The Boom Booms are a six-piece Latin-soul-funk-rock-reggae band, forged from friendships born on the schoolyards, soccer fields, café patios and, eventually, bars of East Vancouver.
They make music that makes people want to dance, or “get up and love somebody,” as lead singer and guitarist Aaron Nazrul calls it, and will be performing on Aug. 1 at the Snoring Sasquatch.
Whether breaking into song and dance on the streets of Paris, storming stages with Congolese musicians in Brussels, playing to thousands at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or serenading abuelitas in South America, the charming sextet is able to reach across cultural barriers and connect with people of all stripes, on levels equally rhythmic and emotional.
The video for their 2007 feel-good party anthem When the Night made it to No. 6 on the Much More Music countdown in 2008, and was optioned for a recent episode of 90210. Delivered, a surreal banjo ballad that conjures up images of a jungle river baptism, earned them the award for best roots song at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards, which are judged by the world’s largest independent music organization.
The talented lineup is Aaron Ross on vocals and Latin-friendly nylon guitar, Geordie Hart on stand-up, sit-down and strap-on bass, Sean Ross on vocals, ukulele/cavacino, Tom Van Deursen on black, sexy electric guitar, Theo Vincent on ragin’ percussion and drum kit, and Richard Brinkman on drums that he keeps deep in his pocket.
“Aaron’s music combines the raw emotional intensity of Ben Harper and the cultural diversity of Manu Chao, with a sound that harkens back to old time folk and soul,” said CBC Radio 3.
“The Golden Voice of the [Edinburgh] Festival. … Aaron pours his heart and soul into each and every song. … Definitely a talent to watch for in the future,” said Festival FM.
The group’s magnanimous influences include the Buena Vista Social Club, Gregory Isaacs, the Budos Band, Manu Chao, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Damian Marley, Otis Redding, Sam Cook, Marvin Gaye, Ray LaMontagne, Tabu ley Rochereau and Paul Simon.
Their latest album, Hot Rum, is fresh on the market after a year in the pipeline. As the band tours this summer, the album can be purchased from shows and, soon, online. Aaron Nazrul’s previous release, 2007’s Butterfly Man, is available on iTunes. For more information, visit www.theboombooms.ca.
The doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30. Tickets are $10 in advance at Kingfisher Used Books and Black Bear Books, or $12 at the door.