Black Party Politics

Black Party Politics, a band that hails from Los Angeles, offers an unmistakable brand of L.A. alternative/heavy rock that “converges all the colors and hues of their respective influences into a dense unmistakable and inescapable Black.” At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the band for run-of-the-mill gilded butterflies looking for nothing but radio singles—they have more glamour shots of themselves online than they have songs. But don’t give up on BPP just yet. Give their Hive Mind EP a close listen and you might find yourself entertained. The EP features 3 songs and 2 radio-edits. The band offers a mix of heavily distorted guitar riffs and hip-hop influenced drum rhythms combined with soulful vocals. By far, the track “MK Ultra” is one of the better songs, featuring a strong vocal performance by lead singer Eddie Henry. The following live performance of “MK Ultra” shows how tight and well-rehearsed the band is, and the drummer plays with some serious gusto:

Black Party Politics’ full length album is scheduled for release in October, with a CD release party planned for L.A. in addition to a Southwest tour. Assuming they continue to fine-tune their rock/soul sound for the album, I’m sure it will be a hit amongst the alternative rock and Afro-Punk crowds. Let’s hope the rest of the country will finally have an opportunity to experience this up and coming band. - Black Grooves

Although they recently released a 5-track EP (with two radio edits) and have played scores of venues, Black Party Politics still asks the same question many independents ask. What's holding us back?

But unlike many bands, Black Party Politics already knows the answer. Until recently, they never had a permanent lineup, relying on a rotating rhythm section that often felt like continual tryouts. Along with that, for the last four years, they had to work harder at booking venues without the benefit of any recorded material in the competitive LA market. That all changed this year.

After a chance meeting with Chris Ramirez at a local trade school, where Eddie Henry (vocals) and Miles Safford (guitar) both work, they invited him to jam with the band for a few weeks. Those weeks paid off. The three of them, along with Bonnie McIntosh (piano/keys), stepped into the studio as a four-member band.

"The cool thing about working in a band like ours is that no one person can do it all alone," says Safford. "What happens most often is someone will come up with a theme and pitch it to the band and if it sticks, it becomes a song."

Sometimes the process has mixed results in that the band hasn't necessarily settled into a sound. The two most prominent tracks on the Hive Mind EP are the rockers, Blue Devils and Vicious Kiss. But then there is MK Ultra, equally strong, but almost feeling like it belongs to a different band, with a pop-soul fusion, until later in the song.



"MK Ultra is definitely a favorite song of ours," Safford said. "On one hand, it's kind of a laid back soul song with a groove and a smooth backbeat. On the other, it's a defiant rock anthem as the chorus kicks in."

The lyrics certainly keep it within the range, but it also lends to the sense they could easily move in any direction. Their live performances are sometimes like that; with pop, funk, and soul all tossed in the mix. They say that is what defines them — the synthesis of different music. There may be some truth to it, but the masterstroke of their work is rock with Henry's voice big, Safford's guitar free, and McIntosh and Ramirez holding it all together.

Immediately following Blue Devils, Vicious Kiss kicks up an even bigger sound packed with anger, payback, and the refusal to take shit. The band says it didn't originally begin that way. The song took shape like many of their songs do; this time from what started out as a simple chromatic riff played at a practice session.



"A lot of what the album represents to us is our attempt to push back against forces that hold us down, that make our lives heavy," Safford said. "Music gives us a way to lighten that load, a sense of control over feelings that might otherwise be overwhelming if we didn't have that creative outlet."

Playing LA can certainly feel heavy at times, with the band estimating as many 50,000 indie acts in the city at any given time. It takes true determination to move beyond playing anywhere and everywhere they were welcome — tiny venues like Joe's Pizza, Old Town Pub, and Zen Sushi.

Still, it's no surprise they kept pushing forward. Safford and Henry have been friends since high school. Even after Henry left for Cal State Los Angeles, they remained friends with Safford visiting for days on end. Somewhere in between smoking, drinking, throwing things off of roofs, and insulting campus police, they always found time to sit down and write a few songs.

Everything they did seemed to have potential. But the band truly took an even more serious turn when McIntosh moved up from San Diego on a soccer scholarship (she played goalie). And that's why their perseverance is no surpise. The band had the right cohesion with a lineup two, three, and now four deep.

Black Party Politics Hive Mind EP Buzzes Up 7.2 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Black Party Politics is looking forward to releasing the full album and has several shows booked through October. If you catch them live, there may be one immediately noticeable difference between their studio sound and stage presence. The EP paints the band as having angst. On stage, they come across much more like performers who want to have a good time with the audience.

All three tracks (as the radio edits are optional) off the 5-track EP are worth the download. You can download the Hive Mind EP by Black Party Politics from iTunes. You can also find Hive Mind EP on Amazon. - Liquid [Hip]

Black Party Politics is a Los Angeles rock band with style and power. They also lay down some good grooves, and audiences at their shows tend to work up a serious sweat dancing. This EP mostly showcases their harder side. This is rock that comes at you loud and furious, but also with some contemporary R&B elements, particularly on "MK Ultra."

"Blue Devils"
The EP's first track, "Blue Devils," opens with a pounding. It immediately goes into a wild rock guitar line. The vocals have a joyous power, with nothing held back. After all, there are only three songs on this EP, so they have to grab the listener immediately. At moments, it feels like that late 1980s rock - you'd almost expect this band to have spiked leather and ridiculous hair. But no, this is no hair band. They're too good for that. And then suddenly there is a quiet moment with keyboards in the lead, and you realize there's more to this group. And the lyrics are lightyears beyond the drivel those late 1980s bands were spouting. The lyrics to "Blue Devils" start, "Won’t you come over young soldier/and get yourself a fix/The first hit is free the next will have you down on your knees."

"Vicious Kiss"
"Vicious Kiss" begins with a sound like a child's toy piano - for just a moment. Then a heavy pounding from the guitar and drums. This song features great vocals, especially during the chorus. Eddie is giving it his all, with great variations in pitch and intensity. Like he says, "I got you where I want you now." Yes, you're in his grasp.

"MK Ultra"

The third track, "MK Ultra," begins with a dancing guitar, and a cool drum beat. But these suddenly give way to a more relaxed R&B groove and feel when the vocals kick in. This is the best track on the CD, both musically and lyrically. The song begins, "The burnt yellow moon bears down/on the streets of this ghost town/And shadows move like serpents on the ground/My mind is leaving me/Replaced by deaf descriptions/Of a world that’s made for show/And I’m the only one cursed to know."

And check out these lyrics: "They can’t control me/I’d rather destroy myself/Saw their spies in my dreams/I pack a bullet for my mental stealth/So I keep an easy Uzi in my arsenal/And if I die before I wake lord/Break my soul/They ain’t gettin a finger on me."

Radio Edits

This EP also contains "radio edits" of "Vicious Kiss" and "MK Ultra." That just means the swears have been taken out, but no other words have been inserted as replacements. So there are very brief pauses in the vocals where the word "fuck" ought to be. It's a bit funny in "MK Ultra," because the line "Not a mutha fuckin' finger on me" becomes "Not a mutha f (pause) in' finger on me." Will that fool anyone? No, but it doesn't matter. It will be the first three tracks that will get lots of play in your stereo.

The sound on this EP is heavier than I remember from their concerts at The Boogie Den, their home and usual haunt. The venue is an interesting place in its own right - a place where you can drink and dance to some great bands, but also buy some used clothing, which they sell by the pound. It's in piles and giant cardboard boxes all around the place. (I found a few cool furry coats there.) Of course, once Black Party Politics takes the stage, hunting for that old prom dress takes a back seat. The band has a way of pulling the audience in, sharing the space with them.

Black Party Politics is Eddie Henry on vocals, Bonnie McIntosh on keyboards, Miles Safford on guitar, and Chris Ramirez on drums. Gil Riego Jr. provided the photography for the CD's cover. - Michael Doherty's Music Log Blog

Blending soulful vocals with intense lyrics and arrangements, rock band Black Party Politics' new EP 'Hive Mind' is definitely something you guys can dig. Three original tracks and two radio edits for a guitar-heavy mix of rock, blues and funk. They also have a profile here on afropunk.com if you wanna stay in touch with them. And while you're at it, check out this list of fun facts about the band members. How do you like their sound? - Afro-Punk

If the metal on Shannon’s Monday Mix-Tape doesn’t get you up and running today, I have a back-up plan. Simply give the upcoming sophomore EP by LA locals Black Party Politics a listen below. The band has been tearing up venues in LA since 2006 with their afro-punk/rock/pop music, and the energy in Hive Mind is enough to wash away the strongest weekend-ending blues. - LA Music Blog

A band soon to make a big impact on the music scene is Black Party Politics. A group out of Los Angeles, the band is four people deep and sure to keep your head banging back and forth. Just listen to the energy of Black Party Politcs' music over a pair of speakers or headphones and it will not be hard to imagine the raw energy of a live show that features the band.
Black Party Politics makes amazing music that just makes the listener want to move. It would come as no surprise if one day their music is used in a hit action movie during a big fight scene. - The Mesa Press

BPP is one of the rare bands that comes along every once in while so get out and see this great band and everyone had better go out and see them now while they are still playing in SoCal because when the rest of the world hears them they are going touring around the US and you wont get to see them play up close and personal. - SD Live Entertainment Blog

And finally it was time for the headlining band to set up. People were anxiously waiting close to the stage for Black Party Politics to begin playing. I was one of them. This night had been announced to be Black Party Politics’ last show before going to Las Vegas in September to play at MTV’s VMAs. Black Party Politics is one of the few bands that will make you smile and laugh but in a way that you can still take them seriously as musicians. They are all very talented and creative with their music. With each of them coming from different styles and musical backgrounds, it shows, but when they collaborate each of their uniqueness and individual tastes it falls together beautifully. Black Party Politics put on a really great show and they really know how to work their audience. - Big Smile Magazine

When beautiful, elegant melodies meet the hardcore crotch grabbing middle finger of rock and roll, you get Black Party Politics.... - LA Raw Magazine

I was able to catch a Black Party Politics show and they are a great band and amazing perfomers. Check out the pic of the talented keyboardist Bonnie McIntosh from the Black Party Politics. They are currently working on their EP and I was able to hear some of the production and they have some major label product. - Unsigned Radio Lounge