At times it becomes a bit difficult to clearly and effectively decipher one funk jam band from another. Whether it's the unremitting emphasis on the backbeat, the steady pulsations or the infectiously warm vibes, funk bands tend to sound a lot alike.
This is not the case with Revision, a new jam act from Ithaca, whose name continues to surface, earning recognition as a quality up-and-coming rock and funk-fusion band.
"Sometimes we say funk rock, sometimes we say shake-your-booty music; hopefully people call it good music," says Revision guitarist and front man Nick Bullock. Nowadays, the large number of bands realistically labeled as funk, or jazz-funk fusion has left some listeners suspicious.
This Thursday, Revision will be making their first appearance in Buffalo at McGarrett's, located at 946 Elmwood Ave.
Unlike five years ago, when the majority of bands on the jam circuit were spin-offs of the same sound, today's labeled funk band encompasses much more. Simple wah-wah peddle-infused guitars, generic slap bass and syncopated beats used to represent the genre, but instead a range of influences collides for a new sound.
What sets Revision apart from other bands is their tasty knack for finding a groove and being able to elaborate on it. They can explore dimensions of improvisation, but they can also keep a groove and use it for all it's worth.
"I think what separates us is our no-noodle nonsense," he says. "A lot of bands go up there and jam on two chords for fifteen minutes and call themselves a jam band. We try to stay away from the noodles."
In the two-and-a-half years since forming in Ithaca, they've already become a steady draw for venues throughout the state, as well as released the self-produced album "Broken Art."
"We wear our hearts on our sleeves when we play. There is a sense of having a lot of fun when we play together, which some bands forget after they've been touring a lot," he says. With compassion and intensity at the forefront, these four guys fuse their various tastes and thrive off the product they produce. The band persona is still fresh and alive in their eyes.
For Revision, they're still feeling the growing pains of being a young, live touring band. "It is all one big learning experience, everything from how we play after five nights of playing in a row, to what we do during the down time," says Bullock.
The show at McGarett's is for those 21 years old and older, and tickets will cost $3 at the door. As is the case at every Revision show, free admission is granted for those willing to record the performance and give the band a copy of the tape.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
