Part Afro-beat rhythm, part psychedelic punk, Seattle’s Bandalabra evokes the sounds of “Fela Kuti meeting Steve Reich in rock’s backyard,” group founder, punk-jazz saxophonist Skerik says. The lively quartet includes well-loved locals D’vonne Lewis on drums, Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, and Andy Coe on guitar.

Skerik elaborates on Bandalabra’s style: “It’s not about soloing so much as creating a polyrhythmic weave with the four instruments. Music that is danceable but also interesting to listen to.”

Relatively new to the scene, Bandalabra released their debut album Live at the Royal Room this spring, where they recorded their first public performance. The album features over 60 minutes of grooves created in the moment, where witnesses say they stumbled upon the notable psychedelic explosion now known as the track “Beast Crusher.” On the heels of the successful debut album, Bandalabra embarked on a nationwide tour this summer that took them from Seattle to New York and back again. The tour wraps up this fall where it all started, at the Royal Room, Columbia City.

– ST