The Fuzz Band. Photo by Sherry Boylan
By Jerome Langston
“Fuzz Band potential is like D’Angelo…because of the talent, all of you together is so remarkable.” ~ Jerome Langston, VEER magazine music critic, during a conversation with the band.
The Fuzz Band is like a family. Bands are often referred to as such―a family, to the point that it has become a clichéd sentiment over the decades, but in the case of Hampton’s own, The Fuzz Band, it is quite simply the truth. It is also the truth that I’ve grown to regard the group as my artistic brothers and sisters of sorts. We’ve “been together” since the Port Folio days, and so, getting to interview them is always a pleasure, but challenging as well to capture something that’s particularly new for the reader. Because I know so much ish about them, deciding what to share publicly, is always a fun challenge.
“We are going to put out an album this year,” confidently states Duane Smith, band leader and trumpeter, during my interview with the band earlier this month, at their Queens Way rehearsal space/office/arts studio. Fuzz heads around the world have been waiting for the group’s humble leader to finally say as much. The band hasn’t put out an official album since 2008’s EP, Change. And what’s even more interesting is that the proclamation comes after an elongated explanation from Smith, detailing why it’s been so long since the public has heard new Fuzz Band music. “It’s a matter of finding the time,” he says, finally.
The band, which celebrates its 16th year of existence this year, is in intense rehearsals for its upcoming headlining concert date at Hampton’s regal American Theatre, as part of the now popular VEER Music Award series. It is their first time even performing at the venue, much less headlining their own show there. “I feel honored, especially due to the fact that this particular theatre has had some of my favorite artists who I wouldn’t expect to see in this area,” Duane states. He then mentions seeing the sexy jazz chanteuse, Gretchen Parlato, as well as legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis, there.
“The band basically developed out of Hampton…it’s good to be full circle, doing almost like a homecoming concert in a way, though we haven’t left…”the Hampton University graduate notes. The group, for a myriad of reasons, rarely plays the Peninsula, in spite of their Hampton roots. That fact has not impacted their absolute ubiquity here on the Southside though, having recently performing as part of the buzzed about Artistree Festival here in Norfolk, as well as playing the NorVa multiple times last year. And the band, which currently consists of the aforementioned Duane, lead vocalists Nakia Madry-Smith, Michon David and K’bana Blaq, musical director Tavis Simmons, guitarist Aaron Benjamin Eaddy, bass player Percy Thomas III, drummer Jason Jenifer, and percussionist Kevin Brown, are enjoying some of their highest local public visibility in years. They have also won a bunch of VEER Local Music Awards, for the actual Fuzz Band, as well as its two high profile off-shoot acts, K’bana Blaq aka The Traprock Misfit and Rocky 7, formally known as D*Nik. I ask Nakia, who always seems to embody the afro-punk aesthetic visually and otherwise, what lead to her group’s name change. She is of course the Nik in D*Nik, which is still a production duo.
“Rocky is my absolute favorite movie of all time,” she says. “It’s about an American dream and no matter how old you get, you still have an opportunity out there to change your life.” The PK (preacher’s kid) barely finishes her sentence, before K’bana and I are elevating her words to those found in ministry and The Gospels, quietly shouting “let it preach” and “amen.” Rocky 7, by the way, also intends to release new music this year.
“It’s a lot of clowns in the band…there are a lot of stories to tell,” Jason says with a smirk, responding to my question regarding what he’s looking forward to most, about the American Theatre concert. For Michon, who is definitely winning right now with her 2Pac tee, the chance to play a full concert for their fans makes this show special enough.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to entertain from the standpoint of it being all of our original music and not having to do this or that cover…” David explains. “The show is going to be out of the box…it’s not going to be like coming to a Fuzzy Wednesday event,” adds keyboardist Tavis.
Speaking of Fuzzy Wednesday’s, their long running open mic showcase, it is on hiatus for a bit, in part to give them time to focus on conceptualizing and recording the new album. And for my favorite iconoclast, K’bana Blaq, that suits him just fine. He’s busy anyway, preparing for the February release of his new album, Blaq Magic. I ask him what he’s looking forward to presenting artistically, for their theatre show.
“I would like the community to come into the American Theatre…treat it like an exhibit, get to see different pieces of our history,” he says. “I really want people to see a museum.” Not that the band though, whose members still range in age from twenties to thirties, should be considered old ass veterans. Cause as Blaq will say later, “The Fuzz Band is forever young.”
The Fuzz Band
January 24
American Theatre
8:00 PM
757-722-2787
