Free First Friday Concert feat. Hazy Ray, The Scorseses, Electric Attitude & Daniel Gonzales Band

HAZY RAY

The story of Hazy Ray started with the half jazz-half soul, alternative compositions of singer/songwriter Joshua Ray. Adding trombone phenom, Mike Hayes, to the mix not only yielded a name for the project, but also injected a strong blues element that was previously a rare occurrence in Ray’s music. The blues was a surprise to Ray much like Mike’s energetic and addictive stage presence. In April of 2011, Hayes and Ray were joined by adding “Flecktone”-inspired double-bassist, Mitch Curtis. This influence is undoubtedly the source of the unison line transitions and runs found in the band’s new tunes “Stay and Fight” and “My Song”. After adding Curtis, Hazy Ray began a rampage of 30 live performances in 40 days, which started in New Orleans, Louisiana and concluded by recording their first album, “Deep and Shallow”, at Wire Roads Studios in Houston, Texas. During that process, guitarist Ryan Noormohamed came in to the mix; laying down shredding solos on “Deep and Shallow” and “Rainy Day”. “It is rare that you meet a musician who wants to be part of a group project AND has no limits.” said Josh Ray of Ryan. At the conclusion of the recording process, drummer Saint John Wesley took a leave of absence and Houston native Willie McCullen would take his place. McCullen brings the perfect percussive match to Ray’s writing style with a seemingly unlimited bag of chops that will turn any drummer’s head. At the end of 2011, the band relocated to New Orleans and with them took Willie McCullen. Hazy Ray has begun its viral spread through Louisiana by landing on bills with singer/song-writer John Lefler of Dashboard Confessional, Everclear, and Grammy award winning Rapper/Actor Ludacris. After releasing “Deep and Shallow” in the spring of 2012, Hazy Ray continued to play regular live shows in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houston, and College Station. The 2012 summer revealed a need for expansion of the group’s operation, Alabama and Tennessee answered that call. Hazy Ray has now added Nashville to its list of regular cities and with two tours in line for 2013, Hazy Ray is excited to get out and play music to the masses.

Hazy Ray on Facebook | Hazy Ray on Twitter | Official Website

THE SCORSESES

Hailing from New Orleans, LA, The Scorseses is an eight piece high-energy, horn driven progressive rock band with a subtle punk/ska twist and New Orleans funk undertone. After releasing their first full-length album “Magnumopus” in September 2013 on the main stage at House of Blues New Orleans to 550 people, they also performed at Voodoo Experience for the first time in November 2013.



In 2011, The Scorseses were recognized as the “Best Band Reinventing Their Game” by the Best of the Big Easy Awards for Where Y’at Magazine. Over the past four years, The Scorseses have toured the Southeast United States extensively performing festivals both large and small, along with a wide variety of venues from Florida to Texas and have performed with many great local and touring bands including Fishbone, The Expendables, Brownout, Rebirth Brass Band, Fortunate Youth, RX Bandits and The Revivalists. In 2014, The Scorseses are currently planning tour dates with The Expendables, The Bastard Suns and with H.R. (Bad Brains) on the DIA Global Rock Showcase Tour. They were selected to perform at the French Quarter Festival, Gulfport Music Festival and Houston Beer Festival this year, and will also be part of the HumidCity Artist’s POV Series in conjunction with Google Glass.

The Scorseses on Facebook | The Scorseses on Twitter | Official Website

ELECTRIC ATTITUDE

Only a city as eclectic as Houston, Texas, could generate a band as unique as Electric Attitude, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Houston Press Music Award winners for “Best Soul/Funk/R&B” act. Blake Shepard, Kwesi Sackey, and Jordan Bell formed the nucleus of the band in the summer of 2008, and as the thousands who have seen them perform since that time can testify, EA have the power to liven up any audience and turn any room into a dance-floor. Newcomers often walk away from EA shows as fans, and are left with the feeling that they’ve attended a great party. As Kwesi says, “Our goal is to make music that makes you feel good and sexy, and also makes you shake what you got!”

Unwilling to limit themselves creatively or be musically stereotyped, the members of Electric Attitude draw upon diverse influences including rock, blues, funk, soul, and disco, and fuse them into a new and exciting sonic mix. Jordan’s rhythmic, rocking guitar riffs spiral around Kwesi’s thick, danceable bass lines, while front-man Blake’s soulful and sultry vocals find the happy medium between Mick Jagger and Jack White.

With drummer Michael Hatter and James Murphy on saxophone, the energetic group maintains a schedule as relentless as their beats, and their commitment to putting everything they have into their performances has solidified their reputation as one of the tightest, most accomplished live acts in the city. In 2010, Electric Attitude garnered a lot of attention and strong reviews as they branched out to the Midwest on a 12-date “Breakdown and Shake Tour” in support of their popular 2009 EP, Laser Laser Laser Beams.

Electric Attitude have consistently added to their experience via double-bills with such high-caliber national and international acts as Bonobo, Dengue Fever, The Pharcyde, The Bright Light Social Hour, Galactic, Octopus Project, and Semi Precious Weapons (fresh off a sold-out tour with Lady Gaga). 2011 found the band winning their first Houston Press Music Award and playing to a packed house as the opener for 100 Monkeys on the Main Stage of House of Blues – Houston. EA kept the momentum rolling into 2012, further expanding their sound with the addition of Matthew Hartnett on trombone and Stephen Forse on trumpet, and taking home another trophy for “Best Soul/Funk/R&B” act.

Inspired by experiments with bass effects pedals and electronic instruments, specifically the EWI (Electronic Woodwind Instrument), Electric Attitude took to The Womb in Austin, Texas, to create new studio sounds for 2013. Fans who have been awaiting new recorded material are now being rewarded with the release of EA’s first full-length album, Skintight & Solid Gold, on the new Houston label, GR8-Heights Records. “With this album,” Blake says, “we are pushing beyond Laser Laser Laser Beams, adding horns and taking our music to the next level.”

Where will the days ahead lead Electric Attitude? For a group that thrives on the positive vibes of enthusiastic crowds and finds equal excitement in the recording studio, the future holds a million golden possibilities. For now, pick up Skintight & Solid Gold at your favorite record shop—or catch EA live—and get in on one of the best parties Houston has to offer.

Electric Attitude on Facebook | Electric Attitude on Twitter | Official Website

DANIEL GONZALES

Daniel Gonzales is a singer/songwriter out of Dallas, TX currently living in College Station performing with his full band this night.

Daniel Gonzales on Facebook