Sexual Chocolate and the White Boys: White ain't nothing but a color
Wednesday 31 January @ 16:34:14 |
  by DWIGHT HOBBES
Once upon a time, a Scottish group had the nerve to call themselves Average White Band and Wild Cherry daringly chanted, "Play that funky music, white boy!" all the way to the top of the charts. Now, we've got Sexual Chocolate & The White Boys and there are bound to be those who hear the name and wrinkle their nose up like somebody farted. Well, forget 'em if they can't take a joke. Just like the aforementioned outfits, SCWB are a strong enough band to call themselves whatever they want.
In 1999, Lyle "Alien" Anderson (guitar, synth guitar) wanted to start a band that he felt would be "musically challenging and refreshingly cool." That's not asking for the world, but still, he's had problems holding onto a singer. Steve Duder (bass guitar, synth bass) and drummer Mark Baker have stuck, but the first singer, Marcus Upton, developed problems it's better not to speak on. His successor, DeRaye Miller, fronted their 2003 debut Sexual Chocolate and the White Boys, then decided his best interests lay elsewhere. That same year, vocalist/lyricist Kashimana "Kash" Ahua answered an ad and Duder is confident she isn't going anywhere. 2006 has seen the release of Pure Poison, which proves that the combination burns hot enough to set asbestos on fire.
Their sound is a cross between The Pointer Sisters and Chaka Khan, but also draws influence from a wide range of artists from Erykah Badu to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Happy Apple and points in between. Throw in Ahua's words and Sexual Chocolate and the White Boys certainly have their own identity.
At The Fine Line, late last December, I caught the band in action. Doesn't take long—about eightbars into the first number—before I can't help but get up and dance. Duder and Baker lock the pocket like airport security. Anderson is an exquisite guitarist. Kash Ahua employs strong range, fluid phrasing and sheer emotive power and brandishes a riveting stage presence with more than a little hip-slung sultry finesse. If they don't make you want to move to the groove, you probably need permission just to have a good time. Knockout highlights of the night included tasty original "Ba Da Da Bop," off Pure Poison, and a nasty rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Some Kinda Wonderful." Their funked-up interpretation of Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" would make the author proud, as would their version of Al Green's "Tired Of Being Alone," which features Anderson on smoldering guitar. It is one hellified throw-down of a set.
 After their set, we hook up for an amiable conversation down the block at Pizza Luce and I can't resist playing devil's advocate, asking Kash how a self-respecting black woman can bill herself as Sexual Chocolate in an otherwise white band. "First of all," she begins with a winning smile that soon broadens into a devilish grin, "sexual chocolate can be sexual and white and still chocolate. You've heard of vanilla chocolate? As long as it's sweet and it goes down good, it's alright, right?" Touché. Addressing the rest of the band's name, I ask the guys—none of whom are adolescents—why they get to be called boys instead of men. They all stare me square in the eye and simply laugh in unison.
A recurring topic of conversation is the band's current search for an alto backing vocalist. Lyle stipulates, "If they can compliment Kash, that's really key." She chimes in, "We have a little family, here, goin' on. As long as they can sing and they can chill, [they can] be part of the group. It's so hard, when you're in this business, to meet people you like and want to continue working with." As of this writing, they had, for weeks, been wading through fakes and flakes without getting far enough to do one callback. Steve Duder reflects, "Either they can't cut it or they won't do an audition. Or supply a demo." Yet, said aspirants expect to get work? Go figger.
Pure Poison is a winner, 18 cuts with, incredibly enough, no filler, plus guest appearances by premiere international percussionist Devon Evans (Bob Marley and the Wailers) and area sax ace Andrew Schwandt (Gold Standard, Starting Point). Among the must-hear tunes: languid seducer "Inspiration," laid back, funkified-in-cold-blood jam "Won't You?" and a novel take on blues legend Roosevelt Sykes' eternal and mournful "House of the Rising Sun." Going topical, "Thunder" is written about Kash's aunt and uncle suffering from HIV in her native Nigeria and "From The Rubble" commemorates America's 9/11 tragedy.
By any name, this gal and these guys give it to you straight off the good foot and stone cold keep you there. ||
Sexual Chocolate and the White Boys open for The New Congress on Thu., Feb 1 at Bunker's Music Bar & Grill. 9:30 p.m. $5. 21+. 761 N. Washington Ave., Mpls. 612-338-8188. For more information on Sexual Chocolate and the White Boys, check out their official site at sexualchocolateandthewhiteboys.com.
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