06/08/11

Story by Peggy Graham

Hearts of Darkness ‘Light Up the Lawn’

Hearts of Darkness ‘Light Up the Lawn’ at JCCC July 8

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Hearts of Darkness will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. (dusk) Friday, July 8, on the front lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College. The concert is part of the free summer Light Up the Lawn series offered one Friday night each month, May-August. Lawn concerts are co-sponsored by the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Performing Arts Series at JCCC.

Hearts of Darkness is an 18-piece Afrobeat, hip-hop, funk, soul collective formed in 2007 in Kansas City, Mo. The sound is a hybrid beginning from the roots of ’70s Afrobeat and building off of the traditions of Kansas City big-band jazz as well as American funk and rock with hip-hop on top.  Hearts of Darkness has been tearing up the local music scene, nominated for "Best Live Act" and Les Izmore for "Best Frontman" by the Pitch Weekly in 2009, and packing local venues show after show.

The band plays original songs composed by Alex Smith and Jolan Smith with lyrics by Alex, Jolan, Les Izmore and Brandy Gordon, while pulling out an occasional tribute to greats like Fela Kuti. The front of the stage is held down by four vocalists, backed up by a seven-piece horn section with rhythms established by bass, rhythm guitar and keyboards. Finally, the groove is locked in with a heavy four-piece percussion section featuring African and American instruments.

Hip-hop emcee Les Izmore says, “The rhythms are so unique, my flow changes throughout our songs. It’s not really hip-hop. It’s raw funk with a little punk, and it gets me dancing. I never danced when I performed before, but when it comes to our music, self-control is an afterthought.”

Hearts of Darkness records on the Shipshape Music label.

Light Up the Lawn concludes Aug. 26 with Antennas Up.

For more information, call 913-469-4445.

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