The Camaro Brothers play high-octane rock and roll with a soulfull passion infused with classic rhythm and blues beats and muscular grooves from the streets of Detroit . With our individual influences we've been able to create our own sound which we like to refer to as Rock & Soul.
The Camaro Brothers blend influences ranging from classic Soul, Jazz, and House to the Rock and Roll of the 70's through the 90's. All the music is original and written collectively by the band. The Camaro Brothers are not a "cover band". They have incorporated singer song writer lyrics and fused it with the music to generate their Rock & Soul sound. Each of the eight members brings something unique to the table, including years of experience.
The Camaro Brothers are now recording their second CD and are looking for a release early in 2008.
Instrumentation
Hassan Watkins-Vocals
Ron Thurau - Guitar-Vocals
Kevin Holevar- Lead Guitar-Vocals
Kevin Knott- Keyboards-Vocals
Rick Mickens - Bass Guitar-Vocals
Dave Thurau - Percussion
Sayroa Watkins- Vocals
Press:
FREEDOMLAND
The Camaro Brothers and Sister Saroya are seven talented Detroit musicians who have traveled many lands. Gathering musical influences from each, their combined experience makes for the eclectic mix of melodies and rhythms showcased on their debut CD: Freedomland. This is rock music at its best: inspiring, driving, devotional and bound for Glory - pedal to the metal all the way.
The cover photo, an expansive stretch of straight and narrow highway, invites us to get behind the wheel and see where the journey might lead. The highway stretches not only infinitely onward, but heavenly upward. Who knows? A leap of faith in purchase – a jump for joy in listening!
The opening song, Reason for Beauty, is a revelation. The sheer vocal power of lead singer, Hassan Watkins, hits like a lightening bolt. In this voice there seems to be two voices combined. The first is one of great, expressive purity: the second, underlying, ignites every word with the passion of rhythm and blues and muscular soul grooves. The highway stretches onward. The journey has just begun...
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The second track, Victoria, features the brilliant, harmonizing vocals of Watkins' sister, Saroya. Clearly, God has bestowed great gifts on this family. Accompanying her on vocals are Kevin Knott, Kevin Holevar.
Freedomland's rhythmic pacing, eclectic sounds and tempos, will hold the listener's attention track after track. Amidst fine vocal performances, powerful instrumental statements are performed by brothers Ron and Dave Thurau, Kevin Holevar and Kevin Knott, and Jesus Camaro. Varied and finely woven, these sounds and textures will inspire the listener, from the first note sounded to the last chord struck.
The seventh track on this album is a delightful piece entitled Gumbo. Freedomland, in fact, IS a kind of delicious, musical gumbo.
The band combines influences too varied to enumerate: from Zydeco to driving metal rock, from lyric jazz to melodic swing. Like the best New Orleans gumbo, each ingredient serves and enhances the next. Nothing here is heavy-handed or obvious.
It is for the listener to discover and discern the subtleties, the spices, the flavors here-in to be savored.
Freedomland transcends, elevates, and rocks to beat the band.
So hop in the Camaro. Come along for the ride.
Freedomland highway is a groove, and at every curve a sonic surprise.
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Soul-rockin' Camaro Brothers drive to finals
Kara G. Morrison / The Detroit News
Wayne E. Smith / The Detroit News
The Camaro Brothers were a crowd-pleaser during the Sonic Summer Showcase on Friday.
It's official: The Camaro Brothers are finalists in The Detroit News Sonic Summer Battle of the Bands.
The soul-rock band won the first Sonic Summer Showcase on Friday, after facing off with Warrendale-area band Starfire for a chance to compete at Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats on Aug. 31. Six more bands will compete for two finalist slots next month.
"I'm so excited," lead singer Hassan Watkins of Detroit said after winning at Detroit's Campus Martius Park. "The love we gave (to the audience), they gave it back. I felt the energy."
Watkins, who calls the group's sound soul-rock "with an edge," says they are getting ready for a Clark Lake gig before rehearsing for the Labor Day weekend competition.
The eight-member band, which formed in 2006, recently recorded the album "Freedomland," available at CamaroBrothers.com and on iTunes.
"Their harmonies and vocals were really on point, and I definitely think they deserved to win today," said Toya Hankins, manager for Motown recording artist Kem.
Hankins judged the contest, along with Liz Hill, a music columnist for Strut magazine and Melody Baetens, a local musician, local radio show host and Detroit News staff writer.
As a finalist, the Camaro Brothers will perform on The Detroit News stage at the 2007 Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats, competing for $1,000 from Axis Music; 12 hours of studio time at the Audio Cafi Recording Studio; a Rocket Printing merchandise pack of customized posters; postcards and T-shirts; a full-page advertisement in The Detroit News; and a gift certificate for Guitar Center Roseville.
The other finalists will be chosen at Sonic Summer showcases at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Magic Band in Ferndale and Aug. 9 at iLounge in Pontiac.
You can reach Kara Morrison at (313) 222-2021 or kmorrison @detnews.com.
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