Tropidelic ups the ante by adding horn section
By John Benson
Band re-branding is often a perilous endeavor.
Incubus found platinum ground after leaving behind its nu-metal beginnings for more alternative-rock fodder; however, there are countless bands that, on the way to reshaping their sound, end up in obscurity.
One Northeast Ohio group looking to funk up its image with the addition of a three-piece horn section is rock ’n’ reggae act Tropidelic.
“It just seemed to make sense,” said singer Matthew Roads, a native of Pittsburgh. “We found the guys with personalities that fit in the band and make us better. It’s a big-band kind of funk sound. Before, it might have been scaled back some. Now, it’s much louder. It’s like a wall of sound.”
Already possessing a Slightly Stoopid motif, Tropidelic — Roads, David Pags (bass), Bobby Chronic (guitar), Casey Williams (percussion), Grayson Latimore (drums), Tim Younessi (sax), James Begin (trombone) and Chris Hottle (trumpet) — is now channeling a P-Funk vibe. It makes sense since Roads said his life was changed after seeing the George Clinton-led act in action decades ago.
This new sound will dominate the band’s next studio effort, which is a follow-up to 2012’s “All Heads Unite.” Already there are 20 song ideas in the mix for the new album due out this fall. One tune currently getting stage time is “Look Forward,” an up-tempo and rhyming affair that defines the group’s funk sensibility.
Fans should expect to hear that track, as well as an acoustic cover of Lorde’s recent smash tune “Royals,” when the outfit returns to Youngstown tonight for a date at Cedars.
In fact, hitting the road is what Tropidelic has planned for the future with SXSW dates booked in March and a longer jaunt through the Midwest planned for autumn. As far as traveling is concerned, Roads said the group recently made a purchase to make road trips more palatable.
“We renovated a full-size school bus with 10 bunks,” Roads said. “The whole idea is we’re gearing up for some extended touring. Essentially, it’s a mobile hotel, and we can sleep comfortably in it. It’s our place to crash.”
Most folks would think that’s enough going on, but not the members of Tropidelic. Roads said the band is in the process of opening its own tattoo shop in Cleveland Heights.
So, just to recap, a relatively new horn section and refurbished school bus was recently added to Tropidelic’s world with a new album and tattoo parlor on the way. It sure seems like this is a band on the move.
“We paid our dues for a good five years, and it’s about time,” Roads said. “We feel like we’ve almost hit the ceiling. So right now we’re just pushing the brand as much as possible, branching out farther and seeing what else we can come up with.”