True to their name, Fringe Character stays on the edges.
The large live band, which plays the High Noon Saloon on Oct. 14, blends many genres, never committing fully to any one style. They grab bits of electronica and a hefty dose of hip-hop and then — depending on the track — sprinkle in a few servings of soul, dub or jazz. The result is a fluid mix of smooth grooves that defy labels.
Admittedly, that’s caused a bit of confusion when trying to explain their sound to others. “If you can’t define it right away, people are hesitant,” says emcee Daewong (born Devin Geary).
“It’s tough to put a label on something that’s ever-changing,” adds producer Turrnt Vonnegut (Benjamin Sholl).
Growth and change are part and parcel of Fringe Character, a group that grew out the EP Some Thing, Some Thought, created in 2012 by a handful of musicians who met while playing in other bands. And it’s not just their studio work that’s evolving; Fringe Character’s live shows are also in constant flux.
In addition to the group’s primary performer-writers of three vocalists and a producer, the collective has a number of musicians who join them to spice up recording sessions and live sets, including three horn players, a keyboardist, a bassist and a drummer.
Their second album, Mint, released in April, is full of spaced-out jams anchored heavily by the group’s two emcees, Daewong and Dudu Stinks (Laduma Nguyuza, formerly known as Peter Parker of Smokin' with Superman), who bounce from topics such as romance and soul searching to celebrating the joy of creating music. Musically, most of the tracks build up in tempo and complexity.
With close to a dozen members performing live, things can get cramped. “We’ve done shows where me and Dae have had to stand offstage,” says Stinks with a laugh. But, he adds, it’s well worth it to perform with a live band instead of a DJ or backing tracks, as many hip-hop acts do. “The energy you get from a beat machine or even a good DJ doesn’t even compare to the rush you get from playing with a live band.”
There’s another benefit to performing with live instrumentalists: “We can reinterpret and remix it live, on the spot,” adds Vonnegut.
With so many members, logistics can get complicated, but the collective makes it work. “Everyone has worked on other projects, and we’re all professionals,” says singer GregB (Greg Brookshire), who shines on the track “Catch a Tiger.” “We all stay super-humble — that’s not easy to do in the world of music where we battle pride.”
The group is recording a new album at the Trap Room, Vonnegut’s studio in the Dairy Building on South Park Street, where many local musicians rent spaces. The new project will feature an even wider range of instruments and influences, possibly including Cuban jazz, flutes, violins and additional vocalists.
“There are no limits, no constraints” says Vonnegut. “It’s wide open.”
