Free MP3 + Artist Profile: The Budos Band

Free MP3 + Artist Profile: The Budos Band

Instrumental ten-piece The Budos Band are one of the funkiest propositions going today. Signed to the mighty Brooklyn-based Daptone imprint, The Budos Band’s music is rooted in Afro-beat and spiced with undercurrents of soul, funk and rock. As baritone saxophonist Jared Tankel explains in this EXCLUSIVE interview, the group’s latest full-length, The Budos Band III, was realized at Daptone’s House of Soul Studios in just 48 hours.

The Budos Band – Unbroken Unshaven

The band hails from Staten Island, NY, which is often referred to as New York’s “forgotten borough.” How does living in Shaolin affect the band’s music? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in S.I.?

Jared Tankel: By being based out in Staten Island, the hipness factor of Brooklyn and Manhattan isn’t in our face. We’re not so concerned with that stuff; we want to just focus on being true to ourselves and music we want to make. We don’t have to be part of some scene. We can just cram into a smelly studio on a dead-end street in Stapleton and no one bothers us. The only disadvantage would be the drives to and from gigs, but honestly that’s all part of the fun and adventure.

The Budos Band III is a pretty epic album, especially considering how it was recorded in a 48-hour period in January. What led the band to crank this one out in such a short period of time?

We were ready. We came into the studio with laser beam focus and just attacked the process. We wrote this album over the course of two years and had been playing some of the songs for a long time so we were anxious to get it to tape. We are so used to playing together live that when it comes to recording it’s no different. We all knew what we wanted to achieve and we came in and conquered.

How did the overall writing process compare with your previous releases? How difficult is it for ten people to work together and agree on the songs?

At this point, we work together extremely well. It was a more collective process this time around. We aren’t shy with one another and will offer (constructive) criticism openly and willingly. Since we played a lot of these songs live, we were able to iron out the arrangements and figure out what parts did and didn’t work so well. Everyone is involved in this process and we take pride in the cohesion that surrounds this group.

Bosco Mann and TNT produced the album at Daptone’s House of Soul Studios in Brooklyn, NY. What’s it like to record at an old-school studio famous for its attention to sonic detail?

It’s great. And honestly, at this point, we wouldn’t want it to be anything but that. We have no interest in going to a studio with the “latest amazing technology.” Cutting edge technology can leave a wound that destroys good music. We play live and Bosco sits behind the board and evokes the best possible performance out of us and then turns the magic purple knob and everything sounds amazing. I think on the first album we all came in there a bit nervous, but now it’s really comfortable.

“Budos Dirge” is a really wicked track. Any special story behind how that one came about?

Doom metal has reared its head as an influence in the Budos Band. I think this track exemplifies the trend.

“Reppirt Yad” has a wonderful psychedelic edge thanks to the combination of phased guitars, funky horns and eerie keys. How did this bit of psychedelia find its way onto the new album?

We just had to take it there. We put a lot of thought into what the cover song would be on this album. And when we finally decided to take on Lennon and McCartney we knew we had to do something special. Bosco suggested we take the song at half speed and once he made that suggestion it all sort of fell into place. Guitarist Tommy TNT Brenneck got to bust out his fuzz pedal on this one, and we added our first vocals ever to a Budos album. I think we all wanted to do something psychedelic and this gave us the opportunity.

The new album arrives after 150+ live dates in the last two years. What is the live show like these days?

It’s a non-stop intense rock experience. Fuzz guitars, heavy percussion, an assault on the senses.

The band has been touring since June. What does the rest of the year hold for The Budos Band?

We leave in two days for a three-week tour. We’re staging a Budos takeover. We’ll hit Hawaii on Halloween. Alaska, watch out. We’ll probably get back to writing in the fall and prepare for Budos IV.

Best pizzeria in S.I.: Denino’s or Joe & Pat’s?

That’s a tough one. It’s hard to find a bad slice on S.I. Joe & Pat’s on Friday. Denino’s on Saturday.