Third Coast Kings

Updated on Dec 14, 2023

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Genres Deep funk, soul Labels Record Kicks		Years active 2007-present

Origin Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. Associated acts James Brown, The Meters, Budos Band Website http://www.thirdcoastkings.com Members Sean Ike, James Keovongsak, Andy Filisko Profiles Facebook Twitter

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Third Coast Kings is a funk / soul band based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Kings were formed in 2007 by drummer James Keovongsak. Their record label Record Kicks describes them as "an eight element proper deep funk and soul outfit from Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan, that is influenced by the great James Brown, as well as the many artists from the 60s and 70s whose music was carefully salvaged by the crate digging revolution."

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Bandmembers

In the Summer of 2007, drummer James Keovongsak started recruiting musicians via Craigslist and by word-of-mouth for the project that would become the Third Coast Kings. After assembling guitarist Andy Filisko, saxophonist Brian Einstein Lassiter, bassist Nate Ayers, and trumpeter Ryan Dolan, the band performed its first show on Halloween of 2007 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

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2008 saw the addition of Alec Cooper on the tenor sax, with a brief stint by Heather Schwartz on vocals. In 2009, vocalist Michelle Camilleri joined the band and was featured on their Record Kicks release of "Give Me Your Love/Tonic Stride" on 45 and digital. In 2011, Camilleri took a hiatus and the Kings added Terry Kimura on trombone, Sean Ike on vocals and Steve Barker on bass.

Reception

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The Kings' release of "Give Me Your Love/Tonic Stride" in 2009 garnered attention in the worldwide funk scene. The tracks were played by prominent DJs such as Lance Ferguson and Adrian Gibson, in addition to being featured on Craig Charles' Funk&Soul Show on BBC 6.

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Since the release of their video single "Spicy Brown" and full length self-titled album in March 2012, the Kings have received considerable attention from the blogosphere. THIS IS BOOK'S MUSIC called their music, "[a] funky sound that will bring to mind the heat of James Brown‘s deep grooves", while SoulTracks.com said "Detroit's Third Coast Kings are a 21st Century answer to 20th Century funk." The band has received enthusiastic reviews in the United States, Japan, France, and the U.K.