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MP3 The Freemartins - The Prime Directive is the Groove
Radio-ready rock with a fabulous funk groove.
12 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Funk Rock, ROCK: Modern Rock
Details:
THE FREEMARTINS
Hailing from Portland, Oregon
A slick, sophisticated blend of ROCK and FUNK presented with a modern/pop-savvy twist!ยก!
skipp milne: singer
tobe anderson: guitarist
steve valente: drummer
''e'' {funk} luvaas: bass
regis bristol: vocals
The Freemartins'' initial genesis occurred in the fall of 1998. Their former incarnation, Tilting at Windmills, had built them up quite a local fan base.
Tilting at Windmills still have not been forgotten by those who seek, in the words of jazz legend Mel Brown, to "Keep live music alive in Portland."
Tilting at Windmills marked the beginnings of the Freemartins'' sound. They were a seven-piece outfit with lead and rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, sax and trumpet.
Their sound has been described, essentially, as polished and yet fiercely powerful funk with hard-edged guitars, whose songs more or less followed the rock-and-roll formula while still managing to experiment with multiple genres at once.
Thus, they managed to cross and blur many lines.
Comparisons were made by many fans on the order of Frankenstein crossbreeds like "The Eagles meet the Bosstones", with a generous dose of Ween and Frank Zappa thrown into the mix. But as always, such comparisons demonstrate that Tobe and Skipp have their finger on the pulse of a sound and a drive which is all their own.
"The Prime Directive is the Groove", reads their credo, which is a backwards-and-forwards philosophy that can be explained... but is much better
experienced.
So in the fall of 1998, every member except Tobe and Skipp bowed out due to "external pressure". It is a long-standing observation from many successful bands that you just have to find people who are willing to consistently
buckle down and do the work. Tobe and Skipp began writing new songs, and auditioning drummers and bass players.
As always, they found the diamonds in the gravel pit...
SKIPP MILNE,
twenty-seven years of age, began studying percussion in many forms at age twelve. From there it was a short hop for his virtuoso instincts to tackle vocals, keyboards, guitars and finally composition, in that order. Skipp demonstrates the work ethic and resulting sense of humor common to tough, talented artists who avoid falling through the cracks:"Just remember" he states
"all the stupid jobs that pay the bills also supply you with a wealth of
stupid experience."
While that may be the case.. the storms of the start-up phase are only weathered by the kind of hell-bent, bright, articulate promotional and creative savvy that have brought Skipp to become the mouthpiece, in more ways than one, for the Freemartins. The dream Skipp and Tobe have shared for one previous incarnation is now reborn, and proving to be much greater than the sum of its parts.
TOBE "NEO" ANDERSON
"This is almost as fun as when I got my head stuck in the towel rack at the Satyricon"
Twenty-four-year-old Tobe Anderson functions as co-front-man/guitarist of the Freemartins. Tobe complements Skipp''s side of conducting this orchestra
of funksmanship with his promotional savvy, unbelievable live energy, and ferocious sense of humor. Tobe''s kind of drive and spirit are a must for any band. However, he and Skipp have made their persistence of vision a hallmark of success.
Tobe rattles off a list of seemingly disparate influences, from Steve Vai to Isaac Hayes, from Soul Coughing to Jimi Hendrix ...to the Freemartins'' unanimously beloved Parliament Funkadelic and Frank Zappa. Their role models are all hard-working performers who have managed to stand the test of criticism and achieve legend...without taking themselves too seriously. That''s exactly the kind of musician Tobe is, and it shines throughout the Freemartins'' entire body of work.
E-FUNK
daaaaamn right.....
Straight outta the southwest SIYYYDE of Portland, twenty-one-year-old Erik Luvaas proves that age ain''t nothin but a number under the Prime Directive. Erik is a self-taught bassist with roughly six years to his credit, having
survived Grunge and managed to come out the other side with a great deal of actual talent (more than many from that flash in the pan can say.)
The original grunge musician, Jimi Hendrix, is E-Funk''s primary musical role model. His first band, Piso Mojado, was a showcase of like-minded serious musicians from Wilson and Lincoln High Schools on the west side of Portland, far outstripping their age group in terms of musical literacy and energy of performance.
But after high school, the obvious separation occurred, and E-Funk was on his own....until very recently receiving the Freemartins'' distress call on subspace radio.
And from there, it was nuttin but a thang....
REGIS BRISTOL
The early life of Regis Bristol is shrouded in secrecy. Sources state that he grew up steeped in the fine tradition of Gospel music in Omaha, Nebraska. His musical influences are rich and varied; from Gospel to Jimi Hendrix, Black
Sabbath, electronica and rap. Regis attended Wayne State College in Omaha studying music and radio. And it was there at school that a promising career in basketball and jai alai was cut short by a number of injuries. At that time, Regis demonstrated the musicianship common to the Freemartins by taking this seeming tragedy and turning it to the good: concentrating on developing his vocal skills as he never had before.
Regis credits God Almighty and his parents for his talent, and brings the range and energy of all his influence and experience behind the Freemartins'' microphones. As the
Freemartins have said previously, "Through it all, the main man is laid back.. and In It To Win It."
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