Ronnie Joseph Morgan Sr.
February 6, 2013
Osaka a memorable dining experience
February 7, 2013
There was that one time when Almost Kings were wrapping up a Houma concert with the song “Burn,” that time when the Brickhouse’s electronic system may have been overtaxed, that time when the lights went out, when sparks danced on a power line and when the fire department was summoned.
Tavern owner Kendall Brunet uses that story to lionize the Marietta, Ga.-based band as they prepare for a return to his downtown bar. Known for whipping crowds into a frenzy with a sound self-described as a meld of Eminem, Linkin Park and the Beastie Boys, Almost Kings help Houma usher in Mardi Gras with a concert following the Krewe of Hercules Feb. 1.
“I think that was the second time we had blown that place out,” says the band’s frontman Bryan Bozeman (Boze). “It was crazy. It blew out the whole thing. I couldn’t believe it, I was like, ‘This is the most priceless timing ever (because of the song’s name).’ That place was blowing up, for real.”
Almost Kings incorporate rock, hip-hop and pop principles in their music, a hybrid sound complemented with Boze’s breathless vocals and a tempo that is distinctly geared toward hype. They are indeed a party band, urging the crowd at times to chant along and inciting a form of civilized bedlam by bouncing around and presenting their searing package.
The members’ ages range from 26-31, aligning their maturation with the aforementioned influences, as well as Rage Against the Machine, Korn and Outkast. Boze remembers growing up with Cypress Hill, one of the foremost hybrid groups through the 90s and into the aughts.
“We offer so much to so many different types of people,” Boze says.
Almost Kings’ members decided to meld together in 2008 from various bands. Boze, the superhuman-tongued vocalist, drummer Kevin Compton and bassist Danny Helms forged with guitarist Ryan Yunker.
“In an unarrogant way, we tried to put together a super band,” Boze says. It all just kind of linked together. It started off as a hip-hop, ended up being rock and it got more rock, and now it’s kind of all over the place.
“We put together album not of what we want to be or what we’re trying to be as musicians, but what we feel, and each member feels something completely different from the other so it gives the CD and the music such variety that it’s hard to miss any person out there that likes any kind of music. … People have loved us so far.”
While the band’s 21,000 Facebook fans hint at a strong online following, the extent of Almost Kings’ draw became unmistakable when the band won CBS’ inaugural “From Your Garage to Grammy Live” online contest. After beating out more than 900 bands in online voting, the Atlanta-area band performed for a webcast the day before the 2012 awards were distributed.
“It was cool to have that feeling that you have this group of people who really believe in you enough to outvote 900-1,000 bands out there,” Boze says.
Almost Kings, who play approximately 200 shows each year mostly in the eastern U.S., have made a handful of trips to the Brickhouse. It is one of the only venues the band uses when it’s within state borders, so it offers a chance for friends and family of Compton, a Slidell native, to catch the band.
“We had some buddies that played (the Brickhouse),” Boze says. “They’re from Atlanta, too, and they were talking about how cool the place was and the owner and all the people, so we just linked up with Kendall and got out there. … It’s been awesome.”
The independent band has released two albums: “Filthy Nice,” an LP, and “Club Rock EP.” The buzz around the band has prompted a couple of record labels to make deals, but Boze says the group wants to make sure it lands the right deal, one that would afford them musical flexibility and not solely money.
“We feel that most labels these days are basically just banks,” Boze says. “We wouldn’t mind a label if it’s the right deal and the right fit for us, but right now we’re just as happy doing it ourselves.”
Almost Kings, managed by Alejandro Simmonds, is still finalizing the 2013 tour schedule, though they hope to be more visible on the festival circuit.
The band hopes to release a music video for “Hold On Me” this month and plans to continue releasing new music via singles – rather than a full album – throughout the year, Boze says.
“We want to kind of ease people into it,” Boze says. “The goal right now is to drop that album and hopefully get some feedback on it. Our management is really pushing to get radio play out of it.”
Almost Kings, featuring Bryan (Boze) Bozeman, Kevin Compton, Danny Helms and Ryan Yunker, play the Brickhouse Feb. 1. The Atlanta-based rap-rock hybrid has played a handful of shows at the Houma nightclub.
