4 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MUSIC
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2002
Trump Dawgs fetch a following with funk
Photo contributed by Trump Dawgs
The Trump Dawgs offer "technotic funk" on their album, The Art of Crushin'.
Janette Yost Jayplay Writer
“T-R-U-M-PD-A-W-G-S!”
Opening for Havalina Saturday night at the New Earth Coffeehouse, 3953 Walnut St. in Kansas City, Mo., Kenny and Donald Carter, cousins, lent the crowd a hand with the spelling of their band's name.
The Trump Dawgs have played in the Kansas City music scene for the past year building a following.
Kenny, the originator of the group, described their music as simply "techtonic funk."
The Trump Dawgs offered their funky sound to the coffeehouse crowd with mellow, grooving songs, in addition to some with mosher's-delight distortion. The band also played some jammy tunes with a classic funk feel to them. All these sounds are enhanced by turntables and electronics, resulting in a unique style and an addictive live show. Bass player Anthony Case's son, Joachim, dreadlocked at 2-years old, added a sweetness to the show when he took a stand in front of his father's bass and added his own groove to the last
three songs of the set.
The Trump Dawgs have gained fans because of their passionate and fun live show. Keith Willson, Tulsa junior, said going into the show he knew it would be
good.
"Their music is really easy to get into," Willson said.
Kenny owns his own recording studio and produced the band's album, The Art
of Crushin', which is available at local music stores.
Kenny writes most of the music, plays guitar and sings.
He said they are making the project "to feed our lust for improvisation. This will be one of our best outlets until we make a million dollars and can quit our jobs."
Other band members include Luke Sullivant on lead guitar; Lester Estelle on drums and "musical face breaking," as the album liner denotes; Donald on percussion, keys, background vocals and emceeing; and David Kelly on turntables.
The Movement, slated to begin in late September or early November at The Culture House, 7200 W.106th St.,in Overland Park, will involve a number of groups: Peppershaker, a sideproject of Waterdeep's drummer Brandon Graves;
Because the band is made up mostly of family men, The Trump Dawg's live acts happen only sporadically as the men earn livings from their day jobs.
Kenny is pioneering a new project called The Movement.
SEE TRUMP DAWGS ON PAGE 5