It is with great pleasure -- and a bellyful of hops -- that we announce
that Fort Lauderdale rock and soul masters Community Property will open up Beerfest 2010.
As you may have heard, New Times Broward-Palm Beach teamed up with Revoution Live to host a Battle of the Bands on Saturday. The five local acts competing for the honor to perform in front of the sudsy masses of thousands at Beerfest 2010 on Saturday, April 17, also included Kinlin (Fort Lauderdale), the Hard Richards (Boynton Beach), Point of View (Port Saint Lucie), and Here's to Nathan (Deerfield Beach).
From Revolution's upper level, the venue's Marketing Manager/Talent Buyer Craig Hammon, and I (BPB Music Editor Reed Fischer) carefully listened to each act, and we were overjoyed by what we saw and heard. By the time we reached the end of the night, though, we knew that one band had Beerfest written all over it. At one point, Hammon leaned over and put it simply: "They make me want to drink beer."
According to the Community Property singer, who goes by Lucian, the foursome's current lineup solidified less than two years ago. Prior to developing the band's current style, which he attributes to listening to plenty of Jimi Hendrix, Lucian was closest to the area's R&B and hip-hop scene, singing hooks for the Fresh Air Fund and doing production work. Similarly, drummer Andre "Dutch" Husbands also handles production for local hip-hop acts. Guitarist Leo Lester has a jazz background and also is associated with South Florida groups Ketchy Shuby and Lights Down Low. Finally, bassist Clarence J. Spencer should be familiar to any fan of local funky punks Hashbrown.
In addition to the Hendrix comparisons, Community Property brings together a wealth of dirty blues and soul that will run you ragged as as any Black Keys guitar romp, hot-buttered vocals as versatile Cody Chesnutt's, and winning showmanship that keeps each song moving forward. "Jimi can do a lot of things without saying too much," Lucian says, regarding the band's style. "We just keep
it simple and beat it into their heads."
Upon winning Saturday's Battle of the Bands, Community Property decided to write a song just for the Beerfest crowd, which name-checks all of their favorite brews. Its tentative title is the apt "Heineken's My Friend, How About You?"
Listen to a stream of Community Property's "Hot Peppa Dilla" at their Facebook page.
More on Beerfest 2010's official site.
