Clarke Egerton - T-bone/Vocals
Vhondy Strickland - Woodwinds
Steve Baker - Trumpet/Vocals
Rodney Ogden - Trumpet
Dan Lantier - Vocals/Percussion
Charlotte Renee Gregory - Vocals
Charlie D'Agostino - Keyboards
Matt Kanon - Guitars/Vocals
Jeff Nelson - Bass
Todd Proctor - Drums/Vocals
Influences
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears, Maceo Parker, Kool & The Gang, Commodores, James Brown, Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones, Parliament, Sly Stone, Ides of March, The Funk Brothers, Memphis Horns, Seawind, Chase, and too many more to mention!
Sample Songlist
(I Wanna) Testify - Bull City Syndicate
Beginnings - Chicago
Boogie Man - KC & The Sunshine Band
Brickhouse - Commodores
Brother Man - Bull City Syndicate
Bull City Groove - Bull City Syndicate
Call On Me - Chicago
Carolina - Bull City Syndicate
Christmas Song - Chicago
Conga - Miami Sound Machine
Crazy In Love - Beyonce'
Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? - Chicago
Don't Cha Wanna Ride/Soulful Strut - Joss Stone
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
Get Down Tonight - KC & The Sunshine Band
Get On The Boat - Prince
Give it to Me Baby - Rick James
Go Up Moses - Bull City Syndicate
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Chicago
Hollywood Swinging - Kool & The Gang
I Missed Again - Phil Collins
I Want To Take You Higher - Sly & The Family Stone
If You Want Me to Stay - Sly & The Family Stone
In the Stone - Earth, Wind & Fire
Jingle Bells - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Jump, Jive an' Wail - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang
Ladies' Night - Kool & The Gang
Lady (You Bring Me Up) - Commodores
Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
Living In America - James Brown
Long Train Running - Doobie Brothers
Lucretia Macevil - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Make Me Smile - Chicago
My Baby Loves You - Bull City Syndicate
Never Gone - Bull City Syndicate
No Reply At All - Genesis
Pass the Peas - Maceo Parker
Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
Rock This Town - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Saturday In The Park - Chicago
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sex Machine - James Brown
Shake - The Gap Band
Shake Your Body Down - The Jacksons
Shake Your Booty - KC & The Sunshine Band
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sing A Simple Song - Sly & The Family Stone
Sing A Song - Earth, Wind & Fire
Slippery When Wet - Commodores
Smooth - Carlos Santana & Rob Thomas
So Very Hard To Go - Tower of Power
Son of a Preacherman - Dusty Springfield
Soul Man - Blues Brothers
Soul Power - Maceo Parker
Soul Vaccination - Tower of Power
Soul with a Capital 'S' - Tower of Power
Spinning Wheels - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Supercollider - Bull City Syndicate
Supernatural Thing Pt. 2 - Bull City Syndicate
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - Sly & The Family Stone
That's the Way (I Like It) - KC & The Sunshine Band
This Time It's Real - Tower of Power
Understand It - Bull City Syndicate
Vehicle - Ides of March
What Is Hip? - Tower of Power
White Christmas - Chicago
You Make Me Feel - Bull City Syndicate
You're Still a Young Man - Tower of Power
You've Made Me So Very Happy - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Zoot Suit Riot - Cherry Poppin' Daddies
And MANY, MANY more! Including a full variety list, if the situation requires, as well as dozens of jazz standards.
Please see our other MySpace page for a more comprehensive song list:
http://myspace.com/bullcitysyndicate
Sounds Like
In addition to their own stuff, (myspace.com/bullcitysyndicate), BCS is the only band on the East Coast presenting an authentic Tribute to the great horn bands of the past 40 years - including: Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears, Kool & the Gang, Ides of March, Maceo Parker, and others. So sometimes they sound like themselves, and sometimes they sound like their horn band heroes!
Dire Straits once sang these fateful lyrics: "They don't give a damn about any trumpet playin' band. That ain't what they call rock and roll."
Well, Bull City Syndicate begs to differ, as do 100's-of-millions of horn band fans around the world who continue to attend sold-out performances by the likes of Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire.
While Bull City Syndicate remains true to their own material, their fans continue to request the classic hits of these great Horn Bands . . . and BCS delivers! Now, the band has put together the ONLY known "Horn Band Tribute" show on the East Coast, (and maybe in the entire country, for that matter). The new show is not only great for showcase clubs and theaters, but also perfect for festivals and other special events. Included in the show are the greatest hits of Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears, and others. They even offer a special twist - something they refer to as, "If the 80's Gave a Damn," in which they showcase several monster hits from the 1980's, as if they had been originally presented by a real horn band, rather than with a bunch of synthesizers. (Take that, Dire Straits!)
No other band on the East Coast pays Tribute to the great horn bands as does Durham, North Carolina's favorite band, Bull City Syndicate. With their intricate fusion of rhythm-section funk, rock and jazz, 4-horn firepower and soaring vocals, this band has established themselves as the Premier Horn Band in the Mid-Atlantic region. Featuring the Bull City Horns on their front line, Bull City Syndicate has been building a loyal and ever-growing following for over 15 years - featured as Headliners and Mainstage stalwarts at regional music festivals, colleges, private and corporate events, as well as working with many national charities. BCS is clearly much more than a cliche' wedding band with a horn section.
Bull City Syndicate started as a blues band in August 1993, originally going by the name “Soul Kitchen.” The band later morphed into a 70’s retro band with the addition of trombonist, Clarke Egerton, and reed man, Vhondy Strickland. After adding a trumpet to the mix, the “Bull City Horns” were born, and added to the name of the band. For many years, “Soul Kitchen & The Bull City Horns” was one of the most popular club acts in the Triangle of North Carolina, setting the standard for horn bands in the region.
A significant move forward in direction came with the addition of Steve Baker to the horn section, eight years ago. He not only brought “lead trumpet” chops, which allowed the band to start performing more complicated, and more powerful horn arrangements, he also brought another lead vocal to the band – adding more versatility and a different timbre to the overall performance. This was the point when "The Bull City Horns" really moved to the front of the band. Clarke, Vhondy and Steve have been together for over eight years, and with trumpeter Rodney Ogden now in his third year, there's simply no horn section from the Carolinas as tight as The Bull City Horns. Many bands have a "horn section," but there are few groups as committed to being a true "Horn Band," as is Bull City Syndicate.
That said, the next BIG change came with the addition of lead vocalist, Dan Lantier. Dan’s vocal range simply blows people away. Whether he's matching the soaring falsetto of Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, or singing one of Bull City Syndicate's originals, when Dan goes into the musical stratosphere people are left with their mouths agape. His unique and rare talent not only shaped the direction of the writing and arrangements on their own CD, but also allows for a song selection in their live performances that few band's can match.
Most of the current line-up has been together for over two years now, in which time the band recorded their first CD, “You Make Me Feel." As a by-product of their success beyond the Raleigh/Durham market, the name change to “Bull City Syndicate” (in homage to the city of the band’s birth) became necessary to avoid trademark infringement with another "Soul Kitchen." This critically-acclaimed CD pushed BCS from being just a top-drawing local cover band, to one of the most in-demand special event and festival bands in the Mid-Atlantic.
“You Make Me Feel” is a genuinely compelling funk/rock/horn-band experience. Retro, while not blatantly so, the record often reminds us of what the current pop hit-factories most often fail to deliver - namely, great melodies, real vocalists, and an in-your-face horn section. While it’s easy to point out the influences, (both subtle and overt), of Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Sly, James Brown, The Temptations, and the like, the originality of the horn arrangements help sidestep any direct or presupposed comparisons to the most famous of horn bands – i.e. Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, or Chicago. Bull City Syndicate definitely gives an honorary nod to their horn band predecessors, but this record proves they are their own band.
Bull City Syndicate - Horn Band Tribute's Friend Space (Top 32)
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Looking for Rock Stars We are now hiring for all positions. No experience necessary. If you are energetic and outgoing and like to have fun while you make money, we are looking for you. Apply at 328 Tate St. Tuesday, 4/28 between 2pm-9pm.
Friday Oct. 31st Club Kryptonite presents...TALES FROM THE KRYPT Doors open at 9pm 18 and up admitted $5,000.00 Costume Contest for Best Mens, Best Womens, and Best Group
They're just fun. Period. You should check out why Cafe' Mars are regulars at the best rooms in the Triangle and the Triad . . . especially, Amra's! They're back, Thursday, Sept. 4th - 9:30pm to 1:30am.
Cafe' Mars has grown into one of the most popular bands from the Triangle, for many reasons. Made up of full time, teaching musicians, these guys can play. Drew, Todd, Ben, Steve & Charlotte, have all played, recorded and toured with national and international recording artists, Grammy winners and of course, the very best talent from North Carolina. These are some of the area's most in-demand musicians, individually, yet they come together as Cafe' Mars for more than 100 dates per year, so there's no other Triangle band tighter, or more versatile. They'll start the show with a fusion of contemporary jazz and funk, and finish the night with an eclectic mix of dance hits from the 60's through today.
"Cafe' Mars is without a doubt one of the top performing groups in the Triangle. They're very clever with their song choices ranging from jazz, pop, soul & and even retro! With their powerful vocals and amazing trumpeter, this band is a must see." --Gigi Thigpen - Jazz Entertainment
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