Band Spotlight: Menahan Street Band

Who: Menahan Street Band

What do they sound like?: The soundtrack of a busy Bushwick street corner.

Why YOU Should Listen!: A casual observer heard me listening to the Menahan Street Band’s debut full-length Make the Road by Walking (Dunham/Daptone Records -2008) not too long ago and was intrigued by what he heard. After he purchased it, he stated “they are obviously from Jamaica.” It’s not a totally groundless viewpoint since the band’s style is rooted in many different styles of music, but their homebase and soul is in Brooklyn.

Featuring members of Antibalas, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The Budos Band, among others, the group is a melting pot of all those bands, with styles ranging from funk, jazz, soul to afro-beat. These are some beautifully crafted songs that become the soundtrack of your surroundings perfectly, whether or not you are roaming around Brooklyn. Of course, it doesn’t hurt. These songs live and breath through the hussle and bussle of the borough. I know I’m addicted to this stuff and I think you might be too after a few listens.

Check out “Make the Road by Walking” below.