User:Midcity70119/Flow Tribe

Flow Tribe is an American funk/rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are known for a fusion of funk, rock, psychedelic blues, and New Orleans beats and rhythms. They perform extensively in New Orleans and throughout the Southeastern United States. The group was formed in 2004 by high school friends K.C. O'Rorke (vocals, trumpet), Blake Quick (guitar, vocals), Chad Penot (bass, vocals), and Russell Olschner (drums). The band took its current form in the summer of 2006 with the addition of Bryan Santos (guitar) and John-Michael Early (harmonica, washboard, percussion, vocals). All members are New Orleans natives.

Early History
Flow Tribe was founded as a group of four in 2004 while the members were still in high school at Brother Martin. However, shortly after graduation, drummer Russell Olschner received news that his new placement in the Louisiana National Guard would find him fighting in Iraq for all of 2005. Olschner went to Iraq, Katrina ravaged their beloved city, and the music was put on hold. However, upon his safe return four months after the storm passed, the high school friends reunited once again to rekindle the magic. However with Chad Penot and Blake Quick both on guitar, the band lacked a bassist. The friends called on another classmate, Bryan Santos, and the Tribe was ready for the stage. The group practiced for a few months and soon landed a weekly Sunday gig at Friar Tucks where a friend was managing. Weeks after the five were finalized, the group performed its first show at Friar Tucks. John-Michael Early, a high school friend of O'Rorke (but a graduate of rival Jesuit High School ) was in the crowd, home for the summer from LSU. After talking, Early began practicing with the Tribe and joined them in their Sunday night shows. The final lineup was set in stone, and the same crew developed as a musical family over the next four years. At the end of the summer of 2006, Flow Tribe saved enough money for studio time. They recorded and locally distributed their first album, "Check Yo Pockets" at Festival Recording Studios in an all night, 1-2 take recoding session where they walked out with a final mixed product in the early morning hours. However, the summer ended, and the members returned to their respective schools and jobs: O'Rorke to the University of Alabama, Quick to The University of Southern Mississippi, Santos and Early to LSU, Penot to work in New Orleans, and Olschner serving his National Guard duties and working in New Orleans. Although they were spread out across the South, the friends knew that they had berthed something special that summer in post-Katrina New Orleans. They made a commitment to “play till the wheels fall off.”

Developing the Band
With their commitment fresh in their minds, the Tribe frequently reunited in New Orleans for shows at the Howlin' Wolf, on Bourbon St., and even on top of a Mardi Gras float. They also began spreading their fresh, funky sound to Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg, and Tuscaloosa. Soon, the members realized how well their sound was being received and noticed a following was developing. Taking the commitment to the next level, in 2007 O'Rorke transfered to Tulane to be in New Orleans and foster the growing band. Over the Christmas break in 2007, the group recorded their second studio album, but it is widely considered the first "real" album, Pregnant with a Baby Called Funk. The record was recorded at What Noise studios in New Orleans and produced by Eric Heigle. This record wasn't released until May 16th, 2008.