First podcast mention
We are so excited to have been mentioned in the 2/14/2010 episode of podcast entitled "Random Acts of Funk" by Steve Fox. Please check it out in iTunes!
8 ohms with Chopteeth at the Whiskey
8Ohms with Chopteeth — at the Whiskey by Elaine Nagey
The 8 Ohms band is out there bringing horn heavy funk/reggae/soul to our area. They got something really unique planned for November 20. They’ll be teaming up with CHOPTEETH-a 13 piece Afrobeat/funk big band. CHOPTEETH is a award winning cultural band and has graced the stage of the Kennedy Center.
Together the bands will be at the Whiskey on November 20 with two shows-9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 8 Ohms will create the sounds of James Brown, and reggae familiars like Bob Marley along with their original works. Chopteeth straddles the world of “hip-shakin’ West African music and American popular music. They’ll be joined at the Whiskey by DJ Selah who has perform with other local talent including Jah Works and the Pietasters.
By music stands, this is an early event. It’s only $10 at the door. For more info, go to the 8 Ohms site. Learn more about Chopteeth.
AFROBEAT FUNK & WHISKEY- Nov '09
HOMETOWNANNAPOLIS.com Nov. '09
Description
The 8 ohms are an Annapolis Based 10 piece horn heavy funk/reggae/soul band. They have a unique sound of horn heavy funk,such as James Brown to familar reggae sounds like Bob Marley along with unforgettable original songs. Also have been chosen to play an upcoming Uso tour.The 8 ohms will be hosting an event at The Whiskey Nov 20th with Chopteeth. Chopteeth a 14 piece afrobeat/funk big band has played at some of the most premier venues such as the Kennedy center & more.Chopteeth can be described as the common groove between the funkiest, most hip-shakin, West African and American popular music on the planet. Also, joining these 2 great bands will be DJ Selah, a local Anne Arundel county DJ with years of experiecnce & performance. Has mixed & performed with other local talents such as Jah Works & The Pietasters. This is an earlier event you do not want to miss. Bands will start at 9pm. 21 +, only $10 at the door.
4 ways to hear 8 ohms
Evidently, you, the readers of Around Crownsville, have been getting out to hear our local band 8Ohms as they’ve played the local spots like Armadillo’s and the Whiskey. They’re happy to entertain you. I’ve been at a couple of their shows – I don’t want to jinx them, but they have a broad range of appeal. Young folks dance. The , ahem, mature audience members listen and occasionally show up the younger dancers!
Now 8Ohms is branching out. They’ll be at Hightide Jamfest in Dewey Beach on May 2nd. They’ll take the stage at 11:40 p.m. on that day during this two-day musical feast showcasing over thirty bands.
It’s back to The Whiskey for Cinco de Mayo, Tuesday, May 5th. They’ll be there with the “Higher Hands,” another Annapolis favorite. They’ll “keep it funky” all night long. 8Ohms will be on stage from 9-10:30 p.m.
You can follow the band to Ram’s Head Shore House in Stevensville on May 22 then its back to Armadillos on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend from 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Kevin Basiliko and the band appreciate your support.
The Capital - September 08, 2008
The Capital - September 08
Crownsville Band Will Perform at the Fair
by Elaine Nagey
On Sunday at the Anne Arundel County Fair, you can hear the 8 Ohms Band when it plays on the main stage. Crownsville can claim this funk, soul, rockin' reggae group for its own.
Founder Kevin Basiliko is a local with a life history of music. In 1984, he started playing saxophone in the middle school band. He continued into and through high school when he began playing in live bands. They played restaurants, bars, weddings - just about any function imaginable.
He kept on playing. He stayed with his last band, the Unity Reggae Band, for 15 years. The group was fairly successful with three national tours and a gig in Jamaica. They recorded four albums.
Ultimately, Kevin wanted to branch out. He wanted to move into a different style of music and to create his own sound - heavy on the horns. As he searched for his sound, he recorded with other groups on more albums and he refined his vision for his band.
He wanted to mix funk, soul and rock into sort of a melange of music. He wanted to bring in some of the older sounds with a twist.
As a sax player, he heard horns figuring prominently in refreshed Aretha Franklin and Led Zeppelin.
Once he had solidified his vision, he set about building the band.
Last November, he started picking his musicians. He found Chris Rhodes, a bass player from Odenton. Chris had been a touring musician who had played from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., and everywhere in between. Morgan Russell, on tenor sax, is a full-time music teacher who toured Europe, and U.S. Guitar player Dennis Silver brought the new group the experience of having played with some of the artists who created the inspiring sounds. Tony Brown, an accomplished drummer, was well-known in jazz and gospel circles.
Kevin still had a few holes in the sound. He needed a keyboard player and a female vocalist, so he turned to Craigslist.com. He cast his Internet search across the Baltimore cyber-area. He snagged Scott Schoem. Scott's keyboard is now the glue that binds their sound. As an added bonus he plays the Hammond organ, bringing that unique timbre to the band.
That just left the female vocalist. Jen Gens grew up in Crownsville. She has had music in her life since age 5 when she started piano lessons. She stopped when she hit high school. Athletics took over as her main interest. Besides, she'd been too shy to sing in front of large group. It took high school graduation to get her to sing in front of a group. Her knees were shaking. Once in college, she came out of her musical shell by jamming with friends. She met a girl named Laura Anderson who sang professionally.
Laura would sing anywhere. She'd belt out a song on the subway. She helped Jen realize she could do this. Jen's second singing engagement was at Mass while she was at Boston College.
After college graduation, she took a few odd jobs until she found an ad on Craigslist. It was Kevin's ad. She answered it but didn't follow up right away. In fact, Kevin had started rehearsing with another female vocalist. When they finally connected, they realized that they lived only about five minutes apart. They were Crownsville neighbors.
Jen's voice won her the eighth spot in 8 Ohms Band. Her voice has been described as Janis Joplin meets Joss Stone. She's been called soulful, though she brings a perkiness to the stage.
Practicing at Kevin's house, 8 Ohms Band has been playing locally at Armadillos in Annapolis and at Hemingway's just over the Bay Bridge.
The group's music and Kevin's experience in booking his former band landed them a plum gig when they played the Inner Harbor main stage between the pavilions on Saturday night of Labor Day weekend.
In spite of the downpour that night, they had a huge crowd. Friends and family have noticed the response of their audiences. Even in a come-and-go venue such as the Harbor, people stay and listen.
All this experience has them ready to light up the stage at the fairgrounds' grassy hillside amphitheater. They'll be doing two hours of music on Sunday afternoon.
Fairgoers can expect to hear plenty of recognizable tunes as they give their twist to Hall and Oates, Bill Withers, Sly and the Family Stone, The White Stripes, Prince and the Funky Meters. Funk is their sound - heavy on the horns with rock and soul.
After the fair, they'll be playing at Armadillos again Sept. 20 and Nov. 21. With the onset of winter, they'll be writing original works for their own album as the next step in their evolution. One of their dreams is to give back. They'd like to do a USO tour.
Soundbetter.net
Check out this great blog that highlights great local musicians and shows, Soundbetter.net.
Here's an article from October 2008, which mentions our fearless leader, Kevin Basiliko!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
It's a Soul Full Party
For over a year the ForQuarters Collective have been producing a killer, monthly Funk and Soul showcase called the Soul Full Party. This Friday the party makes it's debut at the 8 x 10 in Baltimore with special guests Ms. Sara & The Help and The Grilled Lincolns joining Soul Full mainstays, Higher Hands.
You are listening to the SoulFull Sampler - October 2008, featuring the ForQuarters DJs, Jason Joseph and J Mack, and hosted by the funkiest cat in town, Jay Crawdads of the Higher Hands. Produced by SOUNDBETTER.NET, this mix gives you a taste of what you can expect at a Soul Full Party. Highlights include a few choice cuts from the Soul Full DJS and two live Higher Hands tracks from the last Soul Full Party. Special guest Kevin Basiliko of The 8ohms appears on saxophone for the 2nd live cut, tearing it up as he and Matt of the Higher Hands trade solos back and forth. Killer stuff.
Get Your Plunge On! Plungapalooza '09
January 24 2009
Get Your Plunge On! Plungapalooza '09 Featuring the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge Set for January 24 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland. ... and national vendors, live music by The Kelly Bell Band and 8 ohms Band
Around Crownsville
Around Crownsville - A website about our neighboring town with content provided by one of our favorite editors. Thanks for the support!
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Around Crownsville- February 09
Can 25 year olds & 55 year olds find happiness with the same band? by Elaine Nagey
I’ll never see 25 again, or 35 or 45 – you get the idea. Yet, I found myself in the middle of the Annapolis bar scene on Saturday night where 25 year olds seemed to be the senior citizens of the crowd. Why?
Because 8 Ohms was playing upstairs at Armadillo’s, that’s why. A friend had invited me to join them for dinner and then a few sets of 8 Ohms. I got most of the message correct – I just missed the part of what restaurant for dinner. I was focused on Armadillos.
Fortunately the invitation to hear 8 Ohms, specifically our friend and band vocalist Jen Gens, was widely distributed. I ran into some former co-workers. We broke bread at Armadillos before moving to the upstairs bandstand, dance floor, bar, etc.
The band hadn’t started playing yet so we spent some talking to Jen. Actually, those co-workers were her former grade school teachers. They have vivid memories of little Jennifer.
As the band started to play, we in the older set, stood around awkwardly listening and foolishly trying to continue our conversation. The music started, and we watched as two young women started to dance. We could see shadows of our former selves. In 20 years, ahem, 35 years dancing hadn’t changed. Even the clothing hadn’t changed much – what goes around, comes around.
This band is good. They appeal to those who regularly frequent the likes of Armadillos. They appealed to us–slightly older! They convey their love of music through their musicianship. They obviously know their instruments. I watched as the keyboardist and saxophonist carried on a quick conversation without missing a beat.
Their rhythms drive the music home with an intensity that comes from solid brass, strong bass, versatile guitar and keyboard and a percussionist keeping it all together. Jen’s strong, sultry vocals top the sound with a timbre reminiscent of Janis Joplin – at least for us old fogeys! Young or old, it’s easy to enjoy the band’s sound with Jen’s voice.
As the first set unwound, we were joined by the rest of the older generation. Jen was now surrounded by the parents of her Indian Creek School classmates. She pointed us all out to the rest of the audience, gave a big wave, and then launched into Superstition by Stevie Wonder!
By 11:00 p.m. I noticed my skin taking on an orangish hue – I was turning into a pumpkin. My ears, accustomed to the quiet of home, non-surround sound television, were throbbing. My throat was almost raw from trying to carry on conversations with all the other parents. I took time to marvel how Jen and her schoolmates had matured in to such nice young adults; all the while none of us had aged a day — amazing.
Oh, and yes, 8 Ohms music crosses the generation lines.
Chesapeake Music Guide - February 01, 2009
Chesapeake Music Guide - Sunday, February 01, 2009
What's the Buzz? February 09
Category: Music
CMG invites you to join us for our Peace, Love & Music Festival at The Whiskey Annapolis on Saturday, February 28th. The festival’s objective is to raise funds during this time of year and also to celebrate our ninth year in print as the Chesapeake Music Guide! 2009 will also mark the 20th Anniversary, if you are counting back to 1989 when the magazine began under the guidance of Larry Freed as the Annapolis Music Scene. With this economy, your support couldn’t be more needed. There are 11 bands scheduled to play and it all starts at 5:00 pm and the music never stops until 2:00 am. All this, plus silent auctions and giveaways for only 10 bucks! The bands will be playing up and downstairs in order to keep it going nonstop.
The schedule is as follows: Opening up the downstairs stage is an acoustic act by Kevin Lebling and warming up the upstairs stage at 6:00 pm will be the 8 Piece band 8 Ohms. 8 Ohms has just been selected to be part of an upcoming USO Tour. They are an all-star funk ensemble, featuring dazzling female vocals, a spicy full horn section, and a solid rhythm section. The band is comprised of Hammond organ, guitar, bass and drums. The 8 Ohms will definitely leave you groovin’ and shakin.’
Then downstairs the Fitzmaurice Band will do a set of bluegrass for our listening pleasure. Then we bounce back up the steps for a set from Ren Rick, who will debut her new full band. Skip back down the stairs for a set from Patty Reese (who will perform with Deanna Bogart at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest in 2009). Upstairs D’Vibe and Conga hit the stage around 8:00pm. Then it’s back downstairs for an extended set from 24 Karat Rock. CMG favorite Dean Rosenthal’s 4Piece Racket will perform his magic on the main stage upstairs. Following Dean will be the amazing Remnants, true rock and roll fun! Closing down the stage below will be Kevin, Roy and Friends. They are a new trio in town so let’s give them a listen. The music continues upstairs with the rockin’ Niki Barr Band, and The Names will take us home at the end of the night. So there you have it.
A great night of music, and if that wasn’t enough to get you out to the Whiskey for this CMG Event, there will be giveaways and silent auctions for things like dining gift certificates to many local venues and concert tickets to shows at the Avalon Theatre, The 8x10 Club in Baltimore and The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival.
Thanks to all the CMG supporters, the above-named bands and these fine venues for their generous donations and support - places like Stan & Joe’s Saloon, The Whiskey, Pusser’s Landing, Old Bowie Towne Grill, Adam’s Ribs, Federal House, Pirate’s Cove, Happy Trails Bike Shop, Lures and Heroes Pub. I truly am humbled by and very grateful for all of their support.
What a Night! - February 28 2009
What a Night! - February 28 by Michael Rhian Driscoll
On the night of February 28. CMG presented two stages on two floors of our area's top musician's showcasing artists who came out to show their support for the way the magazine has supported them over the past three decades. There was an audience as well, a nearly full-to-capacity crowd of loyal music fans. The evening began with Patty Resse doing a solo set downstairs. The 8 ohms band got things started on the upstairs stage with a fine performance...."Maybe now that the recession has destroyed my plans to tour the world I can give the area's music the attention it deserves. Like for instance the brassy energy of the 8 Ohms Band 8 -piece with horn section. Try saying that while waliking fast up a couple of flights of stairs. Better yet, just take a listen."- Michael Rhian Driscoll
Chesapeake Music Guide - March 05,2009
Chesapeake Music Guide- March 05,2009
What's the Buzz? - February 28
Category: Music
The CMG Peace, Love & Music Festival at The Whiskey was well attended & a huge success. The Festival not only showcased many great local talents but the proceeds helped the Chesapeake Music Guide to continue supporting live entertainment.. " I would like to shout out to the 8 OHMS BAND, I knew they had to be good but I was surprised to discover them to be great! What a fantastic set of musicians. These guys have their sound down pat!"- Becky Rusteberg
rewindbassist@yahoo.com
Chris Strough
rewindbassist@yahoo.com June 07,2009
"With almost 20 years experience as a performance musician, and 15 years as a sound engineer, I can definitely say that 8 Ohms is a group that has their <ahem> together. Tight horns, killer groove from the drums and bass, and stirring lead vocals are the only way to BEGIN to describe this group. "
Whole Foods Market
WholeFoodsMarket.com
Ten Things You'll Love About the New Whole Foods Market Annapolis ... June 3rd - The 8 Ohms Band ...
Annapolis based band. June 2009
http://twitter.com/WholeFoodsAnp
Live music in our cafe this and every Wednesday from 6pm-8:30pm. This week - The 8 Ohms Band. Horn heavy funk beats the humpday blues!
6:43 PM Jun 1st from web
