Austin, Texas Soul/Funk duo Black Pumas have been at the center of a whirlwind of success over the past year.
Formed in 2017 when producer Adrian Quesada (known for his work with the bands Brownout and Latin Rock Grammy winners Grupo Fantasma) enlisted singer/songwriter Eric Burton to help him flesh out some instrumentals he'd been working on, the Pumas are fresh off of attending their first Grammys ceremony, where they were nominated for Best New Artist. (Though it had one of the best crops of nominees in recent memory, the category was the biggest "Who is going to lose to Billie Eilish?" one of a Grammys that Eilish would go on to completely dominate.)
Cincinnati fans will get to experience the acclaimed duo live and in person on March 28 when they swing by Oakley's 20th Century Theater. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. via ticketmaster.com.
With a tasty mix of classic and modern Soul, Funk, Rock and Hip Hop ingredients, Black Pumas' career has some roots in Southwestern Ohio. Their first single, "Black Moon Rising," was the first release on Karma Chief Records, a spin-off imprint of successful Loveland, Ohio-based Soul label Colemine Records. The Pumas would ultimately ink a deal with ATO Records; Colemine issued a vinyl version of the duo's self-titled debut in conjunction with ATO.
Black Pumas' popularity exploded in 2019 and they've gained even more momentum going into 2020. Their debut album has been fervently acclaimed and they've appeared on TV programs from Ellen to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to Austin City Limits in just the past few weeks.
Rolling Stone recently ran an extensive feature about Black Pumas' stratospheric rise, in which Burton talked about how Quesada introduced him to vintage Soul music, helping to set the sonic course for their project.
"It made me want to go back and listen and figure out how to project the way Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye could,” Burton told RS. “Adrian really appreciated the tonality of my voice and the way I was reaching to embody these older artists that fit the canvas he was giving to me.”
Black Pumas on Austin City Limits "Fire" (Web Exclusive) from Austin City Limits on Vimeo.
