Funky Friday

Though Spencer’s quip could have inferred a negative connotation among the eclectic Friday night crowd, the sounds that ensued were packed with layers of positivity and lightheartedness that provided a fortunate excuse to incessantly nod your head or dance. And so, throughout their two-hour set, Fusik delivered the goods by adhering to the plane of simplicity that is their core foundation: The funk. That’s what you can expect from this South Florida-based group, not reggae rock or crowd-pleasing covers – unless it’s James Brown or Kool & The Gang – expect feel-good instrumental funk by six indubitably talented musicians that excel at “getting you into it.”

It is precisely Fusik’s unwavering commitment to this musical genre that has earmarked an important reputation among their peers, and further, Fusik’s justified classification as “Florida’s Funk Band.”

“MAKING PEOPLE MOVE SINCE ‘05”

That is the disclaimer that you’ll find in Fusik’s Instagram account. A humble yet gratifying mission that the members of the band set out to fulfill each night they hit the stage; now an 11-year old endeavor. As you probably guessed already, the name Fusik comes from “The Fusion of Music;” a musical project spearheaded by drummer Daniel “Felix” Garcia that began as an act of leisure.

“Fusik started with a group of friends that just wanted to have fun and share their passion for music,” notes Garcia while carefully disassembling his drum kit after the show. “In the beginning, we had no plans; just music in our hearts and a drive to share it with people. We received great feedback from the people who saw us perform and that lead to more shows and getting organized and established us an official band.”

Following a few changes over the years, Fusik established their place in the South Florida music scene. Their exploits have also taken them all over the U.S. and Europe, and they have shared the stage with notable musical acts such as KRS One, Blues Traveler, and N.E.R.D. The accentuated bass line and drum tempo provided by Spencer and Garcia, respectively, is coupled with Robert “Bob” Smiley on the saxophone, as well as a sublime rhythm section comprised of Antonio “Sanchez” Rivera on guitar and vocals; Charles “Chip” Gardner on the keyboard; and Danny “Quinto” Naval on the percussion. Their style, mostly instrumental in nature, allows each musician to show off their musical chops during the course of the performance. Watch Smiley, Gardner, Rivera, and Naval break into thunderous, off-the-cuff solos to compliment the Garcia-Spencer connection and then realize that their genuine musical structure is superseded by their ability to jam out and essentially have fun while at work. There are a few lyrical numbers heard throughout their set, and they are alternated between Spencer and Rivera.

THE FUNK

What is the funk? It’s cumbersome to pinpoint an exact definition, but Fusik’s name is certainly a valid synonym that sheds light on this mystical tour-de-force: A fusion of musical styles ranging from jazz to rhythm and blues, from soul to psychedelic grooves, all churned out in one powerful blend. Moreover, the heart of funk music beats to an emphasized rhythmic combination of a bass line and a well-timed drum tempo on the foreground.

The roots of the funk movement can be traced back to the 1960s with James Brown – one of Fusik’s most resounding musical influences – being the great pioneer. Brown’s prowess came with a signature style known as the downbeat, which heavily emphasizes the first beat of every measure: An amalgamation of syncopated guitar riffs, specific drum patterns, and beefy bass lines. Highly decorated acts like Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly & The Family Stone, and Chaka Khan followed and built on Brown’s innovations, and these acts eventually paved the way for hybrid, funk-infused rock bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Phish to emerge, but in reality, it all goes back to the Godfather of Soul himself.

Fusik knows this all too well, and paid homage to Brown by including his 1971 hit “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” near the end of their set. During said rendition, Rivera emulated Brown’s voice to the best of his ability, and if you were there and blinked twice, the Godfather of Soul might have came alive –albeit momentarily – at Guanabanas.

A JUPITER STAPLE

This certainly wasn’t Fusik’s first performance in Jupiter, Florida. In point of fact, the band has been summoned for many a Funky Friday at Guanabanas, which is one of Jupiter’s leading musical venues. With its tropical setting and select views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Guanabanas is also a great spot to grab a drink or enjoy an evening of waterfront dining. Fusik is one of the many great live ensembles that fill in the ambiance and attitude of Guanabanas with scintillating sound waves, and thus, the venue is constantly updating their calendar with musical groups from near and far to entertain myriad concert-goers.

Even though most of Fusik’s members hail from and reside in Ft. Lauderdale, they never refuse an opportunity to play at Guanabanas and other Jupiter venues, and there are invitations aplenty, according to Garcia.

“We really enjoy playing in Jupiter. It is such a cool city and has such a great vibe,” says Garcia. “The people who come to our shows really appreciate music. We get so much love every time we are performing. We perform in Jupiter at least four times a year, if not more. We are always down to grow that number since it’s always a great show in Jupiter. ”

For more information, visit www.fusikmusic.com and www.guanabanas.com.