BY B AO L E - H U U KAELIN ELLIS | PHOTO BY KHARY KHALFANI
LOCAL RELEASES
For a relatively quiet Central Florida burg, the music coming out of Lakeland has grabbed my attention a disproportionate amount of times. The latest instance is young producer Kaelin Ellis, an Orlando expat and Full Sail graduate who just released a great new album titled The Funk Will Prevail. Besides his own music, he’s been building a production name with artists like Kaytranada, Waldo, Deffie and K-pop supergroup Exo. Ellis’ latest, and probably most notable, star joint was with rap iconoclast Lupe Fiasco, with whom he created a collaborative EP titled House in 2020 that grew out of a Twitter exchange during the pandemic lockdown. Of Ellis’ six albums so far, The Funk Will Prevail is perhaps his most realized. It’s 14 tracks of proof that he’s operating on a stratum above. Although Ellis is a product of the Soundcloud generation, his aesthetic plays like a complete musical idea next to the rampant “simple”-ism of his contemporaries, especially on this sophisticated album. Dedicated to his late grandfather, The Funk corrals the sundry sounds and attitudes of hip-hop, beat scene, jazz and funk into a sonic composite that’s cohesive and forward. Between the mix of guest musicians and producers, these songs pop with a vibrant balance between electronic and organic. The sum is a feat of cerebral finesse. Besides streaming everywhere, Kaelin Ellis’ The Funk Will Prevail can also be owned as a name-your-price download on Bandcamp.
Lakeland producer Kaelin Ellis, Orlando expat and Full Sail grad, just released the new album ‘The Funk Will Prevail.’ Besides his own music, he’s building a production name with artists like K-pop supergroup Exo and Lupe Fiasco
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: When these synth-pop legends played the Beacham in 2018, they were an utter revelation. Belying their age and status as elder statesmen, they delivered a performance of pure rejuvenation in both art and energy, truly hitting a creative stride since their 2006 reunion. Now, OMD are celebrating their 40th anniversary and touring on their landmark box set (Souvenir), so expect a long cavalcade of generation-defining hits that still stand as golden touchstones of electronic pop. (8 p.m. Friday, April 22, The Plaza Live, $29.50-$59.50)
Juan Wauters: Though he’s moved on from the garage-rock scrappiness of his days leading indie darling band the Beets, Queens’ They’re also really gay. And the way that they Juan Wauters has nevertheless held on to his relish that with so much outness, humor and left-field bona fides with a whimsical trail of humanity certifies them as all-around heroes. work that’s established him as a truly alternaThe musical union of real-life couple Roddy tive indie-folk icon. (7 p.m. Saturday, April 23, Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen) Henao Contemporary Center, $15) and Joey Holman (Holman) — which definitely skews toward the Imperial Teen side The Pack A.D., Body Shop: Although of Bottum’s sensibilities — is an indie-rock relatively unsung, rugged Canadian garageromp of fun, positivity and irreverence that’s rock duo the Pack A.D. have been one of the both timely and perfectly calibrated. (7 p.m. best exemplars of the great two-piece rock Thursday, April 21, Henao Contemporary Center, band tradition since they emerged in the late $15) 2000s. This tour will be the last time you’ll be able to see them live, at least for the foreseeAdult., Kontravoid, Spike Hellis: Since able future. the dawn of the millennium, Detroit dark techWhile they’ve said they’re not disbanding, no duo Adult. have consistently staked their they will at the very least go into deep freeze claim as electronic music’s most serious act. soon. 2020’s It Was Fun While It Lasted is supJust like the period at the end of their name, posed to be their final album and they’re now they’re grave, unblinking and categorical. Add finally able to tour for it. If ever there were CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK in L.A. openers Kontravoid and Spike Hellis underground champs worthy of a good victory If you go out, be safe, be cool. and you’ve got a full night of rhythm and nihil- lap, it’s these ladies. (8 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Man on Man, Wet Nurse, Fatties: New ism. Let’s get stern, y’all. (8 p.m. Friday, April 22, Will’s Pub, $12-$14) Polyvinyl band Man on Man are really good. Will’s Pub, $17) baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com ● APRIL 20-26, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
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