KC Roberts and the Live Revolution are out to make you forget
your troubles.
A longtime staple in the Toronto music scene, they have consistently sold out venues like The Annex Wreck Room and The Horseshoe Tavern. Their new album, Parkdale Funk 2: Sides, has it all: techno,
hip-hop, funk and rock ‘n’ roll.
The Journal spoke with KC Roberts about the new record, crowd-funding and branching
out musically.
Were you happy with end result of Parkdale Funk 2?
Yeah, totally. We wanted to explore the different sides of the band. There was more rocky stuff, some techno stuff and hip-hop stuff. Going into it, I knew that I was making art.
It feels like we had a kid. Because it was done over such a long period of time, everyone felt that way. I dragged everyone through the creative process.
You’re known for utilizing multiple genres in your music. It makes me curious — who were your musical influences?
When I was 14, rock was home base. I grew up listening to Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and all that. My dad was a jazz musician, so that came up a lot too. When I was older I got into techno. I started going to jungle beat concerts. I could tell the difference between good house and bad house, which was new. Also the old stuff like James Brown. The groove became important to me. Funk was the centre of everything. We were a funk band that got rocky, instead of a rock band that got funky.
You’re known for a having a great live show. What are you hoping people get out of
your concerts?
That’s like asking “what do you want a girl to get out of loving you?” I just hoped you liked me. Our mission statement is to give people a good time. When we come to town, we want people to know that they’ll forget their troubles and dance around.
Do you feel your music is reflective of Toronto?
As much as anyone. I grew up in Toronto. When I write, I mention different neighborhoods. You can’t help but pay attention to the area around you.
We are also reflective due to our diversity. We got a Colombian percussionist, a drummer from the Philippines, guys from Sudbury, our keyboardist is from Nova Scotia. We’ve got a mashup.
KC Roberts and the Live Revolution will be playing at Clark Hall March 14.
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