Of all the bands of to come out of the so-called soul and R&B revival wave since the mid-2000s, few -- if any -- reach the level of energy and authenticity that The Excitements deliver, both on stage and on record. Spiritual heirs of the era of rollicking shouters and deep soul balladeers, the band has consistently delivered an array of singles and full-lengths in addition to years of international touring -- all with an unmatched tightness and drive.
No longer a secret known only to connoisseurs, The Excitements are a fast and greasy rhythm-and-blues machine, but they also take care of the soul end of things, and their energetic show offers a mix of furious pace and spine-chilling slow moments. They're led by founders Adrià Gual (rhythm guitar) and Daniel Segura (bass), fronted by the explosive vocals of Koko-Jean Davis, and rounded out by the six scorching strings of Albert Greenlight (lead guitar), the thundering beat of José Luis Garrido (drums), and the soulful sounds of Nico Rodríguez Jauregui (baritone sax) and Jordi Blanch (tenor sax).
They've slowly been building a huge following since 2010, leaving audiences wondering how a band from Barcelona is able to channel the show-stopping fierceness and class of such classics as Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Ike & Tina Turner, and all the greats that came out of Memphis, Detroit, and New Orleans during the late '50s and '60s.
The festivals, clubs, and open-air parties at which the band has performed are too numerous to count. While heavily working the European club circuit (in addition to several appearances at London's Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena), The Excitements have brought their powerful set to Paléo Festival (Switzerland), Garorock (France), Shambala Festival (UK), Couleur Café (Belgium), MaMA Festival (France), and Eurosonic Noorderslag (Netherlands), as well as blues and jazz festivals like Cognac Blues Passions (France), Festival de Jazz de San Sebastián (Spain), and La Mercè (Spain) -- not to mention their numerous appearances at Spanish festivals Enclave de Agua and Festival Castell de Peralada, and specialized vintage festivals like Actual (Spain), Euroyeye (Spain), Purple Weekend (Spain), Festival Beat (Italy), Hangar Rockin' (Switzerland), Stompin' Festival (Finland), and Funtastic Dracula Carnival (Spain).
Another secret among connoisseurs, independent Barcelona-based label Penniman Records has been responsible for unleashing The Excitements' 7"s and albums (all produced by legendary raunch king Mike Mariconda). 2016's Breaking The Rule is the band's third full-length of raw soul and classy R&B, blending all their influences and setting down their own sound and style more ambitiously than ever.
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When notorious workaholics of rhythm The Excitements finally ended the two-year, 200-show international tour that followed the 2013 release of their second album, Sometimes Too Much Ain't Enough (PENN 004CD/LP), they immediately threw their road-sharpened repertoire into the studio to record their finest album to date, Breaking The Rule. This third album confirms that the big combo from Barcelona can do whatever they please -- caress you, kick you in the stomach, or both. The steamroller rhythm section pounds under searing guitars and roaring horns while vocalist Koko claws at their hypnotic gyrations with wild abandon. Breaking The Rule offers high-voltage rhythm-and-soul floor-shakers and lease-breakers ("Everything Is Better Since You've Gone," "Fire," "Hold On Together"), ripping, spear-hurling R&B numbers ("Chicken Pickin'," "Did I Let You Down"), heartbreaking mid-tempo ballads ("Breaking The Rule," "Take It Back"), and a pair of rhythmic postcards: a tribute to the noisy streets of New Orleans ("The Mojo Train") and restless nights in a Havana boarding house ("Four Loves"). Inside this explosive cocktail of sonic chaos, a strange, sweet harmony prevails through each and every groove. And as always, it's all wrapped up, signed, sealed, and delivered with the elegantly filthy production of Mike Mariconda.
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PENN 006LP
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LP version. When notorious workaholics of rhythm The Excitements finally ended the two-year, 200-show international tour that followed the 2013 release of their second album, Sometimes Too Much Ain't Enough (PENN 004CD/LP), they immediately threw their road-sharpened repertoire into the studio to record their finest album to date, Breaking The Rule. This third album confirms that the big combo from Barcelona can do whatever they please -- caress you, kick you in the stomach, or both. The steamroller rhythm section pounds under searing guitars and roaring horns while vocalist Koko claws at their hypnotic gyrations with wild abandon. Breaking The Rule offers high-voltage rhythm-and-soul floor-shakers and lease-breakers ("Everything Is Better Since You've Gone," "Fire," "Hold On Together"), ripping, spear-hurling R&B numbers ("Chicken Pickin'," "Did I Let You Down"), heartbreaking mid-tempo ballads ("Breaking The Rule," "Take It Back"), and a pair of rhythmic postcards: a tribute to the noisy streets of New Orleans ("The Mojo Train") and restless nights in a Havana boarding house ("Four Loves"). Inside this explosive cocktail of sonic chaos, a strange, sweet harmony prevails through each and every groove. And as always, it's all wrapped up, signed, sealed, and delivered with the elegantly filthy production of Mike Mariconda.
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PENN 004CD
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The Excitements are a hardworking band, almost hyperactive, so when you are in a state of perpetual motion, things happen fast and time flies. Within six months of their first show in March 2010, the group was touring all over Europe, and recorded their first album. The album was a totally unexpected success, which led the band across the continent for a year and a half. It's sad to say, but Sometimes Too Much Ain't Enough, the second LP, surpasses its predecessor in all respects, and gives the impression that until now, the band was just warming up. The essence of their sound has not changed substantially over the debut: early soul, R&B, and a hint of '50s gospel, but now fully developed, sharpened and fine-tuned, thanks to two years of intense rehearsing and countless shows. It would be difficult to pick out a standout song from this album, because it contains 12 potential singles. Just listen to it, and see that everything is here -- great originals and covers arranged and performed with a nod to all that you love, and a repertoire that offers everything from sophisticated R&B, soul, gospel and Latin, to Stax-style instrumentals and tear-jerking, hypnotic ballads. Masterfully produced by Mike Mariconda, the band moves freely from a small combo to an orchestra with a sense of dynamics that few bands have today. The explosive voice of Koko Jean Davis demands that you jump, dance, and weep all at the same time, confirming that, indeed, there are times when too much simply ain't enough.
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