“Funk for what ails you.” – The Goodfoot

“This Neo-Soul Groove has attitude in spades.” –The Green Room

Excellent Gentlemen plays danceable, vocal Soul/Funk/R&B music. Think: 70's block parties and golden-age hip-hop records. What goes on at an Excellent Gentlemen show? Yeah, there are funk vamps. Yeah, there are gritty soul shouts. Yeah, there are drum breakdowns. Yeah, there's a whole lot of groove, and hells yeah people get down and dance when they hear it.

It took only a year for these transplanted New Yorkers to transform the music scene in their newly adopted home of Portland, Oregon. In that year, the quartet has opened for groups like Zap Mama at the Aladdin Theater and Intervision at The Fez Ballroom, and under their own billing the group has packed venues like Jimmy Mak's, Berbati's Pan, and Lola's Room at the Crystal Ballroom. Their music stands for positivity, love, happiness and sex; this is definitely NOT the drudgery of mediocre Indie-Rock. Growing up together in New York forged a bond between these musicians that is evident in their lock-tight pockets and fierce commitment to song-craft and musicianship. From their roots in the East coast neo-soul and hip-hop communities, Excellent Gentlemen has forged a signature sound that is steeped in sweet soulfulness and ferocious grooves.

On the strength of their incredible live show, the independently-run band has ignited an adoring fan base and has attracted the attention of promoters and industry players across the Pacific Northwest. The band is fronted by Jeff Sechs and Steveland Swatkins, two powerful vocalists who both kick synth-bass lines and interweave vintage keyboard textures underneath soulful R&B harmonies. Guitarist Eddie Abadi carves the sonic space with pinpoint rhythm and sizzling leads while the backbeat gutbucket funk of drummer PJ Snacks keeps people's heads bobbing and bodies rocking. Excellent Gentlemen is currently touring across the region and will release their debut album in 2008.

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