Slide over Santa Barbara, Afro-punk has come to town! - 11.12.09

It was only a three hour drive from San Fransisco to the groups next destination-- Santa Barbara, California-- so the bands packed up their gear on a limo bus and headed out to their next show.

It's always show time for CX Kidtronik, Saul's electro drum machine man and one half of the spaced out rap duo, Krak Attack. While driving to the venue, CX put his drum machine aside and grabbed a mic to sing a compilation of 80's rock hits.

Tonight's show was at a popular Santa Barbara based funk club, Velvet Jones. The venue was strapped with over 900 pieces of hand blown glass and murals of music legends throughout the bar, including Jimi Hendrix. When the Afro-punk crew arrived, the Afro-punk logo was a perfect addition to the already rocking walls.

The Afro-punk show at Velvet Jones included a new band on the music line-up, IrRAdio. Formed in 2001, this San Diego based five man band is known for their socially conscious lyrics mixed with an edgy funk sound and incorporates a barrage of instruments throughout their performance. There popular song, "Call the Nation" is even on Afro-punk's VOL2 "Fuck Rock Stars" compilation album, where lead singer, Daniel Dasher urges listeners to make a positive change in their life, singing, "I call the nation to take a stand! I feel the earth and it's demands!" Daniel explained that with IrRAdio's music, he is asking the nation to pick up their swag and focus on what they are doing in life. "Most people are complacent and their life just passes them by," Daniel said. "People need to wake up and recognize their true potential."

Here is IrRAdio before hitting the stage, (from left to right) back row, Steven Welker on sax, flute, vocals and Rick Blair on bass front row, Jim Hughs on guitar and vocals, Greg Sudor on percussions and drums, and Dan Dasher on guitar and lead vocals

Over at the merch table, IrRadio displayed their band logo t-shirts along with their record, "I Am The Horn." Released in 2008, the band collaborated with Mitch Wilson from the San Diego band, No Knife, to produce their album. Several songs off of their former tracks have been used on The Discovery Channel as well as on the radio globally.

Afro-punk host, Tchaka Diallo, opened the show with his dominating energy and introduced the night's line-up- which would include sets from IrRAdio, American Fangs, Krak Attack, and headliner Saul Williams. IrRadio swept over the stage, with each member skillfully playing multiple instruments throughout their set. Their words of peace mixed with 70s soul and punk echoed through Velvet Jones with a sincerity of a band looking to use their music to spread a message.

Our host, Diallo.

And IrRadio jamming out on stage.

After their set, the guys from American Fangs came out for another pumped show, looking like they were having more fun on the stage with each passing performance. "Performing is like a work out for us," lead singer Gabe said to the Santa Barbara crowd. "We come out here to make music and to sweat."

Following American Fangs, CX and Diallo graced the stage with their explosive intro of their song, "Let's Go Crazy," which is also the first track on the Afro-punk "Fuck Rock Stars" complication album. Their set is filled with confetti and star studded clothes, with a sound that can be categorized as rap, rock, electronic, and plainly just wild and crazy. When the guys were asked how they keep the crowd pumped every night, they said they had no tricks, just the energy to leave the crowd confused and amazed. Here is the Krak Attack duo, Diallo and CX going wild on stage.

Headliner Saul Williams and his band hit the stage with an intensity that flooded throughout the venue, propelling the Santa Barbara crowd out of their chairs to sandwich the front of the stage. Williams and his band controlled the audience with his controversial and in your face lyrics, encompassing theatrics with his Niggy Tardust appearance. It's hard not to be glued to Saul's set with his face illuminating glitter and feathers decorating his hair. The feathers, Saul said, started back in the 90's when he kept finding feathers on the floor while beginning his poetry career. "I began picking up the feathers and keeping them in my pocket to remind me to stay conscious of my surroundings," Saul said. Now, the feathers are a vital part of his Niggy Tardust outfit and fans take them home as concert keep sakes.