The Brooklyn-based Pimps of Joytime live and breathe an irresistible groove that blurs conventional genre boundaries, creating a highly engaging, funky party that you'd eagerly stumble across on the streets of New Orleans or in a New York nightclub.
Tonight in Washington, DC the soulful outfit kicks of a marathon 17-city April tour across much of the Northeast and Eastern US. At the shows, fans will experience the Pimps of Joytime's new single "Booty Text" and hear music from their forthcoming studio album, Jukestone Paradise, live in concert before anyone else.
The Pimps are known for taking risks in the studio, ever since their debut High Steppin' (2007, Wonderwheel Records) surprised critics at NPR, saying, "This is funky. It has it all: soul, funk, punk, afrobeat, rap. I've not heard anything quite like it." A remix album followed, then in 2011 the group released Janxta Funk! (Wonderwheel Records), which captured their "part janky, part gangsta" groove and solidified the Pimps' place among a new wave of progressive funk artists.
In the years since, the Pimps of Joytime toured almost nonstop coast to coast at major festivals like SXSW, Bonnaroo, All Good, Wakarusa and countless club dates -- more than 100 shows each year since 2012 -- steadily growing a devout fanbase that hinges on the thrill of the live show, and a desire for more.
This spring, fans will get that new chapter from the Pimps when they perform unreleased songs from Jukestone Paradise live on tour before the album's release in early fall 2014. The new record marks the studio debut of new drummer John Staten, who has been a staple on tour with the Pimps of Joytime for the last year, and also holds an incredible songwriting collaboration with Alex Toth of Rubblebucket.
"It's a more mature statement for us and speaks to how we've grown in the last few years," said lead singer and guitarist Brian J, who also doubles as producer on all the Pimps of Joytime albums. "In the past we've gone in a lot of different directions musically, but this record is more focused and takes you to a few distinct places -- it's harder, more blues-driven, and we can wait to see our fans' reaction at the show."
The April tour kicks off tonight in Baltimore, MD at the 8X10 and travels throughout major Northeast hubs including a hometown show in New York City Friday, April 12 at the Bowery Ballroom before the tour continues to the Midwest and Southeast.
For details and to purchase tickets, visit www.pimpsofjoytime.com.
April 2014 Tour Dates:
Fri, 4/4: Washington, DC - Gypsy Sally's
Sat, 4/5: Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
Tue, 4/8: Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Wed, 4/9: Syracuse, NY - Lost Horizon
Thu 4/10: Fairfield, CT - StageOne
Fri 4/11: Boston, MA - The Church
Sat 4/12: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
Wed 4/16: Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern
Thu 4/17: Chicago, IL - Cubby Bear
Fri 4/18: Omaha, NE - The Hive
Sat 4/19: Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze
Tue 4/22: St. Louis, MO - Gramophone
Wed 4/23: Nashville, TN - 12th & Porter
Thu 4/24: Chattanooga, TN - Rhythm & Brews
Fri 4/25: Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
Sat 4/26: Pisgah Brewing Company - Asheville, NC
