by Jennifer Alten "Liquid Soul rules!" yelled Vice President Al Gore at the 21st Century Youth Ball, where the band shared billing with such notables as Sponge, Jewel and L.L. Cool J.
Chicago's own acid jazz mavens, Liquid Soul, were invited to help usher in President Clinton's next four years at January's Presidential inauguration. They played both at the parade welcoming the President and at one of the 14 inaugural balls.
This 10-piece band, fronted by saxophonist Mars Williams and turntable artist Jesse de la Peña, has a sound that seamlessly melds hip-hop samples and rap attacks with free-flowing, brass-inflamed jazz. Their following -- and their success -- has grown steadily. Exposure on WXRT, a deal with EMI and jam sessions with folks like John Popper, Eddie Vedder and Joan Osborne haven’t hurt their rise a bit, either.
Liquid Soul's recent Capitol adventure started when some staffers from last August's Democratic National Convention stopped by the Double Door, the spot of band's weekly Sunday night gig. Suitably impressed, they brought a demo tape back to Washington, D.C.
One thing led to another, and the band found themselves on the streets of D.C., entertaining everyone waiting to see the President. When Clinton arrived, the band played "New E" off their self-titled debut album, Liquid Soul. Once Clinton was inaugurated, they continued to play for an hour and a half while the crowd kept time by waving flags. Then an hour after that, the band was off to the ballroom to set up for the 21st Century Youth Ball. Not to mention hours of security checks.
"It was a great honor to be there and a rush playing for that many people," said Williams, band leader and principal songwriter. "Now we're part of history, taking part in the last inauguration of the millennium."
What's next for this funky, infectious band? Liquid Soul just hit the studios to begin recording a new CD, with an expected release of June. They're trying to get an advanced vinyl mix out to the clubs -- a natural fit with the strength of de le Peña’s sampled grooves.
Now that Liquid Soul has played for the President, hit number one on some college jazz programs and received air play on "regular" radio, they’re looking to gain even more exposure. With their CD receiving national distribution by EMI, they’re heading out on a 20-date tour in March with stops in major markets like Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and San Francisco. According to Williams, "We're trying to appeal to more people. And we're going to take it as far as it goes." How about taking a visit to Liquid Soul's Official Web site! Where does this leave Chicago's legion of Liquid Soul fans and Sunday night regulars?
"We’re still going to keep playing the Double Door," Williams said. The band has shown its dedication by doing everything it takes to make the 10:30 pm Sunday start time. After playing a Saturday night show in Los Angles not long ago, the entire band briefly stopped at a hotel room to freshen up. Then it was on to a red-eye back to Chicago "on Southwest Airlines, no less, where we stopped about a million times." They made it back just hours before the show.
"We have such loyal fans. We gotta be there for them," he explained.
And you gotta go see them. Liquid Soul plays every Sunday night at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
Centerstage Will Feed You
