Lucky Chops, the five-member brass funk and party-starter band, has been in India for just a few days, but unsurprisingly, the members (trombonist Josh Holcomb, saxophonist Daro Behroozi, trumpet player Joshua Gawel, drummer Charles Sams IV and sousaphone player Raphael Buyo aka Yung Raffy aka Patchy Brian) are already scoping out public spots to perform their raucous yet smooth jams. “So far in Mumbai I’ve seen plenty of spaces that would be perfect to play in. It’s best not to go for the most crowded, touristy areas, as they have more rule enforcement. Instead, really think of unusual places and you may find success,” shares Holcomb.
After all, the New York-based band has earned viral video fame and acclaim alike for its performances at NYC subway stations, and for releasing several albums of high-energy instrumental music. From American commuters to Nigerian kids and many audiences in between, the 12-year-old troupe is now adding India to its tour map this month. The band opened yesterday in Pune, and will perform today in Kolkata before heading to Hyderabad tomorrow as part of Johnnie Walker The Journey, a music, cinema and performing arts showcase.
Inevitably Indian
Holcomb says an India tour was inevitable. “We actually used to play in Indian weddings in NYC,” he laughs. While here, the members plan on meeting local brass brands, including baraat troupes. “No matter where we go, it’s incredible to see how universal brass music is.”
Over the course of playing public and private gigs, he says Lucky Chops learned the power of reaching “the hearts of everyday people just going about their lives”. It is one of the reasons the troupe still goes back between tours to play inside subway stations, now gaining instant recognition and a ready audience. “It also helps you become a better performer and overall entertainer, since there is a lot of competition,” he says. At a time when venues in India still struggle with local enforcement, civic authorities and resident associations for noise levels, Holcomb says displaying your art in public spaces “is an invaluable experience for a performing musician”. He does, however, add a word of advice for musicians trying their hand at busking or performing in public: “Always be respectful of the authorities, you don’t want to get on their bad side!”
Playing to a crowd
Of course, once a band like Lucky Chops gets started, there is so much funky groove in the house that there is little doubt anyone would stand still. Even then, Holcomb admits that audience responses have been varied. “In some Dutch towns, they stand completely still but then wildly applaud between songs. In other Dutch towns, they go so crazy we can’t even hear ourselves play during the music, but then talk loudly between songs. Every region is different and that’s part of the fun.”
Up next for the band is an album — the follow-up to the 2018 release Virtue and Vice Sessions Vol 1, slated for release in April. “We stretched even further to fuse multiple styles and try very creative production techniques for the first time,” shares the trombonist. “Normally, we just record our tracks live in the studio and release them, but for this album we deliberately took a long time working on the production process, adding tonnes of new instruments, sounds (and guests) to the equation,” he concludes.
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