Welcome back to The Room3 Report: An informal newsletter keeping you up to date on all upcoming performances, music releases, merch drops, and general happenings in the world of Room3.
Things remain crazy in Minneapolis, but we push forward! As we continue to face the frigid air, early sunsets, and all the chaos in the streets on a day-to-day basis, its important to create space for the things in our lives that make us feel hopeful, inspired, and empowered. For myself, and I'm sure for the rest of the guys in Room3, a major source of that light that cuts through the doom & gloom is music. For many of you reading this, I'm sure it's the same! Regardless of what it is that gives your brain a break, or that gives you the juice to keep on keeping on, let this serve as a reminder to make some time for that thing today so that tomorrow you have the energy to fight the power... or simply make it through the day. Sometimes that's a feat in and of itself.
Read on for some BIG news in the world of Room3. Announcing two shows we've been sitting on for a bit, one opening for one of the most legendary fusion bands of all time (hint: look at the pic above) and the other PLAYING WITH one of the most legendary Hip Hop groups of all time. Couldn't be more excited for what's on the horizon for this band.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
February 4 - Dakota (Minneapolis, MN) opening for The Headhunters - Ticket Link
March 4 - Dakota (Minneapolis, MN) Slum Village w/ Room3 - Ticket Link
March 6 - The Anderson Center (Red Wing, MN) - Ticket Link
May 9 - TBA
May 15 - TBA
What's happening??
Yeaaaaa so we're opening for The Headhunters – the epitome, the foundation, the blueprint of funk/jazz fusion – on Feb. 4 at Dakota. And exactly one month later at the same venue, we're performing as the backing band for Slum Village, legendary Detroit hip hop group founded by emcees T3 and Baatin, and the producer of all producers, J-Dilla. Today, following the passing of Baatin and J-Dilla in the mid 2000s (Rest in Peace), Slum Village is kept alive by T3 and long-time contributor Young RJ.
These are shows we'll be telling our kids about, and hopefully ones you'll be telling your kids about too (or you can bring your kids if you already got some, only if you want them to be super cool and cultured). Both are on sale now. Secure a spot while you can.
Gonna recommend some music from both of these incredible groups below to set the mood.
NEW DROPS
Recorded music
Album 2 is in the works. Trying to gather some cover art inspo... Comment your favorite album cover below and tell us what you like about it.
Concert footage
Nothing new to report here. You better believe we'll be getting video & audio of The Headhunters show on Feb. 4 and the Slum Village show on March 4. Check out our YouTube (@room3collective) to revisit some old live concerts!
Merch
New iterations of the classic “Room3” T-shirt are available at all of our live shows. Now in Pink and Dark Purple for $30 a pop. “Bill’s Garden” CDs are also available for $15.
WHAT Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS??
One member of the group hand-selects one album and one live concert to highlight, offering insight into its significance (personal or otherwise). All of the artists highlighted in this segment have at least one thing in common: They are all innovators. These giants set the standard for what’s possible and what's hip, and they inspired us to keep reaching. We hope they do the same for you!
ALBUM(s) OF THE WEEK: "Survival of the Fittest" - The Headhunters (1975) / "Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)" - Slum Village (2004)
LIVE CONCERT(s) OF THE WEEK: "HeadHunters Live 1976 @ Don Kirshner’s New Rock Concert" / "Robert Glasper: J Dilla Tribute | Boiler Room NYC 2019"
It's hard to overstate the impact of both The Headhunters and Slum Village, each in their respective genres but well beyond those bounds as well.
The Headhunters formed in 1973 and immediately changed the game. Originally spearheaded by Herbie Hancock, Mike Clark (drums), and Bill Summers (percussionist), the group gave us timeless classics like "Watermelon Man," "Chameleon," "Butterfly," "Sly," etc. Songs we've all heard before, regardless of if you're a fusion fan or not. Their brand of funk / jazz fusion is lush, melodic, and grooves HARD. The group has recorded and performed without Herbie (despite the occasional guest appearance) for over 50 years, and just released a live album last Fall, "Live at Garcia's Chicago." Safe to say they still got it.
Slum Village emerged in the early 1990's from the Conant Gardens neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. Led by T3, Baatin, and producer J-Dilla, their sound was raw and sample-heavy, with "lazy" grooves laid down by Dilla that make your face contort every which way and sharp lyricism from the group's founding emcees and features like Q-Tip, Common, Busta Rhymes and more. Dilla, in particular, immediately influenced many of the musicians of the mid-to late 90s across several genres who wanted to capture that relaxed style in their playing – a rare case when instrumentalists emulated the producer, rather than the other way around. Robert Glasper, modern jazz keyboardist and culture-bearer, often talks about this Dilla-effect and pays tribute to him and Slum Village regularly in his recorded music and live shows. Check one out below!
-Eli Awada