In no particular order: Erik Satie, Jack DeJohnette, John Kongos, Tony Williams, Todd Chuba, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Gurdjieff, Emerson, Tinariwen, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Jackson Browne, Bach, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Coldplay, Prodigy, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pink Floyd, Arvo Part, Bob Marley, Salif Keita, Dire Straits, Puccini, Chopin, J.J. Cale, South Africa ... the list goes on.
"It's rare to be in on the ground floor of something that doesn't sound like anything else you might've heard before ..."
Serene Dominic • Phoenix New Times
"As well as the incontestable youthful talent, what impresses even more is the controlled emotional outpourings ..."
Jonathan Leonard • Leonard's Lair
"Kongos sounds like no other band, not just in the Valley, but in the whole of mainstream rock music ..."
Chris Hansen Orf • Get Out
"Kongos are bound to make it big. Their songs are radio-ready and they have a frickin’ kickin’ accordian!"
Tim Wardyn • Music-Critic.com
"This band have built a burgeoning reputation recently and it's easy to see why here. The album bristles with intelligently written soulful pop-rock ..."
Haydon S. • The-Mag.co.uk
"The four sons of UK rock legend John Kongos have recorded an amazing album in the finest spirit of their father's 1971 Kongos classic"
Robert Silverstein • 20th Century Guitar
"What separates this band are the overtones of electronic mixes, accordion solos, and African-inspired beats that make this band stand out amongst your typical 'rock band.'"
Kim Milbrandt • Copperstate Music
"Interesting arrangements are speckled with an affinity to do things a little different. Whether that 'different' is with samples, thick dance beats, or accordions, Kongos is sure to surprise the hell out of you."
J-Sin • Smother Magazine
"... there's a lot more going on than you first realise ... Definitely a grower is this one… I think it's more 'Sunday music' than 'Friday night' music, if you catch my drift."
The Beat Surrender
KONGOS is a rock band of four brothers -- Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Daniel Kongos. Their music is driven by strong melodies, powerful arrangements, a high level of musicianship and insightful lyrics.
They grew up in London and South Africa and now write, record and perform in Phoenix, Arizona. With multi-million-seller British singer-songwriter John Kongos as their father, they have been surrounded by music, studios and different cultures all of their lives. Johnny and Jesse studied jazz at Arizona State University and have played in several jazz and fusion groups over the past few years (see lawofseven.com).
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2007 on iTunes worldwide. Written, produced and engineered by themselves, it demonstrates their wide range of influences culminating in the KONGOS sound. In May 2007, they were named Best Rock Band of Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times .
Their single In The Music reached No. 9 on the influential TuksFM top 40 in South Africa. Other airplay includes Indie 103.1 in Los Angeles, Q101 in Chicago, 98 KUPD and The Edge 103.9 in Phoenix, XFM in the UK, Motor FM in Germany, KNRK 94.7 in Portland, WXPN in Philadelphia and many more. In the last year they've played extensively in Arizona and California, including five successful shows at The Viper Room, the most recent being Indie 103.1 sponsored. Their Spring '08 West Coast tour featured a KNRK sponsored show in Portland, interviews and performances on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles, 98 KUPD in Phoenix, KNRK 94.7 FM in Portland, and a video interview/performance for GoTV Networks.
