Lineup 2014

BADBADNOTGOOD

Toronto, ON

It all started with a YouTube video. Three young men flipped Odd Future songs into a jazz medley in an abandoned apartment. The drummer wore a pig mask. They were christened the Odd Trio via cardboard sign.

Toronto musicians Matthew A. Tavares, Chester Hansen and Alex Sowinski first met in Humber College’s Music Performance program, bonding over a common love for Odd Future, Gucci Mane and Lil B. With Matthew on piano and synths, bassist Chester, and Alex on drums, they began jamming casually and the Odd Trio was assembled.
The first Odd Trio video became a viral sensation as they cultivated a devoted online fan base. They dropped new videos regularly and millions of hits later, newly christened Badbadnotgood released their self-titled EP in June 2011. It was a complete UFO upon arrival on the musical landscape. Tavares’ virtuosity on keys, Sowincki’s human drum machine prowess and Hansen’s in-pocket swing on bass redefined the possibilities of what a trio can do. Inspired equally by Lil B or John Coltrane, Badbadnotgood found the post-bop in Big Apple classics (“The World Is Yours”, “Mass Appeal”, “Electric Relaxation”), Zelda themes or the off-kilter electronic soundscapes of Flying Lotus.

In September 2011, BBNG sold out their debut show at Toronto’s Red Light Club. Soon after, a friendship on Twitter led to jam sessions with Tyler the Creator while he was in Toronto. The moment was captured on Youtube and spread through the web like wildfire, soon followed by an opening set for Roy Ayers and a headlining performance in London for Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Award show in December 2011.

Nothing seems to stop these three. With two live albums and a second full-length (BBNG2) later, all available for free on their site, they also now have “band-in-residence” status at Coachella. Not too bad for Badbad.