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Family
Groove Company is a four piece band from Chicago that is turning heads
and catching ears with a sound that is uncannily fresh, and live performances
that simply envelop audiences in the fun, excitement and passion that
the band radiates from the stage. Growing audiences everywhere FGC plays
attest to the impact the band is making, as they bring the excitement
of their live performances to ever growing venues, in more and more cities
across the country. Appearances at most of the Midwest's major music festivals
(Summer Camp, 10,000 Lakes, Summerfest, Wakarusa) have helped along the
way, the band's steady shift from club dates to small theaters and music
halls points to the great things to come, and the over 50,000 live CDs
that have been distributed and traded all over the country speak for themselves.
Family Groove Company is a band that music fans should not miss.
FGC integrates the groove sensibility developed by funk/jazz crossover
artists like Herbie Hancock and Medeski, Martin, and Wood, with thoughtful,
tight song writing that takes cues from the likes of Steely Dan and the
Beatles. The result? An infectious, fresh sound the band calls "groove
informed jazz/rock". 2008 marked the release of not one, but two
FGC records - the band's first official live album, Live in Chicago
(February), and the band's third studio record, Models
and Metrics (October). Live in Chicago captures the band
where they are most comfortable, on stage in front of a live audience,
and offers listeners a taste of the extraordinary experience fans have
been enjoying at FGC performances for several years now. Models and
Metrics represents the strongest statement FGC has made with a record
to date. The album delivers high-energy rockers, touching moments of introspection,
extraordinarily tight ensemble playing, and profoundly engaging twists
and turns, both musically and lyrically.
Based
out of Chicago since October 2002, Family Groove Company averages over
100 performances a year, reaching major markets in the Northeast, South,
Midwest, and as far west as the Rockies. However, FGC actually traces
its earliest beginnings to Los Angeles, CA. In January 2001, guitarist
Adam Lewis and keyboardist Jordan Wilkow met bassist Janis Wallin and
drummer Mattias Blanck while studying music at the Musicians Institute
in Hollywood. The chemistry between the four musicians was felt instantly,
and it wasn't long before they recorded their first demo and began performing
throughout Southern California. A tour of the entire West coast followed
shortly thereafter, and in spring 2002, the band released their 10-track
debut album, Reachin'. Extremely proud of their first studio effort,
Reachin' reflects FGC's commitment to conscientious song craft,
and the band's determination to offer material of compositional interest
along with their solo/improv ideas.
With the number of markets available to the band limited by the vast
expanse of the West, in the summer of 2002 FGC made the big decision to
relocate to Chicago. Since fall '02, the band has maintained an aggressive
touring schedule that has included tremendous headlining performances
and
high profile festival appearances all over the country. In April 2006,
FGC released their second studio album, The
Charmer, and took another step toward delivering their collective
sonic vision. Jazz harmonic ideas encounter thick grooves, and improvisation
negotiates tight song writing, as each track brings shape and contour
to the band's sound. A fierce attentiveness to composition complements
FGC's passion for improvisation, and with The Charmer the band
offered a sound that captivated audiences ranging from the most casual
music fan to the most critical musician. Janis, Jordan, Adam, and Mattias
all remain in passionate pursuit of the cultivation and refinement of
FGC's sound, and are extremely excited about what's in store for the band
in the coming years.
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