The People's Party

Blending equal parts jazz and social awareness, The People’s Party celebrate democracy in the form of an eclectic musical expression titled We Am One. After traveling across the country in a bio-diesel truck that converts into a 20,000 watt stage to support Rock the Vote events, The People’s Party release We Am One behind the same ceaseless progressive ambition. Funky, groovefilled jazz anthems with clear hip hop influence and an undeniable optimism provide an uplifting musical experience. Once dubbed as “hippie hop”, The People’s Party share love over a range of musical flavors that meld full rhythm, string, and horn sections with soulful vocal harmonies. The result is a skillfully-refined studio composition that doubles as a free-flowing jam session. These seriously righteous cats called The People’s Party have a mission to share. It sounds like unity.

– William Case - Wide-Eyed Magazine

When Curtis James says he performs as part of The People’s Party - he’s not joking. It’s quite the group. The band includes: Curtis James on guitar/vocals, Tony Glaser on bass/vocals, David Garner keyboards/vocals, Orlando Boyd on drums, Will Volume on electric violin/guitar, Justin Kirk on trombone, Robby Marshall on sax and finally Chris Bautista on trumpet. Whew. That’s a crowd!

And speaking of crowds, that’s usually what the band performs in front of… random ones. Yep, people often don’t realize they’re part of the People’s Party audience until the first couple notes blast off from their “People’s Portable Party Platform,” a 20,000 watt stage that transforms out of a truck with a push of a button. The band that combines a seamless mix of “funk, hip hop, jazz, and everything in between” is “dedicated to spreading love and unity in the celebration of life,” as well as bringing the music whenever, wherever. Their performance is the definition of spontaneous. They’ll simply pull up into your city; find a crowded intersection or college campus, and bust open the truck. Hell, lead singer Curtis James recalls “we went on a two and a half month national tour with an eight piece band and basically no shows booked, no places to stay, and no permits.”

Their album, “We Am One” reflects their support for progressive social ideals for the evolution of individuals and communities. It also reflects a slightly different sound than their usual storied live show - a more polished feel than the truck version, this studio record also contains hard to find positive lyrics that the scene generally lacks, certainly in this day in age. The music described as “Hippie Hop” was crafted on the album with the help of Grammy Award winning engineer Bob Tucker, adding even more credentials to the talented bunch.

If you find yourself lucky enough to be in the middle of a People’s Party performance, take in as much as you can. The police often show up in a hurry to shut things down (they want to see a permit or something - ridiculous). The band is preparing for a fall tour in support of the record while at the same time registering as many people as possible to vote. A pretty good deal. Get into the XXQ’s to learn more.

XXQs: The People’s Party

PensEyeView.com (PEV): My first question has to be about the massive truck the band travels in, that transforms into a 20,000 watt stage at the push of a button - “The People’s Portable Party Platform” or “The Platform” for short, which enables The People’s Party to set up and play anywhere, anytime. How on Earth did this come about?

Curtis James (CJ): David and I manifested it one day in the studio. We were talking about how cool it would be to have a vehicle that opened up into a stage where we could do guerilla shows all over the place. Later that afternoon, Angelique, David’s wife and an absolute angel, found the truck on Craigslist. Paul Ivazes, a great guy from northern California, had built it a few years ago for his son’s band after having a dream about it. We contacted him and went from there. He had received a bunch of offers from other people, but really vibed with our music and what we are about.

PEV: What is it like when “The Platform” rolls into an event and just “opens up shop” right then and there? What is the general reaction?

CJ: People are pretty much in shock when we start playing. Nobody has really seen anything like the truck before. Not to mention the fact that we roll up to some spots that don’t typically have live bands, like in the middle of a college campus or pulled over on the side of a busy street. Overall, people are really supportive and into what we are doing. Police are a bit of a different matter. We rarely, if ever, have a permit to play, so we often get shut down after ten or fifteen minutes by the police. We’ve kind of learned to deal with the cops at this point, so we don’t get tickets. We let them go on their power trip and just play dumb, like “Oh, it’s not cool that we’re blasting music in the middle of the day on the sidewalk? Oh, sorry. We’ll take off.” When you allow the police their power, they turn into little lovebugs. Usually they are apologetic that they have to shut us down. By that time, we have pretty much made our presence felt, so it’s all good. It only takes us a few minutes to get moving again, but we usually hang out for a while, register people to vote, and talk with new friends.

PEV: Now calling Venice Beach, California, but originally from Massachusetts, how did you form The People’s Party?

CJ: I found Orlando and Dave a few years ago on Craigslist. I love Craigslist. There was a moment when everything in my life I had found on Craigslist– my band, my apartment, my girlfriend. Anyway, I met them, Anton Cuyugan, a tremendous bass player from New Jersey and Brian Landau, a gifted saxophone player, and just fell in love with them. As musicians they are top notch, but they are also incredibly beautiful human bei - Pens Eye View

Blending equal parts jazz and social awareness, The People’s Party celebrate democracy in the form of an eclectic musical expression titled We Am One. After traveling across the country in a bio-diesel truck that converts into a 20,000 watt stage to support Rock the Vote events, The People’s Party release We Am One behind the same ceaseless progressive ambition. Funky, groovefilled jazz anthems with clear hip hop influence and an undeniable optimism provide an uplifting musical experience. Once dubbed as “hippie hop”, The People’s Party share love over a range of musical flavors that meld full rhythm, string, and horn sections with soulful vocal harmonies. The result is a skillfully-refined studio composition that doubles as a free-flowing jam session. These seriously righteous cats called The People’s Party have a mission to share. It sounds like unity.

– William Case - Wide-Eyed Magazine

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it is The People’s Party performing on top of their 20,000 watt truck they call ‘The Platform’. The smooth sounds of The People’s Party are hailed as a mix of rock, funk, hip hop, jazz and everything in between. This one of a kind group is not one to miss. The People’s Party is currently touring all over the US, check out their MYSPACE for tour dates and songs from their newest album.

Tell me a little bit about the members that make up The People’s Party.
There are eight of us, total. Each of the players is a beautiful, loving person and incredible musician. We have Orlando Boyd, “the Buddha”, or “The Professor”, on the drums. He is from Cleveland, Ohio, and has tremendous skills, a really deep pocket, and great musicality. He puts on a lesson every time he sits behind a drum kit. Also, he has an amazing voice, which we need to utilize even more. David Garner, from Chicago via San Francisco, is on keyboards and vocals. He is absolutely brilliant, with such a tremendous soul that really shines through with his playing. David also does a lot of the songwriting, and has a really unique style with very deep, profound lyrics. Tony Glaser, a bay area native, plays bass and sings. He was in a band in high school with David called Pucker Up, which we actually play a couple of tunes from. His forte is bringing the funk, but he has a really wide stylistic range, which is necessary for the mix we play. Not to mention he is better looking than Matthew McConaghy. On saxophone, we have Robbie Marshall, who is from the bay area as well. Robbie can get at it on the horn. He has incredible timing, incredible tone, brilliantly creative melodic lines to his solos, and is a tremendous section leader. Also, the guy is just a great hang. Justin Kirk, a Los Angeles native, is a beast on the trombone. He is one of the most passionate people I know, which is really evident in his playing. He brings such incredible raw energy that is infectious. That added to his knowledge of music is a dynamic force. He also plays some keys, which is always a fun treat. On the trumpet, we have Chris Baustista, also a Los Angeles native. C Baut is half man, half amazing. The guy has a phenomenal range and incredible chops. His solos blow me away on a consistent basis. Very, very solid guy. Will Volume is on violin and guitar. I don’t think there is any instrument the guy can’t play. Not only play, but play the shit out of. His violin is what we mostly have him on, and it’s just so beautiful. Incredibly tasty, delicious playing. An incredible performer, Will brings such a great element to the band. I’m Curtis James. I play guitar, sing, and write many of the songs. I’m from Massachusetts. My writing has been changing over the years, from being mostly about social and personal stuff when I was younger to more introspective, spiritual subject matter now.
Was the band formed with the platform concept in mind or did that evolve over time?
The band was first formed a few years ago, long before the platform was thought of. Some of the players have changed since then, but Orlando, David and I were part of the original crew. The platform didn’t happen until December of last year, 2007.
Where did the idea come from for The People’s Portable Party Platform?
David and I manifested it. We were talking one day in the studio about how cool it would be to have a vehicle that opened up into a stage where we could do guerilla shows all over the place. Later that afternoon, Angelique, David's wife and an absolute angel, found the truck on Craigslist. Paul Ivazes, a great guy from northern California, had built it a few years ago for his son's band after having a dream about it. We contacted him and went from there. He had received a bunch of offers from other people, but really vibed with our music and what we are about.
You guys have as many as 4 or 5 of you playing on top of the platform at once. Have you ever had any mishaps, has anyone ever gotten hurt?
Thankfully, we haven’t had any serious injuries from the truck. A mic stand did fall on Tony’s head one night when we did a crash in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He toughed it out, though. Also, Will got hit in the head once as the stage was being raised. But he’s part ninja, so he was fine. At first, we would have girls come up and join us on the roof, dancing and shaking it. I think at one point we had something like thirteen people on the top- three horns, keyboard, guitar, three mc’s, and maybe five girls dancing. But then we came to our senses a little bit and realized drunk girls on the roof wasn’t the best idea as far as safety goes. So now there is a no drunk girls on the roof policy. They have to stay on the lower stage.
Your sound comes from a mix of many different instruments. How did you reach the decision to have such a wide range of sounds?
Well, I’ve always loved horns, so adding them to the core of drums, bass, keys and guitar was a no brainer. They bring s - jitZul

The People's Party debut album, "We Am One", offers the listener a variety of musical stylings in one album. Their music is dubbed by the band as "hippie-hop". A cross between jamband music and rap with a funky vibe. It works great on most of the songs, but some songs seem to get lost in the mix.

The opening song, "Sunrise" and "We Am One" have a Dave Matthews Band vibe to them because of the way the lyrics sound with song's complex rhythm. The song "Art of War" has an angry political message that is displayed by the hard funk/r&b/hip-hop song style. "My Friend" also has that same funk/R&B/hip-hop sound in the song. The songs "Chloe" and "Black Widow" seem like the right musical path for the band to travel down. These songs have a funk/jamming feel to them. The horns and the beat give these songs either the ability to dance to them or to just sit back, listen and enjoy. "Seventeen" and "Now" are a couple of songs where the band can pull-off a 20 minute jam when played live. "Divinity" has a nice groove to it. The vocal stylings of Curtis James and Maesyn work so well together. They band also plays some Dixieland Jazz as shown in the song "If. You. See. Kay.". The album ends with the mellow "Fade Away", which hands the spotlight over to the musicians.

With an album like this, full of a variety of musical styles, it's hard to pinpoint or even describe the band's signature sound. This could either help or hurt the band. It puts a lot of pressure on making the lyrics work with the music. On The People's Party album "We Am One", the bands shows their full range and musical capabilities. For more information on The People's Party debut album please visit www.thepeoplespartymusic.com. - Record Journal

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it is The People’s Party performing on top of their 20,000 watt truck they call ‘The Platform’. The smooth sounds of The People’s Party are hailed as a mix of rock, funk, hip hop, jazz and everything in between. This one of a kind group is not one to miss. The People’s Party is currently touring all over the US, check out their MYSPACE for tour dates and songs from their newest album.

Tell me a little bit about the members that make up The People’s Party.
There are eight of us, total. Each of the players is a beautiful, loving person and incredible musician. We have Orlando Boyd, “the Buddha”, or “The Professor”, on the drums. He is from Cleveland, Ohio, and has tremendous skills, a really deep pocket, and great musicality. He puts on a lesson every time he sits behind a drum kit. Also, he has an amazing voice, which we need to utilize even more. David Garner, from Chicago via San Francisco, is on keyboards and vocals. He is absolutely brilliant, with such a tremendous soul that really shines through with his playing. David also does a lot of the songwriting, and has a really unique style with very deep, profound lyrics. Tony Glaser, a bay area native, plays bass and sings. He was in a band in high school with David called Pucker Up, which we actually play a couple of tunes from. His forte is bringing the funk, but he has a really wide stylistic range, which is necessary for the mix we play. Not to mention he is better looking than Matthew McConaghy. On saxophone, we have Robbie Marshall, who is from the bay area as well. Robbie can get at it on the horn. He has incredible timing, incredible tone, brilliantly creative melodic lines to his solos, and is a tremendous section leader. Also, the guy is just a great hang. Justin Kirk, a Los Angeles native, is a beast on the trombone. He is one of the most passionate people I know, which is really evident in his playing. He brings such incredible raw energy that is infectious. That added to his knowledge of music is a dynamic force. He also plays some keys, which is always a fun treat. On the trumpet, we have Chris Baustista, also a Los Angeles native. C Baut is half man, half amazing. The guy has a phenomenal range and incredible chops. His solos blow me away on a consistent basis. Very, very solid guy. Will Volume is on violin and guitar. I don’t think there is any instrument the guy can’t play. Not only play, but play the shit out of. His violin is what we mostly have him on, and it’s just so beautiful. Incredibly tasty, delicious playing. An incredible performer, Will brings such a great element to the band. I’m Curtis James. I play guitar, sing, and write many of the songs. I’m from Massachusetts. My writing has been changing over the years, from being mostly about social and personal stuff when I was younger to more introspective, spiritual subject matter now.
Was the band formed with the platform concept in mind or did that evolve over time?
The band was first formed a few years ago, long before the platform was thought of. Some of the players have changed since then, but Orlando, David and I were part of the original crew. The platform didn’t happen until December of last year, 2007.
Where did the idea come from for The People’s Portable Party Platform?
David and I manifested it. We were talking one day in the studio about how cool it would be to have a vehicle that opened up into a stage where we could do guerilla shows all over the place. Later that afternoon, Angelique, David's wife and an absolute angel, found the truck on Craigslist. Paul Ivazes, a great guy from northern California, had built it a few years ago for his son's band after having a dream about it. We contacted him and went from there. He had received a bunch of offers from other people, but really vibed with our music and what we are about.
You guys have as many as 4 or 5 of you playing on top of the platform at once. Have you ever had any mishaps, has anyone ever gotten hurt?
Thankfully, we haven’t had any serious injuries from the truck. A mic stand did fall on Tony’s head one night when we did a crash in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He toughed it out, though. Also, Will got hit in the head once as the stage was being raised. But he’s part ninja, so he was fine. At first, we would have girls come up and join us on the roof, dancing and shaking it. I think at one point we had something like thirteen people on the top- three horns, keyboard, guitar, three mc’s, and maybe five girls dancing. But then we came to our senses a little bit and realized drunk girls on the roof wasn’t the best idea as far as safety goes. So now there is a no drunk girls on the roof policy. They have to stay on the lower stage.
Your sound comes from a mix of many different instruments. How did you reach the decision to have such a wide range of sounds?
Well, I’ve always loved horns, so adding them to the core of drums, bass, keys and guitar was a no brainer. They bring s - jitZul