Home2011 Reviews and Interviews Magic Jackson and Pharaoh Loosey
Magic Jackson and Pharaoh Loosey at Baba Budan's
Written by Jimmy Cummings
It seems like everyone was trying to find some kind of
spiritual or magical meaning behind the date 11-11-11. Sure some of the stuff
they were coming up with was pretty cool, but come on, it’s just a date right?
Well that’s what I thought until I arrived at Baba Budan’s in Cincinnati on
Friday 11-11-11 where funk and whack formal were about to collide for a
mystical music experience like no other. There was definitely something in the
brisk November air and something special going on inside one of Clifton’s
oldest coffee bars. Baba Budan’s, established back 1921 is a coffee bar by day
and pub by night. Tonight the place was home to Dayton’s funk rockers Magic
Jackson and Cincy’s own Pharaoh Loosey. The date 11-11-11 was also the birthday
of Magic Jackson Guitarist John Gentry Jr. who was celebrating the BIG 4 0 so I
knew things were going to get interesting.
Magic Jackson opened the show with their distinctive brand
of in-your-face funk. You might think that after a summer full of festivals
like The Werk Out, Wham Bam Thank You
Jam, Miami Music Fest, and more that the guys would take a little time
off to just chill. But the guys from Magic Jackson have been burning up the
roads and melting stages all over the state of Ohio with no signs of slowing
down any time soon. Which is great news for fans because the band is better
than ever and they proved it Friday night with one of the best sets I have ever
seen from Magic Jackson. Baba Budan’s is an intimate venue that allows fans to
get up close and personal with the performers which was cool because I copped a
front row seat for the show. I mean I was like four feet away from the action
which made for some great pics. Nathan Lewis (Guitar, Vocals, Keys), Rob
Brockman (Drums, Vocals), Mike “McNasty” McKewen (Bass), and John Gentry Jr.
played plenty of fan favorites like Meatfinger and Daddy’s Funk as well as some
new tunes like Fight the Pimp which is quickly becoming my new favorite. The
crowd at Baba Budan’s was very music savvy and every time Gentry would go off into
one of his mind-blowing riffs everyone in the audience cheered in appreciation.
And the cheers were well deserved, the birthday boy put on an exhibition of
Guitar excellence; at one point he even played with his dreads. It was freakin
awesome! McNasty couldn’t seem to get his amp loud enough so Mike was working
extra hard and thumping the hell out of his five string Bass. And Lewis is one
of my favorite front men even without the facial hair and his energy on stage
was infectious while Brockman kept the beats funky and smooth. The guys funked
things up real nice for our next performers, Pharaoh Loosey.
My first encounter with Pharaoh Loosey was this summer at
Kynd Karma’s Summer Shakedown. The guys made quite an impression on me that day
and introduced me to what the band calls “whack formal” a term the band uses to
describe their brand of experimental genius. In addition to the Summer
Shakedown Pharaoh Loosey played some the summer hottest fests like Rootwire,
Ohmstead, and The Big Pig Music Festivals sharing the stage with bands like
Soulive, Lettuce, and The Werks. The trio has also been busy in the studio
working on the band’s new album to be released in early 2012 on
glow-in-the-dark vinyl, CD, and digital download. Okay by now you are asking
yourself if this guy is ever going to explain the term “whack formal.” I could
take a quote off the bands Website but I thought I would take a whack at it and
give you my take on the band’s music instead of the term itself. To me the
music of Pharaoh Loosey is an experimental work in progress. The band takes
improvisation to an entirely new level which allows the guys to "go with the
flow" to give audiences a one of a kind show every time out. The band, Wayne
Kilgard (Drums), Eric Osmanoglu (Bass), and Grant Kligard, (Keys) bring “Whack
Formal” to the masses with tunes like “Careful with that Axe Eugene,” a new
tune called “Up with the Sun,” and the final song of the night “Calypso
Chicken.” These guys strip away the restrictions of the conventional and twist
together a sound that is unique and distinctive - “Whack Formal.” To learn more about Whack Formal be sure to check out the bands Website. Pharaoh Loosey is a band you have to see live, the band will take you on an experimental journey to the unknown. So hold on tight, you're in for one hell of a trip.
So as it turns out there was something special about
11-11-11. Got to hang out with some great musicians, drink a few brews, and
hang out with some awesome friends. Thanks to Magic Jackson and Pharaoh Loosey
for providing the jams and thanks to Baba Budan’s for their fine hospitality.
11-11-11 will be remembered as the night that Funk met Whack Formal for a very
memorable musical experience.
2011 Reviews and Interviews 
