The Electric Boa..”The Bad Boys of Boogie Rock”
By: Krista Doran
Since 2008 Electric Boa has been tearing up the original music scene with their own unique brand of Rock and Roll. With very powerful lyrics and a very strong, guitar driven sound this band has certainly positioned themselves as one of the most talked about original bands in the area.
Since 2008 Electric Boa has been tearing up the original music scene with their own unique brand of Rock and Roll. With very powerful lyrics and a very strong, guitar driven sound this band has certainly positioned themselves as one of the most talked about original bands in the area.I spoke to drummer Ken Mondillo about the band and what they are all about. I was particularly interested in what their song writing process was like and he told me, “Higgsy writes all the songs. I’ve asked him more than a few times where he gets his inspiration from & he tells me that it just comes to him. One of our new songs that we are currently working on came from his girlfriend watching the HBO show “True Blood”. To tell you the truth his mind doesn’t work like yours or mine. Higgs sees things in a different light which allows his expressions to come out in lyrics that are truly unique.” The combination of musicians in this band works so well together. Ken told me, “Higgsy will play us the melody or riff on an acoustic guitar & we start building it from there. He usually has the whole song in his head…music & everything. We just find a way to pull it out of him & translate it into a song. Joe Fortino & Higgsy are kind of the arrangers of the songs & Tripp, G & myself build up the songs from there .” What this band is able to accomplish is truly a team effort.
As with most bands, there are always challenges, but The Electric Boa is focused on what they are doing. I asked Ken what some of their biggest challenges as a band were and he told me, “I wouldn’t say it’s a challenge because every band goes through this, but trying to get your music heard is always a priority. Whether it be by getting the biggest gig or getting your music played on the radio, the challenge will always be there. The Electric Boa will keep pumping out killer tunes & promoting our shows, big or small, as much as we can. We want to build a fan base within every venue we play!” And they have been doing just that! Their shows are full of energy. They don’t just get up there and play. This band puts on a real Rock Show for their fans. In fact, they will be playing the Grand Opening of JC’s Washington House (formerly Whiskey Tango) on September 28th so be sure to get out and see what makes The Electric Boa different!
For everyone that is already a fan and those of you that certainly will become a fan once you experience The Electric Boa, I am happy to say they have a bunch of new music coming out! This is going to be a very exciting follow up to their current CD, “Candy Coated Cyanide.” Ken explained “Songs are written & being worked as we speak so every Boa show your going to get new stuff. We also have more shows booked but we’ll be posting them on our website & Facebook page soon.” This band definitely has a personality all it’s own and their swagger comes from their lead singer, Higgsy. Ken told me, “His mind is in places I’ve never visited. He’s bringing a whole new genre to the rock scene with his lyrics alone.” This band’s chemistry just works. From the subtle notes that guitarist Joe Fortino add in that just make things “snap”, to bassist Greg Cornwell bringing the groove, and the heavy hitting guitar of Gregg Tripp, I can see why Ken decided to move from the cover scene to take a stab at writing and performing originals. Ken’s power drumming deserves a place in the original scene and adds a steady component that drives their music.
If you are just now hearing about The Electric Boa, where have you been? They already have some great accolades, including opening for national acts such as Skid Row, Anvil & Kix. Earlier in 2012 they opened for Octane at The Electric Factory. Ken tells me they want to do so much more, and I have a feeling they definitely will! “We want to entertain as many people as possible with our music. There are many great bands out there on the original scene & we don’t want to take anything away from any of them but come out to an Electric Boa show & see for yourselves that we are trying to be as unique as possible with our tunes & our stage show. We put on a “concert” for you & make every show worth it’s money,” Ken told me and spoken like a true pro, who knows what he wants. After seeing the band, all I have to say is keep an eye on these guys. They are making Philly proud!
Be sure to check out their website at www.electricboa.com to keep up with thier tour dates and when the new stuff is coming out! The Electric Boa is: Higgsy – Lead vocals; Joe Fortino – Guitar; Gregg Tripp – Guitar; Greg “G” Cornwall – Bass and Ken Mondillo – Drums. SUPPORT LOCAL LIVE MUSIC!