The Red and Black

Issue date: 6/26/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: COURTESY ERIN DAVIE Zion Godchaux sings in the band BoomBox. [Click to enlarge]

BoomBox is a duo that hails from Muscle Shoals, Ala., an unassuming Southern town with a recording studio that recorded artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones. With such a diverse and rich musical history, Muscle Shoals was the perfect breeding ground for a band like BoomBox.

With all these hometown influences on tap, singer/songwriter/guitarist Zion Godchaux and "sound magician"/disc jockey Russ Randolph have managed to craft a dangerous, genre-spanning sonic palette of hypnotic dance rhythms; laid-back, psychedelic funk; jazz-influenced, hip-hop percussion and pretty much everything else under the sun. And they do it all live.

"It was in the stars, meeting Russ," Godchaux said. "During shows, I understand what Russ is doing, and he understands what I'm doing - it's like we share a brain."

Godchaux is the showman of the group, with a natural stage presence that runs in the family. Both his parents were minor members of The Grateful Dead, and following in their footsteps, BoomBox shows can be highly unpredictable, exploring different combinations of sounds and textures at a moment's notice.

It is this spontaneity and experimentation that gives the group's live show an added touch of suspense and excitement. Bands like Phish and The Grateful Dead had such devoted and large fan bases for so long because of their adventurous live improvisation and willingness to re-invent and re-work their material. BoomBox shares this ethos, and as a result, ends up giving fans a memorable experience.

"I listen to a wide range of music, but they're unlike anything I've ever heard before," said University alumna Sarah Browne. "I was dancing the whole time."

Despite being sonically dense and complicated, BoomBox makes connections on a most visceral level. The music commands booty shaking, and the infectious groove and hypnotic punch take hours to wear off.

"Our goal is to electrify the room and to create an environment where people can be free," Godchaux said.

The guys also find time during their tours to give back to the community. They donate a percentage of money from each show to support local non-profit organizations, such as The Basics Fund, which raises money to pay for local artists' health insurance, and Conscious Alliance, an organization that holds food drives for local food banks.

"[BoomBox is] definitely open to working with local non-profits. They like to bring a community vibe to their shows," said Erin Davey, the band's publicist.

The band is in the midst of a two-month tour, bringing them to the Georgia Theatre this Saturday.

"Athens is one of our favorite places to play," Godchaux said. "We know a lot of people in Athens, so it's less like a show and more like a party with all our friends."

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