UB Students Get Funky at Broadway Joe's

Create a set list of skilled turntablists and a jazz/groove trio, and the results are good times and a crowd that dances until the last call at the bar. This was the case last Friday at Broadway Joe's, when the four-man DJ crew Dank Funk and groove band Philly B-Eats played to a packed crowd.

"We try to promote the underground music scene in Buffalo and the bars that support these kind of events," said Robert Karp, Dank Funk's host and promoter, and a senior media studies major at UB.

Karp isn't the only UB student involved with Dank Funk. Nate Gibson, a junior exercise science major, is DJ Greene. Aside from spinning, Greene also handles most of Dank Funk's business and booking. But it's also a family operation: his brother Ben, a fifth year student in the School of Pharmacy, is their bouncer. The other DJ is Anubus, although at UB he is known as Brad Piersons, a junior studio art major.

The snowy, windy, single-digit temperature notwithstanding, Friday's show lured many of the artists' fans together with a sizable UB population. DJ Greene and Anubus played an energetic set, moving back and forth between four turntables, mixing hip-hop, funk and voice samples.

One hour into the set at 1 a.m., there was no doubt that Dank Funk brought the right vibe to Broadway Joe's; it's one of the group's favorite venues.

"Broadway Joe's has a great atmosphere," said Karp. "It is such a great alternative to some of the bars around here and more people should know that."

For Karp, the appeal of Broadway Joe's is its variety. The bar was the breeding ground for renowned Buffalo jam band moe, as well as Baby Steps, Buffalo's Thursday night hip-hop institution. Such diversity was present by the music played by DJ Cable and MC Valiant, who spun old school hip-hop, trance and drum and bass between sets.

Philly B-Eats rounded out the energetic evening, covering a range of groove and funk, such as Soulive, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock. Representing his eclectic turntable skills, Anubus joined Philly B-Eats on stage for the Herbie Hancock cover.

Currently, Dank Funk is dedicated to playing and promoting their music. With an effective promoter like Karp and skilled spinning by DJ Green and Anubus, Dank Funk has the potential to develop a solid reputation in the area. Their next show is planned for March 7 at Broadway Joe's.