by Jules Gonsoulin
sports editor
Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities did not end with the conclusion of the highly popular parade in downtown Jackson. The New Orleans-born group Flow Tribe highlighted a music festival in the courtyard area of Hal & Mal’s, where it treated the audience to a very enjoyable night of energetic, funky, Southern tunes.
Flow Tribe’s sound is unique and appeals to a wide variety of music lovers. While some might compare their music to that of Widespread Panic or Moe, lead singer K.C. O’Rorke emphasizes the group’s distinctiveness.
“We don’t consider ourselves a jam band, more of an all around musical wrecking machine,” O’Rorke says. “Our style best described as ‘backbone cracking music’ a mixture of rock, jazz, and Latin influences all dipped in funk.”
O’Rorke also spoke on the band’s musical influences, which are just as broad as their sound. “Our musical influences run the gamut from James Brown to Elvis,” he says, “We are very influenced by New Orleans artists like Allen Toussaint, The Meters and Dr. John. Modern bands I would say Los Amigos Invisibles, a funk band from South America.”
O’Rorke credits the city of New Orleans for being one of the band’s greatest influences. “ New Orleans has infused our music with its own unique flavor. Being lifelong residents it’s in our bones.” Like the city of New Orleans, Flow Tribe’s music is fun, eclectic and diverse. The Saturday concert was, therefore, a nonstop party that got the vast majority of audience members dancing and singing along with some of the band’s most popular songs.
As Flow Tribe continues to tour the South, its sound and influence is growing on many music fans, and O’Rorke believes the band will continue to prosper in the years to come. “We are in the process of building our own state-of-the-art studio in New Orleans and are currently in production for our next album,” he says. “The future is bright! Continuing to tour nonstop, putting out compelling music, and spreading the gospel of good times!”