In no particular order: The Beatles, Tinariwen, Erik Satie, John Kongos, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Bach, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Salif Keita, Joni Mitchell, Faithless, Dire Straits, Amadou Et Mariam, Jimmy Giuffre, Coldplay, The Prodigy, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pink Floyd, Arvo Part, Bob Marley, Puccini, The Police, Chopin, Tin Hat Trio, J.J. Cale, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Gurdjieff, 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
"Each song has so much attention to the groove that it sounds like another level of music has been reached that other people haven't quite made it to. GREAT record!"
Murphy • Undiscovered Radio Network
"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
Bio
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 debut album was released in 2007 on iTunes worldwide and received glowing reviews (see above). 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.
Kongos will be featured on this weekend’s “A ‘Run Through The Desert’” episode (4/3-4/5) of Undiscovered.
The show can be heard on: KBRE in Merced, California; WOSC in Salisbury, Maryland; WHBR in Parkersburg, West Virginia; WAMX in Huntington/Ashland, West Virginia; WAQX in Syracuse, New York; and WTFX in Louisville, Kentucky Four of our affiliates stream their signal on-line so you can hear the show from anywhere (links on our website)
Undiscovered- we bring Indie music to broadcast radio!
looking forward to hearing the new recordings. what i heard live a few months ago was quite good. cheers. and when the heck will you come out of the cave and play around phx again?
hey guys how are you? I hope your well and I miss your live shows so much!!!! I just gave your cd to two frineds here from germany, getting the music worldwide!!! hope to see you soon please let me know if you come to la!!!! barry
In The Music is a great weird number.I can feel the African influence in here, big-time, and half expected some toy-toying to come in after the electo-man. It feels great, and if you ever want to audition someone to perform the electro man live, Stephen Hawkins may be open to offers. It just works. Cheers.
HAPPY NEW YEARS TO MY FAVORITE BAND!!!!!!! MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!!
HOPE YOU COME TO LA SOON ITS BEEN WAY TO LONG NOT SEEING YOU GUYS LIVE......I JUST SENT YOUR CD TO SOME FRIENDS IN AUSTRALIA AND ARGENTINA!!!! KONGOS WORLDWIDE BABY!!!!! ;-)
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