Boombazi set to liven Frequency

Organizers choose band for its unique fusion of musical genres

By Erin McNamara

Posted on Dec. 08, 2005, at 12:00 a.m.

This semester’s final installment of The Frequency presents Portland-based funk band Boombazi, tonight at 8 p.m.

The Frequency has provided musical acts for the student body, free of charge, every other Thursday night. Other acts that have performed at The Frequency this semester include Portland-based Headstart! and The Arcolytes.

Frequency coordinator Randy Lautz discovered Boombazi while searching for original, unusual local music for his radio show “Moonshine” on WMEB. He was immediately taken by Boombazi’s unique sound, and in addition to spreading them over the airwaves, went ahead and booked the show for tonight.

The band’s individuality was one of the main aspects that piqued Lautz’s interest. He was excited about the band’s style.

“It’s a different sound than what’s coming out of this state,” Lautz said, encouraging students to check out the show for the sake of variety.

Boombazi has a funk-rock-reggae-rap style that cannot be summed up by those four words just strung together. Samples of their songs sound like a mish-mash of Jimmi Hendrix, Bob Marley and the Sugar Hill Gang, with a jazz ensemble backing them. Their eclectic list of influences include everything from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Miles Davis.

If that’s not intriguing enough, think of this – this band represents a genre other than hardcore in this state. Successful non-hardcore or metal groups are tough to come by in Maine, outside the country cover band circuit, and Boombazi’s success has had thus far – already having released a full-length album, “The Uncertainty Principle,” in 2003 – points to a promising career.

For more information visit Boombazi’s MySpace Web site (www.myspace.com/boombazi).

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