Drop the Beat


USC is an ideal place for people to meet, collaborate and bring visions to life. That is exactly what seven students set out to do in 2009, coming together to form the musical septet, The Beat Advocate.

The members of the band include Nate Howard (vocals),  Lily Elise (vocals), Aaron Childs (guitar), Robert Nagelhout (bass), Bryan Jarett (drums), Peter Johnson (keyboard) and Justin Klunk (saxophone).

Katrina MacGregor and Sarah Bennett | Daily Trojan

Ever since the hip-hop/funk band formed, the only direction it has been going is up. From playing at a variety of USC and area high school events, The Beat Advocate has quickly gained positive recognition.

Now, to celebrate its upcoming eponymous EP release, the band is headlining a free show at Tommy’s Place on Friday.

Although the band plays funk music, the members do not like to be lumped into just one genre.

“After our first few shows, fans often compared us to bands such as The Roots, Black Eyed Peas and Gym Class Heroes. Our influences are much broader than that,” Klunk said.

The band members’ diverse musical backgrounds, including hip-hop, jazz, pop and rock, combined with their dedicated love for music, a group that has a lot to offer.

Their shows are filled with an energy that gets the audience on its feet. People throw their hands up in the air to the solid groove and soulfulness of The Beat Advocate’s music. The band loves to entertain, but its performances are more than entertainment.

The Beat Advocate’s name also has a dual meaning, as the band tries to advocate everyday issues through its music. One of The Beat Advocate’s songs, “Type of Stereo,” addresses the act of stereotyping and how it affects individuals and society.

The group’s EP was recorded and mixed over the summer and the band is ready to showcase its final product.

“We really wanted to take our time finding someone who believed in our project, had great input and was easy to work with,” Klunk said.

The EP will be streaming on the band’s AbsolutePunk, Facebook and MySpace pages, and will soon be released on iTunes.  Hard copies of the EP will be among the merchandise sold at Friday’s show, which starts at 8 p.m.

2 replies
  1. Clowe
    Clowe says:

    I’ve seen Justin Klunk perform in a different setting and he is an amazing sax player. If the rest are as good as he is, this band must be awesome.

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