THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014
LOCAL MUSIC
PAGE 13
Lawrence funk duo returns to Kansas City for tour
in Ozark, Ark.
ERIN ORRICK
news@kansan.com
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Back when brothers Mark and Matt Hill were in college, there was a word their mother threw around in conversation every once in a while. It was a fun word, nothing too serious or defining, just something said on whim. That word now represents their brand of entertainment and how they approach every show—relatively carefree and laid-back.
The Floozies are a Lawrence born- and-bred guitarist/drummer duo who have traveled from coast-tocoast this summer entertaining masses of fans at numerous festivals and clubs alike with their laser light shows and funk-infused music.
"The Floozies are an amazing success story," manager Brett Mosiman said. "They are absolutely blowing up all over."
The duo just finished up their second California show in three weeks with a set in Saugerties, N.Y., at the Hudson Project squeezed in between. They'll be headlining Friday in Kansas City, Mo., at their Funk Street show with artists Manic Focus, ExMag, Late Night Radio and Purusa.
"This is the biggest tour we've ever had," drummer Mark Hill said. "We've been flying a lot."
Mark said the main focus is their music and sharing their unique sound with a variety of people.
"I like to think we're a funk band first and foremost," Mark said. "That's the type of music we like to make. People throw around the label electro-funk, but I really think we're just a funk band that uses the technology that's available to us today. The same thing funk bands from the '70s would have done had they had the tools that we have."
"The most satisfying thing is watching them crush all of their festival plays," Mosiman said. "They are playing in front of tens of thousands of fans who are really loving it."
The Hill brothers' love of music and funk came at a very young age.
"Our mom showed us Kool and the Gang and Parliament-Funkadelic when we were really young," Mark said. "Then we got really into jazz during college, but we grew up on funk for sure."
"A huge thing for us is being really thorough in our own shows," Mark said. "So when we get to do intimate, club-setting headline shows, we get to decide every aspect of the show ourselves. We get to pick the openers and set the stage exactly how we want it."
As unsigned artists, they're able to orchestrate their music and shows the way they want to, which has been essential for their success, Mark said.
This differs slightly from when the duo plays at larger festivals, but Mark said they enjoy that kind of atmosphere equally as much.
"Playing really big festivals is cool because you're a part of something really wild and hard to put together," Mark said. "You get to play in front of people who might not otherwise hear you or people who haven't heard you before."
Mark said having the opportunity
to be around other musicians trying to do the same thing they're doing is great. He said they get to socialize and work out potential collaborations, which adds to the fun.
One festival in particular stands out to both brothers.
"Wakarusa [in Ozark, Ark.] was really cool this year for us because it's kind of like a hometown thing," Mark said. "[It] started in Lawrence . . . and a lot of the people who go and work it are friends, family and people who we've known forever"
Mark said it was a great experience to play two really big, awesome shows
for a lot of people they've known for several years and for fans who have supported them.
It can be difficult to stay focused while on tour, but getting adequate sleep, staying grounded and not going overboard on the shenanigans, are essential in keeping their sanity, Mark said.
Shenanigans do win out sometimes, however, and some of their must-haves on tour have contributed to the post-show craziness, Mark said.
"For a while a must-have was vodka," Mark said. "We're trying to tone that down now. I drink a butt-load of
coffee. Matt doesn't drink coffee."
Mark said the list of items they like to have on tour isn't long. He said they try to eat as healthy as possible, which can be a challenge once you're out of city limits.
"We try to get the best stuff we can while we're in town because once you hit the highway, it's all McDonald's and gas stations."
The duo has a few more shows left in July and August before taking a break to rest up and work on their
SEE FLOOZIES PAGE 15