Share a ride to a CAKE concert. Check the CARPOOL page at www.cakemusic.com to find shared transportation to upcoming CAKE shows.
Setting out from Sacramento, California in 1991, CAKE quickly graduated from packing local venues to becoming a favorite in the thriving San Francisco scene. The combination of McCrea's captivatingly unwitting amalgam of Jonathan Richman, David Byrne, and Woody Guthrie – off-kilter yet strangely relatable – with CAKE's shambolic country funk took Northern California by storm. Key to the band’s sound then and now is DiFiore’s trumpet playing, which makes brilliant use of a timbre rarely heard in post-modern rock.
Motorcade of Generosity, CAKE’s debut album, was initially self-released before being picked up and re-released by Capricorn Records in 1994. It featured their first radio hit, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Lifestyle,” a wry deconstruction of rock star clichés and excesses. Their second album, 1996’s Fashion Nugget, included the taut, propulsive hit “The Distance,” still a radio staple and heard regularly in TV and films, along with an unconventional reworking of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” “Never There,” powered by a looped dialtone sample, announced the arrival of their third album, Prolonging the Magic, in 1998. That album also cemented the band’s core lineup of McCrea, DiFiore, bassist Gabe Nelson, and guitarist Xan McCurdy. From there, the band moved to Columbia records for 2001’s Comfort Eagle (featuring the hit “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”) and 2004’s Pressure Chief (which included the popular “No Phone”). Each album built on the one prior, with increasing breadth and musical evolution, encompassing a range of styles including funk, soul, pop, jazz, rap, and country. “There is a CAKE sound,” says DiFiore, “but we are careful not to repeat ourselves. We acknowledge our strengths while finding new ways to express ourselves.”
Pressure Chief marked a bold step for CAKE, as it was the first album recorded by the band themselves, in their own studio. “That was when we started taking into our hands the tools of production in a very serious way,” reflects McCrea. “We learned how to turn the knobs and make it sound like we want it to sound – it may not be the right way, but it’s the way we wanted it. We’ve always self-produced, from the beginning, but this is moving even further along in that direction.” Following the release of Pressure Chief, CAKE ended its relationship with Columbia Records and founded their own label, Upbeat Records. “There is something about the geometry of the relationship between artist and label that leaves the musicians at a disadvantage,” McCrea explains. “It’s a bit of a schlep to have your own label, but, on the other hand, it is nice to not be told what to do or when to do it.”
“We never took for granted what a record company did,” DiFiore adds, “but you’re always sitting on pins and needles waiting for the record company to do something with your record. When you’re in control of it, your destiny is in your own hands.”
The first release on Upbeat was B-Sides and Rarities, which came out in 2007 and compiled over a decade’s worth of rare and unreleased tracks. “It had been a long time between albums,” DiFiore says, “and we wanted to offer our listeners something new. We thought about a live album, but that seemed too much like a greatest hits set – like we’d be putting a cap on our own career. So we sifted through our old tapes, looked under beds and in shoe boxes, and found a lot of songs – some people knew about, others were completely unheard.”
“We took a lot of songs that didn’t fit the mood of another album, and somehow created a coherent album out of them,” McCrea explains. “There were some songs we did not have time to complete for other albums, so we took some time in the studio and finished some things that we’d always wanted to get done.”
Before their new studio album hit stores in the summer of 2009, CAKE will present an expanded and remastered reissue of Motorcade of Generosity, available in early 2009 via Upbeat. “We’ve added some video from our first national tour, recorded back in May of 1995,” says DiFiore. The reissue will also be available in a deluxe vinyl edition. “Looking back on it, through all that we’ve experienced, the dynamics of the band are very similar to when we first started. There have been some bumps along the way, but we’ve somehow managed to maintain our momentum and stay on track.”
As-yet-untitled, CAKE’s new studio album will be the first project they have undertaken since they overhauled their studio to run entirely on solar power. It was a decision that was made with both environmental and artistic consequences in mind. “It just seemed like the right thing to do,” McCrea says. “I believe in science, and science is telling us that we need to make adjustments. Being in California, it seemed like a waste not to take advantage of all the free electricity.”
“It felt great to get off the city’s power grid and free up some electricity for the rest of the neighborhood,” DiFiore adds. “We actually produce more electricity than we need right now. Also, it just feels better working there. We work in the spirit of cooperation, and when there is something like solar energy above your head, there is a little bit more levity added. It makes for a more positive environment.”
Having toured extensively throughout the world, including North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Japan, CAKE has developed a vital and thriving community of listeners, with which the band interact with regularly on cakemusic.com. “We’re always putting up new material, keeping a road journal, posting news items and links, along with a weekly poll and an advice column,” DiFiore explains. “We try to encourage environmental responsibility: we have a carpool page for listeners who drive to shows, we give away a tree at every show, and we do a lot of linking to items about the environment and public policies that relate to it.”
In the meantime, CAKE is putting the finishing touches on the as-yet-untitled new album. “I write songs all the time, so I have this stockpile of music,” says McCrea. “I’ll bring it in and play it on acoustic guitar and from that point the real work begins, the arrangement process. That’s an arduous part of the whole experience – hundreds of small decisions that build upon each other.”
“Fortunately,” DiFiore concludes, “since we’ve started doing this, people have become stronger musicians – more versatile, with a bigger musical vocabulary. People are bringing their musical growth to the table. For all we do, our strength is still working well together as a band.”
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
Be sure to check out the new single "Pose" from D'Aaron Anthony, as featured on DJ Vlad's Unsigned R&B Starz Vol. 2 Mixtape! The music video is coming soon!
And watch D'Aaron Anthony live at The Venue of Scottsdale for Sean Kingston show performing "Wish He Was Me" with Nasty Nate and Rees
so i was driving with my 2 year old and she insists that i play "no phone" for her. it was her 1st request ever. so that just shows how much your music rules, even kids ask for it by name. lol. so please, please, please come to texas soon.
There is currently a search for two types of bands for record label consideration.
*** Note: PLEASE IDENTIFY IF YOU ARE IN GROUP 1 OR 2 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR RESPONSE. Emails are being reviewed by different representatives.
1. A Pop/Rock/Commercial band with female lead. Band must consist of 2 guitars (Prefer both guitar players to be of lead caliber. However, one lead and one rhythm is acceptable), keyboard/piano, bass, and drums. Lead vocal, followed by backing vocals, in that order, is a plus as it relates to other members of the group. Average age of the band cannot exceed 28 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
2. A Modern Rock band with male lead. Must be a complete band but there are no prerequisites as it relates to the make up of the band. Average age of the band cannot exceed 23 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
XXX - If you meet the minimum qualifications as described above. Email a link for your MySpace Page and if applicable, a link for your website to: recordingartistsearch@gmail.com
Only send one email with your links. Due to the volume of responses normally received for these types of opportunities. After review of your material, you will only be contacted if there is an interest in attending one of your shows by a label representative. As such please to not send any follow up emails regarding selections. If you were not contacted back, there was not an interest.
Thank You.
PS: Before You Enter Any MySpace Contests You Might Want To Also Review The Website At: www.st
Feline Entertainment & Fanatique de Glam present: Burlesk! Freaky Friday the 13th w/ Viva le Vox and the Goddamn Gallows, freaks, geeks, and all kind of scary peeps! Burlesk! Freaky Friday the 13th will be featuring spooky and freaky performances by well-known local and traveling magicians, musicians, and burlesque artists to thrill and chill you!
Artistika 523 S. Elm Doors @ 7pm, Burlesk! Show @ 8pm $10, $8 if curiously clothed Bands Immediately Following Burlesk Revue The weirdest, creepiest, eeriest, most bizarre, peculiar peepshow you've seen yet!!!
guess what i'm doing right now?? i'm listening your songs..i really-really love your music very much!! thanks becouse all of you existed in this worl!!
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