Lap-steel guitar and hip-hop beats don't often mix, but Philadelphia's Slo-Mo brings them together seamlessly. Crafting songs that straddle the lines separating hip-hop, Americana, folk and pop, the band's songs are rooted in catchy hooks and breezy grooves. Hear Slo-Mo perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on May 18.
Leader Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner began playing lap-steel guitar more than a decade ago; he's since performed with the likes of Marah. While experimenting with different styles, Brenner assembled a band for Slo-Mo's debut, 2000's Novelty. While he was writing material for his next record, he was introduced to local rapper Mic Wrecka, with whom he instantly connected. The pair eventually made 2005's My Buzz Comes Back, released under the name Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka. The disc landed on several prominent year-end best-of lists, which helped cement the band's reputation in Philadelphia and beyond.
On the new Smokey Mountain, Slo-Mo and Mic-Wrecka have transformed themselves again. This time, they take the form of an octet that brings more of a live feel to their hip-hop/lap-steel hybrid.
Copyright 2007 XPN
