Afro q ben
From his flashy hair style to his down right funkadelic beats, Afro Q Ben dragged us through the decades straight back to the seventies. KBGA radio and the Business Careers in Entertainment Club (BCEC) hailed DJ Afro Q Ben straight from Portland to light up The Palace Lounge on Friday night both literally and figuratively, from his musical flair to the visually stimulating light show. And yes, he actually does have an afro.
Q-Ben drew dancers and musicians alike into his own little world on Friday night where he got to work slapping funky guitar riffs to remix with his own songs, electronic dance music, and samples. A self proclaimed “one man jam band,” Ben kept the groove bumping all night with his diverse assemblage of instrumentation and an ever-changing set of loops. As a multi- instrumentalist and DJ, he produces and engineers all of his own music. He hones his tonal range on the guitar, keyboard, drums and he also sings. Through his eclectic blend, Ben brought to life a diverse blend of funk, electronic, and dub-step. While the entrance and stairs were busy with passersby and the occasional cigarette break, he demanded attention and kept the audience completely enthralled. He invited the crowd into his own musical laboratory complete with a fluffy, glowing keyboard that proved a show in itself. And because no laboratory is complete without variables or special effects, a visually stimulating laser show bounced off the dance floors and the walls. If the beat/bass combination was not intriguing enough, the lasers were sure to excite mind and body alike.
Since the founding of the BCEC at the University of Montana in 2008, Missoula has welcomed an increasing number of artists and musicians. The club works to provide job opportunities, information, and experience to students interested in the business aspects of the entertainment industry. Afro Q Ben is one of the various acts they have brought to town.
In return, Q Ben brought back the groove and sparkle of the seventies and left us with music for the soul.
