The Austin-based ten-piece collective of musicians known as Hard Proof are the sole purveyors of African funk in the state of Texas. They dont just play Afrobeat per se, but funk and jazz music from and inspired by the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The band started almost on a dare, and a proclamation that they would convene every Sunday morning until an album had been written. After about a year a lineup had materialized featuring members of Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, The Calm Blue Sea, Cougar, Ocote Soul Sounds, the Echocentrics, and several other notable Austin acts.
While the album was well received, there seems to be universal agreement that their live shows are something not to be missed. Austin taste-maker Laurie Gallardo of KUT radio may have put it best: "This local nine-piece ensemble always puts on an electrifying live show, an absolute blowout of non-stop percussion action and blasting brass, bri...
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The Austin-based ten-piece collective of musicians known as Hard Proof are the sole purveyors of African funk in the state of Texas. They dont just play Afrobeat per se, but funk and jazz music from and inspired by the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The band started almost on a dare, and a proclamation that they would convene every Sunday morning until an album had been written. After about a year a lineup had materialized featuring members of Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, The Calm Blue Sea, Cougar, Ocote Soul Sounds, the Echocentrics, and several other notable Austin acts.
While the album was well received, there seems to be universal agreement that their live shows are something not to be missed. Austin taste-maker Laurie Gallardo of KUT radio may have put it best: "This local nine-piece ensemble always puts on an electrifying live show, an absolute blowout of non-stop percussion action and blasting brass, bringing the best of both worlds to the stage by mixing classic styles and plenty of their personal panache to own the show."
As if they werent busy enough between Hard Proof and their other bands, the Hard Proof Horns have found work as sidemen with such notables as Spoon, Antibalas, Spanish Gold, Broken Social Scene, the Walkmen, the Dave Matthews Band, Band of Horses and others.
In 2013, Hard Proof released their first vinyl, partnering with Canada's Kept Records for the Dragon/Tere single that they tracked with Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma and Brownout.
In 2014 Hard Proof released a Cassette Store day cassingle as a preview of their next full length, and played their hometown's marquis festival, Austin City Limits. They are currently finishing their second full length with Austin producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith and getting primed to blow some minds during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April.
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