi relies heavily on being in the moment to provide fuel for their highly improvisational styles. Through their dance floor-packing live shows, the members have a truly symbiotic relationship with fans, exchanging energy and feeding off one another during the live experience.
Sci Fi has shared the stage with a number of stellar artists including Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Brother’s Past, Benny Hill, Bobby Russell, the DJ Williams Projekt, Dubconscious, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Barefoot Manner, The Bridge and The Bomb Squad. In addition to dates all over the East Coast, the band will appear at FloydFest and Camp Bisco.
Asheville band Modo will open the show at Flipside.
To hear music from Sci Fi, click to www.myspace.com/scifimusic.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, July 12
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Location: Flipside
Cost: $5