In his 1970 Playboy Interview, Ray Charles described soul as “people who do things from the heart.” In performance and on record, it is undeniable that JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are 100% soul. Like Otis Redding fronting the Stooges, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound get crowds twisting and writhing on the floor, something thatʼs been sorely missing from live music.
Brooks erupts with heart and raw emotion, harnessing the Uptown Soundʼs post-punk reimagining of JBʼs moves and MGʼs grooves to unleash pure and uncompromising soul music ranging from sweaty on-the-one workouts, dance-punk booty shakers, garage rock thump humps, and aching R&B ballads without a missed step in between. JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are not just another throwback group; they came to be during an age of war, envisioning an aggressive dance music with lyrics that dig deeper and hit harder than the usual “baby, baby” fare.
Born in the great melting pot of Chicagoʼs Uptown neighborhood in 2007, guitarist Billy Bungeroth, drummer Kevin Marks, and bassist Ben Taylor (Beat Down Sound/September Sessions soundtrack) joined forces with keyboardist Andy Rosenstein to lay a ferocious foundation for the soulful shouts of Mr. JC Brooks. The son of a Jersey funk diva set adrift by the disco era, heʼs renowned for his take-no-prisoners stage style, giving you no other option than to get up and move!
Since leaving audiences awestruck on the Numero Groupʼs critically acclaimed Eccentric Soul Revue tour in 2009, they keep pushing forward, following up their explosive debut Beat of Our Own Drum (Vampisoul/Rabbit Factory) with the relentless new Get It Together single (featuring a stomping cover of Wilcoʼs “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”). Featured prominently on MOJO Magazine May 2010 “Heavy Soul” CD, theyʼve collaborated with greats like Syl Johnson, Tortoiseʼs Dan Bitney, lost soul legend Renaldo Domino, and the Impressionsʼ Nate Evans, cut live sessions for influential indie stations WFMU and KDHX, racked up rave reviews throughout Europe, and been lauded by the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, TimeOut, and Chicago Sun-Times. Armed with a full slate of North American and European dates, these intense young soul stirrers are bringing it to your door, ready to tour, score, and not be ignored.
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are for the people remaining awake through a great revolution… for people who want to move and not just sit tight… for soul people! Guaranteed to make you dance by any means necessary, JC Brooks is the new sound of Chicago. Guaranteed to make you dance by any means necessary, JC Brooks is the new sound of Chicago.
I like it!!!!
looks great guys!
Hottest stuff out right now. A+
Just caught the remake of “I am trying to break your heart” on boingboing. Being a longtime Wilco fanatic, I gotta say that this version is FREAKING GENIUS.
Let us know when you’re playing Toronto, Canada. We’re there.
Seriously in love with you guys. Needed a band like this for so long!!! Please get so popular that you can get outside of the US on tour, then come throw us a party. Love love love it!!!
Seriously in love with you guys. Needed a band like this for so long!!! Please get so popular that you can get outside of the US on tour, then come throw us a party. Love love love it!!!
+1
waiting for a swing thru Boston guys… caught you at SolidSound last summer.
I was at the Detroit show..one of the girls up front dancing my BUTT off. Everyone in our group (of 20) really enjoyed your performance. You had us all getting DOWN. Thanks for putting on such a great show and we hope to see you again SOON!!!
Just caught you at Lola’s and was seriously blown away! Buying the CD asap! Sweet Sexy Soul, dig it.
[...] Check out their blog on WordPress to hear a few sample tracks and get some background on the band who is currently on tour. JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound on WordPress [...]