#otherfeels

LOCAL ANESTHETIC: FootsXColes

I got a chance to catch the (somewhat) new D.C. group FootsXColes at a basement show hosted by Capital Sound and Washington City Paper’s “Best (Don’t Call it a) House Venue,” OTHERFEELS, this past June 15th.  I was taken by their imaginative, modern sound and their honest, straightforward energy. Their boundary-pushing, semi-psychedelic, soundscape-y, and rhythmically-grounded blend of RnB, neo-soul, and alternative influences made for a compelling sonic experience that had me moving and swaying, and at times stuck still, entranced in a refreshing wash of new sounds and classic rhythms. The duo, composed of Foots (drummer) and Coles (production extraordinaire), met at Bowie State University. They released their first official (seven song) EP/album, A Beautiful Mistake, a year ago this month.

Their unusual live instrumentation (keys, synth bass/auxiliary synth, and drums—with Foots also on lead vocals, using gripping, new age-y vocal sounds) had me intrigued before they even started their set. And while I was struck by their music when they began to play, I found that I was perhaps most moved by their familial presence on stage from start to finish. They began the show with a huddled prayer, softening the room in a hush of intimate gratitude for the opportunity to play, to listen, and to connect through music. Then, as the show unfolded, a free, friendly, and communal energy set in and was sustained all the way to the show’s completion.  They seemed to transform the venue from what had been a stage-oriented, performer-spectator) environment into an inclusive basement jam session. Their contentment and sincerity was constant, visible, and infectious, and the music was great.

Definitely try to catch FootsXColes at a D.C. show soon, and check out their album online or on iTunes.