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Possibly Worcester County's best band, Skullfunked took the Church stage for the first time at midnight and what a delight it was. They may be one of the tightest new jam bands around and each one of their songs was amazing. This band has slowly been breaking into the Boston scene and it won't be too long before they are playing to packed houses throught out the Boston club circuit. The best thing about Skullfunked is that they are a fun band on and offstage and the bring the funk. At 1:30AM they had the remaining audience dancin' and trancin' to Rick James' "Give it to Me." If you have the opportunity to see this band, do it you will not be dissapointed.
- Hear Now Live
The eleventh was a day of more than just good shrimp. At some point between the hours of six and eight, the tone of the day went from the uncommonly ridiculous to a righteous, just and fitting tribute to Sublime.
In addition to the tribute, there was also a double dose of local flair. Opening for the renowned Badfish were Skullfunked and Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse.
Skullfunked took the low-riding and driving force of funk and brought it roaring into the energy of modern rock and roll. The set opened with electric guitar, electric bass, drums and keyboard. The rhythm, particularly the keyboard provided that extra connection to the underlying funk but the wah-wah made it clear that Skullfunked could be Skullrocked if Skullrocked had any kind of clever, suggestive, alternate meaning.
The keyboardist transferred to acoustic-electric guitar halfway through the set. That was an interesting twist eagerly welcomed by the crowd. The intensity rose from selection to selection and those who were initially sitting silently on the upper balcony were not only standing but dancing as well, gyrating their torsos in slow-paced motions filled nonetheless with wild energy. Throughout all, the glow-in-the-dark baseball cap worn by the lead guitarist, bobbed and wafted through the artificial smoke like a scalp without a skull.
Luke Knowles
2009 - worcestermusicscene.com
Discography
Live 2009
Photos
Bio
Bio
Spawned from the dedication of four kids that love music, Skullfunked has evolved into a driving force. Their roots are firmly planted in the small towns of central Massachusetts, where the cow population exceeds that of humans. However, Skullfunked's dynamic music reaches far beyond the rolling fields, drawing from an eclectic array of Funk, Rock, Jazz, and Soul, with the heart of the music lying in high-energy improvisation. The melody is pure and the rhythm is straight up funky. This band wants you to dance, but they also want to bring you on a journey potent with musical mastery and catchy melodies. With a driven focus on their songwriting craft, Skullfunked also possesses strong technical capabilities that they display in their tastefully expansive improvisational reaches.
In 2004 drummer/vocalist Zach Weeks and guitarist/vocalist Seth Orenstein met and held lengthy jam sessions in Zach's family studio. It wasn't long before the two realized the chemistry and potential they had, and decided to search the region for other musicians to compliment their sounds and form a band. They recruited local guitar talent Hunter Amabile and guitarist turned bassist Ryan Camacho. In early 2008 Skullfunked teamed up with Worcester Jazz-Sax player, Ryan Whetstone, and very quickly found his skills and sounds was just what Skullfunked needed to take their music to the next level. He has since become a permanent member of the band. Together, they form Skullfunked.
It's been said that Skullfunked summons the spirits of bands ranging from The Allman Brothers Band to Phish, from Herbie Hancock to Pink Floyd, from Dave Mathews Band to Jazz is Dead, and beyond. They borrow from the old in a constant search for the next new. Always pushing the boundaries of their own music, Skullfunked is refreshing and powerful in a popular musical world that seems to have lost its way.
Since their inception Skullfunked has visited the studio just once, and instead decided to place their focus in the live setting, playing countless gigs around both ends of Massachusetts and other parts of New England. Opening for regional powerhouses like The Brew, Humblebee, and The Muve, Skullfunked has earned the praise of venue promoters and fans alike, and are now frequent headliners at venues like Tammany Hall in Worcester, The Church and Cask'N Flagon in Boston, The Wheelhouse in Rhode Island, and Umass' Student Union Ballroom.
Skullfunked.net, the official website, was launched in the Fall of 2008, and preliminary work on their next album is underway. The band is currently touring the region and will be releasing more dates soon. Stay tuned, as 2009 is sure to be a big and exciting year for Skullfunked.
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