First Look: Natives of the New Dawn
I like these guys a lot! Soul, hip hop and rock group Natives of the New Dawn bring a little bit of choir, rap, funk and merriment together for a unique fusion sound with synth, keyboards, an emcee and much more. The emcee (Vince Mann) has a very interesting style—his pronunciation of words is unique and he has a passion and intensity that comes across for the listener, not to mention great sideburns. The guitar player (Joe Fikany) delivers licks that rock my socks and the drummer (Tom Wachter) pumps the audience up with inspired beats for a dynamic live performance. The singer and keyboard player (Tony Nouhan) has a soulful voice, adding a great twist to the classic “Aint No Sunshine (When She’s Gone),” while upright electric bassist (Ryan Coomer) keeps the rhythm. DJ Gary Hoenicke, affectionately known as DJ Goo, offers synth without being obnoxious. I really like the energy these guys have onstage—great presence. The lyrics are perceptive and tell stories of interesting characters or situations, avoiding clichés whenever possible. “Old Shoes” is one of my favorites—funky and creative. Thinking about where your shoes have been and what sort of story they have to tell is a great concept.
