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Hip-hop group Dynamic (aka the Best of the Bay) makes their way to Zenbu |
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Written by Morgan Kriz/Tahoe World
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
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Labeled “One of the best hip-hop bands of the Bay,” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Dynamic will be performing at Squaw Valley’s night life lounge Zenbu Tapas Lounge, at 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 22.
Blending genres such as roots, rock and soul, just to name a few, Dynamic is inventing universal music that can no doubt be considered classic. Zenbu owner Daryl Butterfield said he feels lucky to get Dynamic up in Tahoe.
“These guys are really talented and have a great style that is going to get the people dancing. This is a live hip hop funk jazzy act. We’re talking drums, guitar, bass, Horns, keys, emcee, and sexy female vocalist. Very much like old school Brand New Heavies style. This is a show that you’re not going to want to miss.”
 Led by hip-hop drummer and lyricist Darian Gray (of OIGC, FY Carol), Dynamic journeys into the culmination of urban culture by funneling the thoughts and sentiments of every day life through the soulful stylings of vocalist Kimiko Joy (of Omega Rae, Goapelle), evolutionary keyboardist Colin Hogan (of Agua Libre, Brass Mafia), multi-faceted string extra ordinaires, bassist Tommy “Gun” Folen (of Realistic Orchestra, Destiny Wolf) and Jon Monahan (of Felonious) and brass blowing spirit, trombonist Jeanne Geiger (of Uptones, Realistic Orchestra).
Dynamic’s most notable performances have taken place in venues such as Temple Bar (Santa Monica, Calif.), Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, Calif.), Shattuck Down Low (Berkeley, Calif.), Elbo Room (San Francisco, Calif.) and Bruno’s (San Francisco, Calif.). The group has even held residency at San Francisco’s infamous Boom Boom Room. Dynamic presents the intensity that is evident in today’s society; life in an ever changing, ever evolving world.
Dynamic’s self-titled “EP,” the group’s follow-up album to “Photosynthesis,” is a sonic collage of eleven original songs like “Middle of the Madness,” “Hitch Hiking,” “Left Side Limp” and “Sucka Punch.” Dynamic’s music has the power to uplift, unite and provoke positive societal change by building a vibrant functional community.
For more information, visit www.dynamicliveband.com, or www.zenbusquawvalley.com. Tickets are $5 at the door. Here is a link to a few live cuts (kinda raw as they have not been engineered) that will give you an idea of what the band has been doing recently and how Darian and Kimiko interact on stage:
http://www.dynamicliveband.com/livemusic/09wildflowers.mp3
http://www.dynamicliveband.com/livemusic/10whateveryouneed.mp3
Tahoe World Associate Editor Morgan Kriz had the chance to interview Kimiko Joy via email last week:
Tahoe World: Has Dynamic ever performed in the Tahoe area?
Kimiko Joy: No.
TW: How long has the group been together?
KJ: In its current form with Kimiko Joy as front lady we’ve been together 3 years but the group has been together 7 years total.
TW: What is some of the history of Dynamic?
KJ: Dynamic started at Cal State East Bay as a progressive jazz quintet by Dan Parenti (amazing bass player). The drummer/mc, Darian Gray, was also in a hip-hop live band which featured 6 mc’s total, called Urban Icons. Eventually, Urban Icons and Dynamic joined forces and created Urban Dynamic. Over time, only Darian and one other mc from Urban Dynamic (Shawny Bo) remained in the group, now called Dynamic. It was this configuration that was successful at creating and releasing their first EP called “Photosynthesis.” While this was in creation, Darian was the drummer of a group called XROADS which featured Kimiko Joy on lead vocals. Dynamic featured Kimiko Joy on two tracks of Photosynthesis and slowly incorporated her into the group as vocal support at shows. When Shawny Bo left to do his solo project Kimiko Joy was in prime position to step in as lead vocals for Dynamic. The group collaborated on new material and released their self titled EP “Dynamic” as a quartet.
The sound and energy of the group attracted other musicians to be involved in the writing and performing process. The current line up of the group is: Kimiko Joy-vocals, Darian Gray-drums/mc, Colin Hogan-keys, Tommy Folen-bass, John Monohan-guitar, Jeanne Gieger-trombone and Marcus Stephens-sax.
TW: Did most of the members grow up in California?
KJ: Yes. Everyone was born and raised in the Bay except Darian Gray who was born in Memphis Tennessee.
TW: Is this everyone’s full time job … making music or are the members focused on other activities, jobs, etc.?
KJ: No. We all have other groups, jobs, family responsibilities, etc., but this is our passion and we give all we can to the group. The long term goal is to take Dynamic all over the world, to the far ends of the earth, packing stadiums, breaking music barriers, creating timeless music, and inspiring positive change to the planet.
TW: Where did the name Dynamic come from?
KJ: Dan Parenti and Darian Gray were being stoner nerds at school one day and Dan said, “Hey, let’s call the group Dynamic!” and Darian said, “Uh, okay.”
TW: Where does song inspiration come from?
KJ: It comes from anything that we are experiencing. Everyone in the group is free to bring ideas to the table and we all contribute as songs develop.
TW: How does it feel to be named “One of the Best Hip-Hop bands of the Bay”?
KJ: Awesome! There’s a lot of competition and a tremendous amount of talent in the Bay so when we were recognized in that way it was an honor.
TW: What can show goers expect?
KJ: Expect lots of passion, authenticity, high level of skill and talent, crowd participation, and BIG FUN. Dynamic brings an intensity and fire to each performance that you don’t want to miss. Does Tahoe know how to party? Let’s do this :)
TW: What do you hope people take away from your show?
KJ: A CD, T-shirt, poster, stickers and a memorable experience.
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