This article is about the New Orleans band. For the album by The Wailers, see Soul Rebels.
The current lineup of the Soul Rebels Brass Band in 2012Soul Rebels in 2012
The Soul Rebels (also Soul Rebels Brass Band, Soul Rebels or The Rebels) are an eight-piece New Orleans based brass ensemble that incorporate elements of soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock and pop music within a contemporary brass band framework.
The band has built its career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and percussion in a funky party-like atmosphere. The Soul Rebels have performed on CBS, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, HBO, TBS, NBC, NPR, ESPN, BBC Two, The CW and in major movies, and on national and international stages.[1] The band routinely plays over 250 shows a year. They have been described by the Village Voice as "the missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong. "[2]
The Soul Rebels consist of percussionists and founding members Lumar LeBlanc and Derrick Moss, trumpet players Julian Gosin and Marcus Hubbard, trombonists Corey Peyton and Paul Robertson, saxophonist Erion Williams, and sousaphonist Manuel Perkins Jr.
Early history
The band first began when percussionists Derrick Moss and Lumar LeBlanc met as members of Harold Dejan's Young Olympia Brass Band and decided they wanted to play the music they were hearing on pop radio, but within the context and with respect to the long tradition of the New Orleans brass bands and marching bands they had grown up playing in. The Soul Rebels played around New Orleans without a proper band name until opening up for Cyril Neville at the legendary New Orleans venue Tipitina's, where Cyril Neville dubbed them "Soul Rebels."[3] The Soul Rebels built up their following in hometown New Orleans as the house band every Thursday night at local favorite bar Le Bon Temps Roule, a residency they still continue currently when the band isn't on tour.[4] The band is still considered a main drawing point for people to come experience the venue.[2]
Since 2009, The Soul Rebels have been managed by music industry heavyweight Ted Kurland, proprietor of the prestigious booking and management agency Ted Kurland Associates, Adam Shipley, president of Hep Cat Entertainment and Alex Kurland of the Blue Note Entertainment Group.[5]
Collaborations and milestones
The Soul Rebels playing with Metallica at the Fillmore West in December 2011
When Green Day performed at the New Orleans Arena in 2009, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong invited The Soul Rebels to perform with them.[6] In December 2011 in San Francisco at a post-Metallica anniversary after party (The Soul Rebels had performed with Metallica that evening) at the Boom Boom Room, The Soul Rebels jammed once again with Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong.
In December 2011, The Soul Rebels appeared and performed "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" on the BBC Two's Later with Jools Holland[7] on the same episode as Metallica and Lou Reed. Metallica was so impressed with the Soul Rebels that they invited them to open and share the stage for all four of their 30th anniversary-week concerts at The Fillmore in San Francisco.[8]Metallica remain supporters of The Soul Rebels and featured them at both nights of their first MetallicaOrion Music + More Festival in June 2012. The Soul Rebels are the only band to have played both nights.
On October 19, 2012, The Soul Rebels hosted a CMJ showcase at the Highline Ballroom in New York City billed as The Soul Rebels & Friends ft. Maceo Parker, Moon Hooch, American Royalty and Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood.
On August 15, 2014 Joey Bada$$ and Prodigy (rapper) of Mobb Deep among others, made appearances and performed with The Soul Rebels in New York City at the Brooklyn Bowl venue. The collaboration between Joey Badass and The Soul Rebels has been presented at clubs and festivals in New Orleans and New York, and was documented on Badass's debut studio album B4.DA.$$ released on January 20, 2015 by Cinematic Music Group.
Hip Hop icon and rap pioneer Rakim is a frequent collaborator of The Soul Rebels' when the band performs in New York City. Rakim and The Soul Rebels performed together on February 27, 2015 at Brooklyn Bowl NY, June 26, 2015 at Blue Note Jazz Club NY and on February 27, 2016 at Brooklyn Bowl, NY with hip hop icon Talib Kweli joining the performance.
On August 15, 2015 The Soul Rebels made their Japanese debut with live surprise special guest performances with Marilyn Manson and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at the Summer Sonic Tokyo Festival. The unannounced collaborations occurred one day prior to The Soul Rebels' headlining performance at the festival.
When not on tour, the band's weekly gig at Le Bon Temps Roulé in Uptown New Orleans is a favorite local event
The Soul Rebels have toured extensively around the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Brazil and have played at music festivals worldwide including in front of 50,000 people at the 2011 Montreal Jazz Festival.
On May 12, 2013 The Soul Rebels were featured on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One. They performed Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall".[16]
On February 22, 2013 The Soul Rebels were the official house band for the Annual NFL Honors Award show on CBS prime time, hosted by Alec Baldwin. The NFL Honors is a two-hour prime time awards show presented by the National Football League to salute the best players and plays from the 2012 NFL season. The event was held at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana.[17]
HBO's original series Treme featured The Soul Rebels performing "Drink A Little Poison (4 U Die)" on the season one finale episode and in season 4 episode two with Galactic and Corey Glover of Living Colour performing "Hey Na Na".[19]
On October 7, 2012, The Soul Rebels had a featured performance on NBC Sunday Night Football, performing the show's theme song.[20]
On February 24, 2012, The Soul Rebels were the subject of an NPR national broadcast of their show with Galactic live from Washington DC's 9:30 Club. The broadcast was syndicated on NPR and through other affiliates across the United States as well as webcast on NPR.org.[22]
The band was interviewed and their music was featured in an ESPN video feature on LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu entitled Tyrann Mathieu Plays Jazz.[23]
The band appeared in an episode of Travel Channel's Booze Traveler in February 2015, entitled "Dead in New Orleans".[24]
The band also appeared on the June 13, 2017 edition of SmackDown Live, performing a rendition of "New Day, New Way" for the New Day. The show was taped and aired live from New Orleans, the band's hometown.
In 2023, the band performed "His Soul Left Gloss on the Rose" on the soundtrack of the 2023 film Haunted Mansion.
Power = Power mixtape (2013)
On December 3, 2013, The Soul Rebels released their Power = Power free mixtape. The free download featured studio, live versions and remixes of original material as well as covers of modern-day hits by such superstars as Jay-Z, Daft Punk, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and Bruno Mars. The single on the mixtape was a remix of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" featuring Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia.[25] The mixtape won Offbeat's 2013 Best Of The Beat Award for Best Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape.[26]
"Hearing hip-hop and pop records transposed on live instruments is always a pleasure for avid music fans, and The Soul Rebels are giving the people exactly that on their new Power = Power mixtape." - Jay-Z's Life+Times.[27]
"The Soul Rebels, New Orleans' finest brass ensemble, just dropped their latest mixtape, Power = Power, which Noisey is happy to premiere...This isn't your standard wave, but the group's music is a funky new way to look some classic hits." -Vice/Noisey [28]
"Brace yourselves folks, these men are quickly solidifying themselves amongst NOLA's proud big brass elite... and seem intent to sublimate the homogenous tones of the contemporary urban music landscape with the lush instrumentation of our culture's root." - Okayplayer[29]
"The Soul Rebels are rebelling against one, albeit detestable thing: starchy paint-by-numbers music. As the New Orleans collective gears up to release their eclectic Power = Power mixtape on December 3 as a free download, the eight-member band has dropped a few aural treats along the way...Somewhere between Cypress Hill, Brand Nubian and Miles Davis, The Soul Rebels are filling the gaps. Power = Power features studio recordings, live versions and remixes of original works, making for a colorful musical mishmash, in which a hint of NOLA brass flair can always be found." -Vibe (magazine)[30]
Unlock Your Mind
Actor Seth Rogen holding up a copy of the "Unlock Your Mind" CD and hanging out with The Soul Rebels at Le Bon Temps Roule in 2012
The band released several albums under various independent record labels before signing with Rounder Records (Concord) in 2011. The band released their full length Rounder debut, Unlock Your Mind on January 31, 2012, produced by Scott Billington. The album features special guests Trombone Shorty, Cyril Neville, Ben Ellman of Galactic and others. Unlock Your Mind was received to universally positive reviews. Elias Leight from Popmatters praised the album as "a testimony to the power of horns--in all their squawking, tooting, screaming glory--and a vibrant concoction of different types of music." Daryl Easlea from BBC Music said in support, "This is a full-on, joyous, positive album that makes you feel like celebrating."
The album reached No.5 on iTunes Jazz charts and was the No.1 most added album on CMJ magazine's Hip-Hop playlists.[31]
Critical reception
The Soul Rebels have been described by Village Voice as "the missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong."[2]
The Soul Rebels catalog of albums has been received well by critics, their best-reviewed album being their latest, Unlock Your Mind. The album reached No.5 on iTunes Jazz charts and was the No.1 most added album on CMJ magazine's Hip-Hop playlists.
Awards
The Soul Rebels won Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape at the 2013 Off Beat Awards and nominated for Best Of The Beat: Off Beat Awards in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and in 2008.
In 2012, The Soul Rebels were nominated for four 2012 Best Of The Beat Awards; Best Artist Of The Year, Best Album Of The Year, Best Brass Band Of The Year and Best Brass Band Album Of The Year. They won Best Brass Band Album Of The Year.
The Soul Rebels won New Orleans' Big Easy award in 2010, 2008 and in 1999 as well as nominations in 2012, 2011 and in 2009.[33]
Discography
1995 – Let Your Mind Be Free [Mardi Gras Records]
1998 – No More Parades [Tuf America Records]
1999 – More Jams from No More Parades [Tuf America Records]
2004 – Rebelution [Barn Burner Music]
2006 – Urban Legend [Barn Burner Music]
2009 – No Place Like Home: Live in New Orleans [Independent]
2012 – Unlock Your Mind [Rounder Records]
2019 - Poetry in Motion [Artistry Music]
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References
↑ "Soul Rebels". Soulrebelsbrassband.com. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
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