Customer Reviews

Doin' It Old School Style - Live At Club U

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Those of you living in the DC and Baltimore areas are probably already familiar with the Go-Go genius that is Rare Essence. Go-Go is a percussion-driven musical form unique to this area of the country and pioneered by the likes of Chuck Brown. Rare Essence keeps the old school flavor of Go-Go alive using horns and heavy beats, and infuses it with a healthy dose of R&B, Hip-Hop, rock, funk and dance music. The blend comes of perfectly. In fact, those of you who have seen Rare Essence live know that their covers of songs by Jay Z and Sade often surpass the original artist recordings. You would be hard pressed to find a musical genre (or a band) that combines so many musical themes, and pulls them off so well.

'Doin' It Old School Style' is a slice of infectious funk-pop-hop-rock that will keep you on your feet.

DC's best-kept secret is Rare Essence. Now, HOW IS YOUR FUNK?

If you didn't come up in the DC area you won't get it. PERIOD. Go-Go is 25 years old and still a staple in the area. Even Prince will catch Chuck Brown when in town. Jill Scott has talked about how in her college days her friends took her to DC to see a Go-Go show. Jill recorded "It's Love" on her first CD which is infused with Go-Go. (A go-go band did the track but I'm not sure at this time who.)

As a teenager back in the late 70's & 80's I went to the Go-Go shows every weekend. Rare Essence was among the top four Go-Go Bands (Chuck Brown, Trouble Funk, and Experience Unlimited respectively). Sometimes we would be lucky enough to catch an all night show featuring all these bands on one ticket!! (Ahh, the Howard Theatre!) By the time 6:00 AM rolled around the next morning the crowds would leave out the venue, worn out, sweaty, and rubbing our eyes from dancing all night.

What is Go-Go? For the most part it's heavy funk percussion, with some cool grooves and hooks, all while the MC/s interact with audience participation. Another part is the ability of bands like Rare Essence to do cover songs treated heavily with Go-Go beats. Much like early rappers such as the Sugar Hill Gang rapping over Chic's cut, "Good Times." For a good example of what I'm talking about try listening to Rare Essence version of the Barkay's '70s hit "Holy Ghost" it's on Amazon and a real treat.

It was a real pleasure hearing R.E. do these old school Go-Go tunes again I grew up on. Bought back a lot of fun memories. If you want to know what Go-Go was like back in those days then start here with this collection of Rare Essence's Old School. You listen long enough you just might get it.

If you know anything about go go then you know that rare is the best. Get it!