LLAMA LIVE: YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND

28 Feb LLAMA LIVE: YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND

JWAIL performs tonight, starting at 9 p.m.

If you were lucky enough to be in the crowd that heard Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band play at last year’s Telluride Blues & Brews Festival that should have provided enough motivation to come back for a second helping. You get your chance Friday, March 2, at the Llama. (Doors are at 9 p.m.) Those who haven’t seen the group in action, should get in line.

Far from being just a funk band, Yo Mama’s blends elements of funk, SKA, reggae, hip-hop and soul to create an inimitable sound of their own. The six-piece ensemble has been touring the country since they met up in 2002 in the little town of Boone, North Carolina, where a couple of the musicians were attending Appalachian State University.

“It began as a party and grew into a band,” says saxophonist Greg Hollowell. “It evolved into a sound and emerged into an institution,” adding: “It’s still very much a party.” Check it out:

http://moboogie.com/videos/3586

In 2007, TMBFBB released their first album, Now You Know, to critical acclaim,. Their second album, Doin’ It Hard, is set to be released this March.

“Their mix of triumphant horns, laid-back grooves, and heavy backbeats is what has carried them back and forth across the nation, from club to club, smiling face to smiling face, day to day, note to note. Adding colorful costumes and interactive stage personalities is just part of the show…” raves Bellyupaspen.com.

“Awe-inspiring live shows, powerful original compositions, and crowd-pleasing presentations have helped the Booty Band build a rock-solid nationwide fan base,” the group’s website brags – with justification: Yo Mama has won the Home Grown Music Network’s Album of the Year and Band of the Year awards and played at festivals like Wakarusa, Jam Cruise, Long Beach Funk Fest, Floyd Fest, and Rock Boat.

The folks in the group are just too good not to listed by name: JP Miller sings and plays a mean electric guitar. Derrick Johnson is on trombone. Al Al Ingram rocks the bass and vocals. Greg Hollowell, a man of many talents, manages the tenor and baritone sax, not to mention popping up now and again with flute riffs. Lee Allen gives the band it’s driving beat on drums. Mary Frances jams on the keyboard and has a kickass singing voice.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or by calling Wizard Entertainment at 970 728 9424.

Also this week at the Llama:

Tonight,Wednesday, March 1st, the organic electronica artist JWAIL performs. Doors open at 9pm and tickets are $10, but the first 50 people get in for half-price, so show up early.

Saturday night, celebrity DJ Cato, in from New York in support of the Telluride AIDS Benefit, hosts the Gala Fashion Show After Party.