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The K23 Orchestra sees its first flash, long after sunset

By Tawny & Nyla McCray

March 27, 2006

San Diego--Their first stop in Vegas two weekends ago brought local act Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra a monumental first—their first flash. As Al Howard described in the band’s latest email: “A woman sauntered up to the mic stand, looked at me, showed me one titty and walked away.”

In their almost four years together Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra (or “K23” for short) have played everywhere from San Diego to San Francisco, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.

(Photo: Mike Sherry)

Al described the five-man band as “afro-protest funk with rapid-fire lyrics.” Guitarist Travis Daudert met drummer Steve Craft as a teenager in Colorado. After moving to San Diego years later they met lyricist Al and keyboardist Josh Rice and formed the K23. Those original four, along with bassist Matt LeBarber, make up the band’s current lineup.

Their first show was in May of 2002 at Winston’s in Ocean Beach. A couple of years later, in September 2004, they sold out Winston’s during a CD release party, and then again, three months later, for a New Year’s Eve show.

A live show of the K23 can last up to two hours with every member getting an equal chance to shine and the audience moving along to every beat.

“We play for a long time and we bring it,” Travis said. “We’re not messing around.”

During a particularly great rehearsal a while back, Al recalled listening to his band members playing one of the extended jams and crescendos that are commonplace in a K23 show and thinking, “I’d pay to see this, but don’t kick me out of the band.”

For the past three years they have won for best hip-hop band at the San Diego Music Awards and are currently at work on two full-length albums coming out “soon…ish,” the band wrote on their Web site.

Al has read his poetry at SDSU and UCSD, where he won a poetry slam, and at various high schools around San Diego. During shows, his powerful and passionate lyrics are often greeted with a “right on,” a fist in the air or a shout of agreement, and in 2004 he was appropriately named Cultural Activist of the Year.

Travis said that while he and the other band members are all a bit cynical, “ultimately we desire a better, more beautiful world. And that seems hard to find today.”

Al said he believes art is an important outlet and he hopes to create social change through their music.

“It’s a reminder to people that these lives are ours and no one else holds the puppet strings over our existence,” he said. “You only get this one life and I think it’s important to take advantage of it and realize that there are no limitations to what you can do.”

You can find out more about Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra at their Web site www.alhowardk23.com. And if you get the chance to see them live, be sure to sign up on their mailing list. Al’s entertaining and witty ramblings offer much humor and insight.

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