As you all know, RIOSOUL is one of the leading INDEPENDENT artists on the Black music scene and we are proud to present their SECOND CD called THE CURE and to bring you up to date on their current activities...

RioSoul is a Soul/Funk Band from Los Angeles – formed in 1999 by Singer/Songwriter – RIO and Producer – ANDRA HINES. Each of the members of RioSoul are highly gifted Musicians and talented Writer/ Producers who have worked with a variety of well know Artists over the years including: Toni Braxton, En Vogue, Hammer, Aaron Hall, New Birth, New Edition, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Womack, El Debarge, Jesse Johnson, Dr. Dre., Snoop Dog, Warren G., SWV, Cameo, and many more…

RioSoul was an idea born of dissatisfaction with the current Music Scene where Artist are packaged to look and sound alike…And where Music played by Real Musicians has been replaced with Manufactured beats, loops, and samples. RioSoul symbolizes a RETURN to REAL MUSIC, and to a time when SOUL & FUNK music came from BANDS that play Instruments, and put on incredible LIVE SHOWS. These BANDS were Creative Forces Responsible for some of the Greatest Music of all time!!! To see RIOSOUL LIVE is to experience what has been Missing in Music for a Long time!

RioSoul’s Music has been described as Sophisticated Funk! It’s reminiscent of some of the Soul & Funk of the 70’s and 80’s – while still sounding Fresh and Original. RioSoul’s Music has been inspired by many of the Groups of the 70’s and 80’s including: Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament Funkadelic, Led Zeppelin, Slave, Toto, New Birth, Cameo, Rufus, Larry Graham/Graham Central Station, Isaac Hayes, Average White Band, Stevie Wonder, and Prince

RioSoul’s debut album “Rhythms of the Soul” was an introduction of what was to come, and earned RioSoul fans across the Globe! RioSoul’s sophomore Album – “The Cure” is a bold statement that is sure to win over the strongest Critics… “The Cure” is the type of Album you can play from front to back and just groove – (no fillers on this one) – but plenty to Fill You Up!!!

RioSoul is also an outstanding LIVE BAND, they have played around the country at top venues in New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, San Francisco and of course in LA. Some of you know what I'm talking about because you have seen RioSoul LIVE in your hometown or perhaps you caught them at the 2004 Soul-Patrol East Coast Convention, where they were one of the headliners!

So read on for more info about RIOSOUL , their new CD called THE CURE", their upcoming big Los Angeles Halloween show (w/Will Wheaton) and the upcoming concert in Los Angeles where RIO SOUL will be opening for the legendary group CAMEO...

--Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net

RIOSOUL'S NEW CD:
THE CURE

Now obviously I am biased when it comes to Rio Soul. I don't make any secret about how much I love this band, not only as artists but also as people! So given my obvious bias, I thought that you might want to read a few reviews of THE CURE from around the internet that I have gathered....

'THE CURE' - NEW FROM RIO SOUL!!!!
Reviewer: Martin
"Soul/funk/jazz/rock/nu soul/black rock/whateva" sounds ok with me, but to be honest there is only one description for this music as far as I am concerned: STONE COLD IN THE POCKET FONK!!!! I`m listening to the samples for the third time, and what can I say? I just got a big smile on my face :-) Who is that bassist?? I can`t believe my ears!! There should be a warning label on the new album: "Funk Overload"!! "Feel it" and "Breathe" got a killer groove going, and Rio`s voice on "Free" is just wonderful! I`m definitely buying this album when it gets released!! There is still hope for music....

RIOSOUL the CURE was WORTH THE WAIT!!!

Reviewer: Janet
Rio, Rio, Rio, Love the new cd worth the wait. Girl . . . . #12 Love Rain Down OMG that is the best my new favorite song. See you at the next show . . . Janet

Unbelievably GREAT and so Soulful!
Reviewer: Gail Scott
I have not been able to stop playing this CD - THE CURE since I got it a few weeks ago...Different from their first CD (which I loved as well) and there are so many really good songs that I pick a new favorite each time I listen! I especially love the way they flipped the Rolling Stones song Miss You - too funky! This CD is full of great songwriting, excellent musicianship and soulful vocals!


CLASS ACT
Reviewer: Phil Green
Riosoul are quite simply one of the classiest acts out there at the moment. This is real music, played by really talented musicians & songwriters, no samples. The album is very retro and takes you back to the early 80's when, for me, soul music was at it's best. The album is highly polished and sounds like a live recording. Best track is Breathe with it's Ernie Isley type guitar. Self-contained bands are a rarity these days and no doubt this album will not get the recognition it deserves but do yourself a favor. BUY IT and buy their previous album, Rhythms of the Soul, at the same time. You will not be disappointed.


SLAMMIN: Funk, Soul, Rock, Slow Jams (who cares about genres)
Reviewer: Bob Davis - Soul-Patrol.com
I liked their first CD "Rhythms of the Soul", but their second one, "THE CURE" surpasses it by leaps and bounds. If you dug their first CD, you already know that this is a band of great potential. On the second CD that potential is realized with a fully realized and genre busting collection of songs that fit nearly every mood or occasion. If you love good music, you can't go wrong with this CD, stop thinking about it and just buy it, in fact buy two so you can turn a friend on.......

(Ok, I just couldn't resist throwing my $0.02 in there....lol)

--Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net

A RIOSOUL LIVE REVIEW 

Here is a review of a RIOSOUL live performance that I wrote last year.
I thought that for those of you who might be on the fence about going to check them out live, you might need a little bit of encouragement…

RioSoul Rocked The House (In Pittsburgh)

An "unknown soul/funk band from Los Angeles" rocked the house during a live show at Homewood's Lounge 7101 in front of an tough, unforgiving GHETTO audience.

Basically, the RioSoul set list was the same as the one heard during a Nov. 21 New York City show. There were a few sound problems at the beginning during the Nov. 23 Pittsburgh show, but once they were cleared up, the show really began-proving once again that character will overcome adversity every time!

Of course, some of you out there will say that I am biased. Well, it's true that I am. So there, I admit it.

You don't have to believe me about the show; you can believe a truly unbiased source-the audience, right there in the 'hood in Homewood. They know raw funk when they hear it. They called for an encore at the end of the set, and the band obliged.

Rio shouted, "Do y'all like the Isley Brothers?" and then the band went to work and responded with the Isley Brothers classic song "Hope You Feel Better Love."

And then one of those classic moments in music occurred. You know, one of those moments that years from now many thousands of people will say that they personally witnessed. But in reality, only 75 people actually saw and heard this one.

Guitarist James Gardner did his solo and, if you closed your eyes, you would have thought it was Ernie Isley playing that guitar. But if you closed your eyes, your would have kicked yourself.

Gardner truly had that ghetto joint on the corner of Frankstown and Lang deep in the heart of one of the most economically depressed areas in Pittsburgh rocking to its foundation.

And then, the amazing happened...James went into a deep groove and he was feeling it; the audience was feeling it.

We all knew what would happen next.

We could anticipate it.

Then we saw it.

Gardner slung his guitar around the back of his neck and played it backward, á la Jimi Hendrix. That move raised the level of intensity about 1,000 degrees.

People left their seats (including yours truly) and started crowding around Gardner and pointing to his guitar, which seemed to inspire him. He got even hotter.

The show ended with a standing ovation.

As I said earlier, I am certain that many of you will think I am biased? (and you would be correct)

However the audience of "just plain folks" in Homewood aren't biased, not one bit. They can't be fooled, they don't care about "musical categories" and they don't care about hype

However they do know "Raw Funk" when they hear it.

They know the "Real Deal" when they see it.

In short, RioSoul created an audience for life out of the Black folks at the 7101 Lounge deep in the heart of the ghetto on a Sunday evening, with an earth scorching, bone crushing, three-minute rock guitar solo.

I thought Black people didn't like rock 'n roll!

After the show the lead singer, Rio, reminded me of what I had written earlier on soul-patrol.com:

I wrote: "You can bet your bottom dollar that in Homewood, RioSoul had better be real good or else they will be booed off of the stage."

She said, "Well, they didn't boo us off stage did they?" All I could do was smile as wide as I could and give her a big hug."



--Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net

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Hopefully you enjoyed this Special Edition of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter.
We will be back in about two weeks with the next edition, with any email alerts for
local events, Soul-Patrol website updates/chat sessions or breaking news in between, as required.

If you have any comments, questions, etc feel free to drop me an email and let me know what's on your mind.

Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net