Show Preview: Uptowne Buddha
The Overhang
Friday, March 28, 2014
By Alexa Smith, Staff Writer
Sometimes listening to music is more than just an action, it’s an experience, one in which music is not only heard, but seen, felt and even sometimes smelled depending on how hard it’s being played. Uptowne Buddha, the “One & Only,” is notorious for its ability in making shows a fully immersive event.
An eight-piece set equipped with horns, rhythm and style, Uptowne is back to wreak havoc in Athens this Friday at The Overhang (and also at 18 ½ Palmer on Saturday if you miss them the first go around)… FO’ FREE!
Uptowne Buddha began as the high school project of Emcee Vance Coles and guitarist Sam Terkel. Over the years, the other members melted into the framework creating the funk engine that it is today.
“It’s definitely met and exceeded any expectations, because it sounds so good and I’m so happy with the way that it sounds. I think it’s really amazing that we’ve compiled the group of musicians that we have. So I think that in the best possible way, we’ve built a monster,” said Terkel.
“Frankenstein. Sometimes I still can’t really believe it. When you want something and you picture it and you’re looking at it and you’re like that’s what my goal is, that’s what I want to have, Uptowne Buddha is exactly what I pictured. I wanted the whole band, the horns and that’s exactly what happened,” said Coles.
Since they have achieved their ultimate goal, and although there is always room to grow, now it’s time to have some fun. The good times are never lacking with the Buddha. Its hip-hop neo soul funk sound has feel, it’s impossible not to acknowledge, especially when you feel the burn in your thighs the next day.
“I feel like everything I write in a song has a purpose so whether it’s me rapping or me singing, there’s a direct correlation with the feel of the song and what I’m saying.,” said Coles.
“We are comprised of such a fusion that we it really leaves us open to doing things where it doesn’t need to only be just hip hop, we can have a song that there can be a little more spittin’ and even in that same song, a little bit of singing. Really just serving the music,” said Terkel.
The moving, grooving, very alive monster the boys of Buddha have created draws in those of all music tastes. The emcee rapping of Vance Coles brings in the hip hop crowd, the guitar riffs of Terkel and the bass end of Matt Urminski (who will not be playing Friday and will be substituted with friend of UpTB, Dylan Waters) cover the soul, the Abstract Horns of Frank Walton (trumpet, synth) and Jevaughn “JB” Bogard (tenor sax) bring the funk and no one knows how to jam and make noise more than Derrick “CooleyHigh” Cooley on drums, Greg Robinson on percussion and vocals, and David “DP” Pritchett on keys. The boys will give you exactly what you came for.
“I feel like our shows vary depending on the time and place, and on the venue and the crowd. And the crowd that comes is very diverse, so you never know what you’re going to get,” said Coles.
In the song “Immaletchukno” they assure that “You know we on another fuckin’ level, never fuckin’ settle, so damn hot we be chillin’ with the devil.” Don’t question it, go witness it.
