They’ve got the beat

Fri., Sept. 3, 2004

By Isamu Jordan isamuj@spokesman.com

Since Civilized Animal’s second release, “Evolution” (1999), the local funk-ska-hip-hop-punk band has been through four drummers.

And they’ve kept them all.

Troy Young lives in New York, but still manages to tour with the band from time to time. Ryan Moore moved to Seattle a couple of years ago, but still joins Civilized for shows in Oregon. And Seattle resident Mike Tschirgi recorded on Civilized Animal’s new album, “About Time.” Aaron Saye lives in town but also plays in the band Mulligan.

Saye and Tschirgi will be with Civilized Animal when it takes the City Hall Stage on Sunday at 8 p.m. at Pig Out in the Park.

Civilized Animal also plays Sunday night at 10 p.m. at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside. There is a $5 cover.

Both shows are considered CD release parties for “About Time,” Civilized Animal’s third album since forming in 1997.

Civilized has been a fixture on the local music scene for years. Aside from the rotating drummer position, the core players – guitarist/manager Kenny Johnson, bassist Lenny Fuson, trumpeter Geoff Miller and brothers James and Jason McKinney, on sax and vocals respectively – have been together since day one.

Civilized Animal morphed from a harder-edged band called Distorted Silence, which saw some local radio airplay but not enough, Johnson said.

“At that time it was tough to book the heavier stuff. We became more versatile, and it opened a lot of doors,” Johnson said.

As the band’s manager, Johnson keeps a close eye on local venues and bands. He has booked everything from a Nickelodeon tour at the Opera House to gangsta rapper Spice-1 at The Grail in Coeur d’Alene. Johnson also hooked up last week’s Silveroxx Mountain Bike and Music Festival with Fishbone and several local acts.

Although Johnson has been booking bands as long as he has been a part of one, he said playing music comes first.

“That’s what I’m in it for. The booking is a way to make connections. I use that to help the band,” Johnson said.

Civilized Animal’s new album is a fresh helping of the punked-up funk and ska that has been its M.O. The album has improved sound quality, though, because of the deft engineering work of Bill Neiman, soundman for Everclear as well as for the Big Easy Concert House.

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