For once, the publicty is true. I really did walk into the 10 High in Atlanta on a rainy Tuesday night in February 2004 and see the band that pulled me back into rock.
Over the last two years, this band has become part of my family. There's not an ounce of hate in them and their shows always deliver an adrenaline rush that lasts for days.
I wrote this in about 5 minutes when we were looking for a record deal but somehow it refuses to die and now it's the Maverick Records bio:
"KEEP ROCKIN' WITH THE Family Force 5
Family Force 5 has arrived.
A phoenix rising from the ashes of the Dirty South, Family Force 5 creates a lethal mix of punk, rock, funk and mind-altering grooves that's guaranteed ghetto music straight from the heart cut with a healthy dose of fried grits.
Formed 2 years ago in Atlanta , Family Force 5 redefine Rock from the South, combining OutKast with Rage Against the Machine and the Beastie Boys with the White Stripes.
Imagine Rick James fronting the MC5 or Ronnie Van Zant as lead singer for the Gap Band. No other band mixes new wave guitars with the nasty groove that can only come after a lifetime diet of fried chicken and collard greens.
Family Force 5 features 3 blood brothers who have chosen to build their “Crunk Rock” with two friends. Solomon Olds (a/k/a Soul Glow Activator) plays guitar, sings and generally leads the charge while breakdancing. Jacob Olds (a/k/a Crouton) plays drums and shares the vocals. Joshua Olds (a/k/a Phatty) plays bass, sings and doubles as Jacob's twin brother. Nathan Currin (a/k/a Nadaddy) mans the decks and plays the keys. Derek Mount (a/k/a Chap Stique) plays guitar and often hangs from the ceiling. Family Force 5 play a set loaded with Hits of the Future: "Kountry Gentleman," "Drama Queen," "X-Girlfriend," "Earthquake" and many others are coming soon to a radio station and video music channel near you.
Family Force 5 must headline almost every gig because their fearsome reputation has spread around the South. They've blown away the likes of Alter Bridge, Velvet Revolver and the Cure as an opening band and any headliner with an ounce of sense now knows that it's fatal to follow Family Force 5. FF5 have turned down exclusive endorsements from both the Varsity and Krystal that would play their music continuously in each chain's restaurants because the band believes that EVERYBODY deserves the chance to rock their grooves, not just the customers of the finest eating establishments in the South.
Family Force 5 will come to your town and burn it down, making any rock club feel like it is Ladies' Choice at the Roller Rink.
Don't miss your chance to see, to hear, to experience the righteous crunk rock that Family Force 5 can bring to your life. See them now and say forever that you knew them when. Nu South Rising. The world will “shake like an earthquake” with Family Force 5. Peace out peeps."
(Note to the Truth Squad: While FF5 did actually open some shows for Alter Bridge, almost everything else in that paragraph is not exactly factual. But it should be.)
The band has started keeping a video diary on the road. You can see how well they've absorbed my studio lessons about the perils of the Puppet Show here:
And they're playing in Los Angeles on March 23rd at the Viper Room:
(click for larger image)
Even though the record isn't coming out on CD until May, you can buy it now at the iTunes store:
Business Up Front/Party in the Back
And tonight, I saw the epic "Luv Addict" video, the one that's gonna blow them up real good. Here's a still from the real thing:
(click for larger image)
ATL reprazent.
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