You've got to dig pretty deep to get under the underground, but that’s the space San Francisco collective Lowpro Lounge has explored for more than four years. In a city that’s known for its creative edge, the Lowpro crew– comprised of DJs, VJs, MCs, producers, instrumentalists, and vocalists– stays razor sharp, honing its performance style into a unique synthesis of live and electronic elements. A typical Lowpro event features off-the-cuff experimentation, tight composition, and nu-skool electronic fusion complete with fans savvy enough to enjoy the unexpected.
Though the Lounge has produced one-offs outside San Francisco, the Lowpro Lounge World Tour is the first time the crew has organized a traveling showcase especially for the road. "The idea behind the tour is to show people outside of San Francisco that there’s a flourishing, post-rave, electronic music scene happening on the West Coast," says Lowpro co-founder DJ James Christopher.
Christopher and partner J.Tonal have put together a roster that is guaranteed to arouse any fan of hip-hop, D&B, breaks, or experimental music. J.Tonal is a live-PA maestro whose sets veer from downtempo to glitch to funk with the twist of a knob. His self-produced, self-distributed mixtapes have long been a hot commodity in the San Francisco electronic community. James Christopher and deep soul diva Audio Angel team up to rock out some truly searing drum n’ bass epics. Known as THE dynamic pairing in SF dnb the two have shared the stage with Sound Tribe Sector 9, Roni Size, and DJ Logic. Live breaks trio BLVD defy the limitations of their instruments on a nightly basis, blurring the line between improv and electronic. Funky fused rhythms steadily leave the dance floors in need of resurfacing.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper recently said, "If you're looking for mind-twisting innovation and a grin-inducing vibe, one crew who consistently brings it hard is the Lowpro Lounge. For over four years the collective has broken barriers and moved asses in an effort to build a unique and enduring musical community. Combining on-the-fly P.A. production, turntablism, and instrumental improvisation, the Lowpro experience is never predictable and always stimulating."
BLVD Blvdsource.com
Drummer/producer Dylan Macintosh's bodyrocking breakbeats and Tripp Bain's bumping basslines lay a deep low-end foundation below the spiraling melodies of guitarist Curtis Sloane. Add in hypnotic feedback loops and beguiling sonic effects, and you've got a dynamic mix of breakbeat, house, and dub that carries dancers into uncharted territory and keeps them there all night.
James Christopher
& Audio Angel Lowprolounge.com/jameschris, Audioangel.org
James Christopher, a longtime resident DJ at Atlanta's D&B weekly "Sessions" and co-founded the Lowpro Lounge, has performed with members of Sound Tribe Sector 9, the Santa Cruz Hemp All Stars, and DJ Logic. James Chris can often be found performing with Audio Angel, without question, THE diva of San Francisco drum and bass. She performed with James Christopher in the jungle band Rootscience, and has recorded and performed with Sound Tribe Sector 9. As she sweetly layers her voice with the drum and bass sound, people tend to question whether the vocals they are hearing are the sounds of an Angel.
J.Tonal Jtonal.com Co-founder of Lowpro Lounge, J.Tonal has performed and produced shows at such venues as the Nuyorican in NYC, the Middle East in Boston, and the Royal Oak Ballroom in Detroit. He has played with such notable musicians as DJ Shadow, Tino Corps., and Goa Gil. As resident bad boy and live-pa crunkologist, J.Tonal brings it hard with a dirty, beat driven mix featuring melodic influences ranging from the classic to the experimental.
