Bump Kitchen

Out of literally hundreds of bands, Bump Kitchen has been chosen as one of 20 bands worldwide for the Band of the Year Award by the readers of Soul Tracks! - Soultracks.com

Bump Kitchen’s Who Ordered The Waffle? is an album tailor made for musicians and serious fans of funk music. Casual fans might not care about hearing a band where the musicians demand equal billing with the vocalist. And that’s not because lead singer Tony Harper can’t hold his own. Nothing can be further from the truth. Harper has raspy, throaty tenor voice that’s perfectly in sync with the high energy brand of rock infused funk that is Bump Kitchen’s forte. It’s just that Bump Kitchen features a group of musicians who play at a high level. Living as we do in what can be called the era known for the cult of the singer – particularly in R&B - the kind of virtuosity displayed by this band may not be appreciated by casual listeners. That’s too bad because these guys smoke from beginning to end. The cut “I’ll Decide” oozes machismo as Harper rips through a tune in which he admonishes his lady about the bad choices she makes. The solution to grab some of her autonomy and start making decisions might rub some ladies the wrong way. But the song that features Joe Bevens doing some inspired plucking and thumping on his bass perfectly sums up the Bump Kitchen sensibility right down to the unaccompanied guitar solo that takes the song out. These guys have the skills and they aren’t ashamed to show it.

Notable Tracks: Mona Lisa, Don’t Doubt, I’ll Decide, Traffic

by Howard Dukes

Read more: Bump Kitchen - Who Ordered the Waffle? (2011) (review) | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews - Soultracks.com

The band Bump Kitchen had me raising my eyebrows with interest when I played the bluesy “Told You So,” the first track on their live CD Bump Kitchen: Live at the Yale. By the time bassist Joe Bevens finished his 50-second introduction to the second cut, “Don’t Doubt,” the sextet from the Pacific Northwest pretty much had me. Now, I remembered that tune from Bump Kitchen’s 2009 release Who Ordered the Waffle. That intro lasted all of six seconds. The live version had Bevens thumping, plucking, walking and basically pulling every arrow from the bass player’s quiver.

Bevens’ bass solo is a necessary element on live record made by a band that promotes itself as a group ‘founded on the idea that there is a place for real musicians playing live and with soul.’ That solo served as a reminder to the music fans attending the 2010 performance that live concerts are different. A live concert is where audiences, as well as those who hear a live CD, learn that a band has the musical chops, cohesion and the stage presence to keep audiences riveted. Bump Kitchen has all of the elements working on Live at the Yale.

The band’s set list included songs that displayed the complete palate of Bump Kitchen’s skill. “Told You So,” is a jaunty blues number. “Baby’s Heart” is a torchy ballad that is aimed at the ladies. The funny “Who Ordered the Waffle” serves as an icebreaker song that helps Bump Kitchen establish a rapport with the audience. Lead vocalist Tony Harper has the throaty and muscular voice that allows him to rip through the up-tempo cuts while also caressing those ballads. Songs such as “Who Ordered the Waffle,” “Don’t Say Don’t” and the hilarious “Big Ol’ Bones” showcase Harper’s skill as a vocal story teller.

Some people want to go a concert and hear a set of songs that sound exactly like they do on the album. I say what’s the point! Thankfully, lead vocalist Tony Harper and the rest of the members of Bump Kitchen feel the same way, and that’s one of the joys of Live at the Yale. Recommended.

By Howard Dukes



Read more: Bump Kitchen - Live At The Yale (2011) (review) | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews - Soultracks.com

At a Bump Kitchen show, there’s plenty of action to be had. Packing the dance floor with a body grabbing, booty shaking mix of groovin’ favorites and bumpin’ originals, Bump Kitchen is, like, the party band for the middle age club scene — a cougar heavy, expensive jeans wearing, tanned and trimmed mob that should never be taken lightly.

Saturday, March 7, Bump Kitchen will celebrate the release of the band’s new CD, Who Ordered the Waffle?, with a show at Jazzbones in Tacoma. There’s no reason to expect this night to be anything less than the typical, sweaty, gyrating fracas that every Bump Kitchen show eventually turns into.

Before that, tonight Bump Kitchen will test drive a few songs from that new record at the Tacoma Landmark Convention Center, playing as part of the I Corps Courage Ball — an invite-only event for troops heading to Iraq.

“Fans, old and new, can expect a whole new recipe — a remodeled sound that employs more vocals and a stronger funk element,” explains Joe Bevins, Bump Kitchen’s bass guitarist.

“This album is a true testament to who and what Bump Kitchen represents,” adds drummer Everett James.

“Jazzbones is one of our favorite clubs to play,” continues James about Jazzbones, just one of a number of local venues where Bump Kitchen inspires plenty of bumping — amongst a growing and loyal legion of fans.

“Our following in the Northwest is strong because we love to play for the fans, and we never take them for granted,” says Dave Broyles, Bump Kitchen’s guitarist. “We bring it every show. - Weekly Volcano

Every town has that band, the one that seems to rally the entire neighborhood. In a way, it’s not unlike baseball: diehard fans of the sport are committed to root for the home team, win or lose. Local bands can muster up that same type of spirit and camaraderie, especially when the hometown heroes can kick the daylights out of outside talent. If you’ve ever been to a live show where the opening act damn near upstages the headliner, chances are that you have been caught up in the satisfaction of seeing regional acts make good. One could imagine that Bump Kitchen instills that sense of pride for the residents of Tacoma, Washington.

Armed with soul, funk, and R&B, to say that this group performs like a well-oiled machine is to sell them short. Their understanding of the groove goes beyond simply landing on “the one,” that rhythmic anchor that our beloved James Brown talked about. Each member of Bump Kitchen plays with the maturity of an all-star league member, pushing the discipline of the group towards Dream Team status. Head straight towards “4th Monkey,” the lone instrumental of the album, for just a taste of what this band can do. The slap bass of Joe Bevens signals the song’s first breakdown as Everett James supplies the foundation on the drums and Mark Bittler skips across the keys with a fluidity reminiscent of Jean Luc-Ponty on electric violin. The guitar melodies of David Broyles and Jho Blenis are both diverse and engaging, ranging anywhere from jazz improv to fierce solo work with a hard rock edge, depending upon the song.

The addition of Tony Harper’s vocals to this ensemble is a godsend. As a front man, he completes Bump Kitchen and is a formidable weapon within the band’s arsenal. Their take on a Bill Withers standard (“Use Me”) is served up in a calm but tight fashion and Harper’s tones ride the groove with equal amounts of cool. “Back In The Day” slows things down a bit to great effect, allowing Harper to throw a little doo-wop inspiration into the mix as he croons about childhood memories and the soul artists that supplied the soundtrack to his youth. When it’s time to kick things up a notch, the lead vocalist is a commanding presence, particularly on cuts like “Mona Lisa” and “Use Me.” “You’re lookin’ good,” sings Harper, sizing up the song’s object of desire. “Who will the next fool be?” “Tell Me” makes for a great companion piece, taking the energy into guitar-heavy territory that’s almost worthy of head-banging moments. Harper matches the song’s intensity with pipes that evoke attitude and passion, placed alongside one of the best guitar solos on the album.

Bump Kitchen’s latest release will resonate with fans of funk and blues alike. With a musical stew this delicious, listeners will more than likely come back for seconds once the album concludes. As Tony Harper declares on the opening number, “Bump Kitchen’s got somethin’…” And what they’ve got will surely satisfy.
Reviewed By Jason Randall Smith - reviewyou.com

From garage-rock to grunge, the Northwest has had a spectacular cornucopia of pop music for decades. But since I’ve kicked it in these parts, I’ve noticed a distinct deficit in at least one area.

Namely, where’s the funk? I’m just sayin’.

“I think (local funk bands) all transition into top 40,” said Everett James, the drummer for South Sound funk and soul outfit Bump Kitchen. “I think they’re afraid to take the chance and be out here alone like we are.”

Lucky for us, while other groove merchants have headed straight for the cover band circuit, Bump Kitchen has also been here keeping Grit City’s booties shakin’ with original funk jams.

The quintet – also singer Tony Harper, keyboard player Mark Bittler, bassist Joe Bevens and guitarist David Broyles – will put its considerable soul power on display during an early Sunday show, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Tacoma’s Spar Tavern, 2121 N. 30th St.

Expect to hear several cuts from Bump Kitchen’s excellent new CD “Who Ordered the Waffle?,” a return to funk roots following blues-inflected material on the band’s previous album, “Big Ol’ Bones.”

“We wanted to show our talent as a band and who we really were – on the funky side,” said James. “You know, without getting too carried away (with instrumentals.) We have incredible players in the band that could do anything, from the craziest fusion jazz to the simplest country music.”

Bump Kitchen shows are known for intense energy and Harper’s rich, soulful vocals. But personally, my favorite part of the band’s set is when the Bittler runs through the crowd during a frenzied keytar solo.

Really, the keytar deserves a revival on par with the whole cowbell comeback from a few years back. Are you with me, people?

Maybe not. But I’m not the only one with a fever for more keytar. “When he jumps off and Tony jumps offstage, those cats become unglued,” James said. “The crowd loves it. The women love it, the guys love it. It’s just a great time.”

He expects the venue itself to bring something special out of his band. “We love the Spar,” he said. “If we got to be superstars, we would pull the tour bus right up to the Spar.

“It’s very intimate, very close. Friends are there, family’s there. You can look at somebody and see their face. You can feel your music just going through their bodies. They’re just getting bumped, and we know they’re being bumped.” - Tacoma Tribune