A definition of federation I found on an online dictionary was “an organization formed by merging several groups or parties”, which is exactly the case with Philly’s own Grimace Federation. 

With an over abundance of trance-fusion bands crowding the live music scene (as well as a majority coming from Philly), it has been nearly impossible to differentiate from the pack.  However, Grimace Federation fuses jazz, hip-hop, post-rock, and electronic music in a fresh, unheard way.  After only a few years since their first gig as a trio, Philly’s genre-bending sextet have already played Philly’s Jam on the River, Camp Bisco, and have opened for the likes of Disco Biscuits, Robert Randolph, Marc Ribot, The Benevento/Russo Duo, as well as Robert Walter.

I first saw them in Philly at the World Café when they opened for their Philly brethren Brothers Past.  My first view of the band was the Wood brothers facing each other on the drums, tête-à-tête, reflecting each other’s energy.  Meanwhile, the unique sound of Xack Xweig’s vibraphone adds a twist to the standard band makeup, not effectively instituted since Charlie Hunter’s Pound for Pound.  Bands with multiple drummers like Do Make Say Think or !!! (chk chk chk) play an intricate role in the band.  However, with Grimace, the drummers are the maestros of the band. 

Since then, I have gone to two Freshout Media events at the World Café where Grimace Federation, under the pseudonym Murderous Raven, laid down improv beats while various local MCs ranging from Philly Slick to Jonifin Dub grasped the mic and spit some freestyle rhymes.  NAS was wrong when he told everyone, “Hip-Hop is dead”; just like the human race itself, hip-hop has evolved paring seemingly opposite musical styles together.

Their debut LP, “Tasted by Chemists” features the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra horns (“Dangerfield”) and Aesop Rock (“Catch 22”).  The diminishing rates of enjoyability per listen are lower than most CD’s I have bought in a long time.   I know enojoyability is not a word, but it seemed to be the only way to describe it.  It also has versatility because I can rock it on my iPod at the gym, during work or chill and listen while I read before I go to sleep.  A track like “Backman’s (Xylos Remix)” is the manifestation my previous theory to the T.

If you live in Philly or are willing to drive wherever they’re playing in the tri-state area, definitely check them out.  On March 15, they got their first headlining gig at the TLA on South Street; they will be co-headlining with funk/hip-hop outfit Black Landlord.