Broccoli Samurai w/ 800LB Gorilla – Friday, October 7th

800 lb. Gorilla is a college rock/jam band based in Bloomington, Indiana. With a rock and roll core, the band pulls together funk and jazz influences to create driving, catchy, danceable grooves. A five-piece band, 800lbG places rock-solid guitar, funky keyboards and sax on top of a drums-and-bass rhythm section. The interplay between musicians takes place on an improvisational plane that harkens Herbie Hancock, The Grateful Dead and Steely Dan.

Originally formed by brothers Mark (guitar) and Daniel (lead vox) Humphrey when they were in middle school, the band has evolved from a hard-rock power trio to a funk and jazz juggernaut. Since that time they have added Kwame Newton (keyboards/alto sax), Brian Carson (drums), and Joe Schweitzer (electric bass). As a group, you would be hard-pressed to find five more competent musicians.

800 lb. Gorilla has enjoyed a warm welcome from music lovers as they have developed their show on stages across Indiana and Ohio. Their fanbase is strongest among their college peers in Bloomington, and the jam band community throughout Central Indiana. They are fortunate to have been invited to play festivals this year including Hyperion, Good People Good Times, JorgStock (Eiteljorg Museum), and Taste of Bloomington.
The band intends to take the musical interplay higher, and continue to reach music lovers far and wide.

Since forming in the Rustbelt of Cleveland, OH in 2010, Broccoli Samurai has been taking the club and festival scene by storm. The band’s synth-laden, drum and bass influenced, progressive electronica has been thrilling audiences throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast markets, winning them a massive and fiercely loyal fanbase. Eager fans pack dance floors and late-night festival sets with smiles across their faces, waiting to get lost in the band’s ambient soundscapes, anticipating every bass drop that will force them to move with reckless abandon. Broccoli Samurai’s line-up includes founding members Ryan “Bruce” Hodson on keys and synth, and Chris Walker on drums and percussion. Accomplished bassist Josh Sebo anchors the rhythm section, while guitarist Bryan Dolan weaves in and out, exploring new sonic territory.

The band has played countless festivals such as The Werk Out, BIG What?!, Domefest, Paradise Music and Art Festival, Rootwire, The Mad Tea Party Jam, The Ville, SummerDance, Disc Jam, Night Lights Fall Music Festival, The Gathering At Chaffee’s, Utica Music and Art Festival, and Hyperion Fest. Broccoli Samurai has directly supported and toured with many known bands including Dopapod, Papadosio, Lotus, Conspirator, The Werks, Ozric Tentacles, BoomBOX, Big Gigantic, Rusted Root, O.A.R., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Aqueous, and BIG Something. Broccoli Samurai’s extensive tour schedule has them playing high profile venues and major cities regularly, and the band will be increasing the number of performances and expanding their reach into the West Coast and Southern markets in 2015. This band is making big moves and the time to take notice is now.