The Third Coast Kings are an eight element proper deep funk and soul outfit from Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan, that draws influence from the great James Brown, as well as the many artists from the 60s and 70s whose music was carefully salvaged by the crate digging revolution. Most importantly, Third Coast Kings make it a point to remain true to the style and technique of playing proper deep funk and soul to a live audience that might otherwise only be heard on dusty 45s. They are proud to be a part of the growing number of acts putting the right kind of funk back onto the stage, bringing the hot heat to wherever they perform, like only the Kings can. These cats will put the dip back into your hips and the jive in your stride, watch out as they begin their ascent in the contemporary funk and soul scene with their much anticipated self-titled debut, out in all the best stores from March 2012 on CD/Digital and LIMITED EDITION vinyl LP!!! Third Coast Kings are: Brian Einstein Lassiter - alto/baritone sax James "Gemstone" Keovongsak - drums Steve Barker - bass Andy Filisko - guitar Terry Kimura - trombone Ryan Dolan - trumpet Alec Cooper - tenor sax Michelle "The Belle" Camilleri / Sean Ike - vocals (2) Playing funk, soul, and R&B in the classic style of the 1960s and '70s, the Third Coast Kings are a Michigan-based octet who have won an international following for their groove-intensive sound. Formed in 2008, the Third Coast Kings feature Andy Filisko on guitar, Nate Ayers on bass, James "Gemstone" Keovongsak on drums, Ryan Dolan on trumpet, Terry Kimura on trombone, Alec Cooper on tenor sax, and Brian Einstein Lassiter on alto and baritone sax. Initially, the group also included lead vocalist Michelle "The Belle" Camilleri, and after extensive live work throughout Michigan and the Midwest, the Kings developed a reputation as one of the state's leading exponents of classic soul and funk. In 2009, the band recorded an album, Heavyweight Funk!, which they released themselves. Word of the Third Coast Kings' live prowess and their debut album traveled to Italy and the offices of Record Kicks, a label specializing in new bands playing old-school R&B. The label was sufficiently impressed to offer the band a record deal, and their single "Give Me Your Love" b/w "Tonic Stride" was released by Record Kicks in April 2010. While Camilleri appeared on the single, later in 2010 Sean Ike, a former member of Michigan soul revivalists the Elevations, took over as the group's lead singer. More live gigs followed, and a seven-song EP from the band, simply called Third Coast Kings, was released in April 2011. Later the same year, Record Kicks put out an album, also called Third Coast Kings, that included the dancefloor favorite "Spicy Brown." As the group's following grew, they continued to perform frequently throughout the Midwest, and won fans in Japan when they were invited to play Naeba's Fuji Rock Festival in 2012. With Steve Barker taking over on bass for Nate Ayers, the Third Coast Kings went into the studio in 2013 to begin work on their third full-length album, and Record Kicks released West Grand Boulevard in May 2013. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.