THE COUNTDOWN 2017 | Spank

Spank, (George "Spanky" McCurdy) is a world-renowned drummer and up-and-coming producer who is well-versed across a broad spectrum of musical styles. A proud native of North Philadelphia, Spank has performed with the likes of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Lady Gaga, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, and Kanye West. He has also collaborated with Brandy, Queen Latifah, Nas, Q-Tip, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Tye Tribbett.

For 6 years, Spank served as the lead drummer for Lady Gaga, including during her incredibly successful “The Monster Ball Tour,” which grossed close to a quarter of a billion dollars. He also performed with Lady Gaga at the 2016 Oscars, during her ground breaking performance. In May 2013, Spank and Hudson Music released an instructional DVD on drumming called “Off Time/On Time”. Spank was also featured on the December 2013 cover of Modern Drummer Magazine.

Spank’s unique musical aura was fostered at an early age. He grew up watching the choir director at his local church, and funneled the passion of gospel music towards cultivating his own fearless approach to drumming and producing.

Spank's debut album, CIRCA LXXXI, hit the airwaves on February 24, 2017 and it's a progressive representation of his drum style, his experimental nature, and the core soul sounds of his native Philadelphia. Drop in and take that trip.

THE COUNTDOWN 2017 | Sr. Langosta

When these cats sent us new music it just knocked us back. Serious fusion with a deep understanding of Psychedelic rock and intense guitar work. Led by Jorge Andres Ferreras, Sr. Langosta is a unique and powerful sound that unavoidably carries Caribbean rhythms (the band hails from Puerto Rico) and blends funk, fusion, and rock. It's the kind of music that makes you feel strong, and it comes with mystical art that speaks of some past present and future psychedelic fiction. This is one of our favorites of the year, and now that Puerto Rico needs our help and attention we urge you to jump in and support these guys if you dig the music. Enjoy!

THE COUNTDOWN 2017 | Rock Horn Project

Rock Horn Project was formed by hornist and composer Adam Wolf. Combining elements from rock, jazz, and classical, RHP continues its warpath on breaking down the walls of genres and creating a new and exciting sound. More than your typical band, RHP aims to do more than perform, but to also encourage and inspire young musicians of any kind to pursue their hopes of creating a career path in music. Adam Wolf being the french hornist in a rock band, surely surprises no one that he and the band are passionate about the idea of young musicians on any instrument heading down a path that perhaps is not paved by their predecessors, but rather start their own and lay the groundwork for their individual legacy. Calling Los Angeles its home, RHP is comprised of musicians with training in just about every kind of music one could imagine, and the music of RHP is constantly drawing inspiration from these eclectic backgrounds.

THE COUNTDOWN 2017 | David Weiss & Point Of Departure

Weiss began dabbling with the idea of the Point of Departure band as early as 2004 but began the group in earnest in 2006 when he was offered a regular Thursday night residency at the Greenwich Village club Fat Cat. The regular gig gave Weiss the opportunity to try out many up-and-coming musicians on the scene in various combinations until the personnel became solidified. By the end of the six month run, Weiss felt he had a fully realized new band with a unique sound and approach; a harmonically adventurous band with more of a free approach to the music that could switch grooves from swing to funk to rock in different time signatures on a dime. His original idea for the sound of the band drew on his experiences playing with the Haitian kompa super group Tabou Combo. That band featured two guitarists playing interweaving guitar lines that defined the sound of the band. When the band recorded the horn section, they had the horns record every line twice and one would be panned far left and the other far right creating a unique stereo effect. Weiss thought using two guitarists could make both these concepts work, the interweaving lines and when the guitarists both played chords in unison could achieve a interesting stereo effect. After a few failed attempts during their initial residency, the decision was made to stick to one guitarist until a proper 2nd guitarist was found. When conceptualizing the new CD, the decision was made to attempt the two guitar sound again and this time everything fell into place with two new amazing young guitarists, Ben Eunson and Travis Reuter came aboard. The new CD also stretches the parameters of the original group concept a little by adding material from the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the Brazilian avant garde fusion band Grupo Um.

The music seems to shimmer in the air, as Weiss and saxophonist Myron Walden essay the melodies in thoughtful unison and bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Kush Abadey pound the rhythms home. (Stereogum)