CD: Incus Live by Incus

Incus is a combination of dark and light. Under the powerful vocals and drums that drive Incus`s music is a soul that is rare. If Incus is dark, then it is dark like the woods under a full moon: unexpectedly bright, full of brilliant stars, inviting, warm, natural and seductive. "Burning Thread", Incus`s first full length self released album (Dragonfly Disc), came out in 2004 and is now selling more units then ever. The band is also currently hard at work on their second studio album and on a live album from shows on their 2005 tour. The band/tribe is currently made up of composer Jason Cohen on vocals, keys, accordion and percussion, Darrell Brown on the Taos Native American cottonwood tree trunk pow wow drum known as "Big Wood", Erik "Sugar Man" Kazcynski on the kit, Nicole Edgecomb on vocals, trumpet, keys and percussion, Hannah Thiem of Minneapolis, MN, on violin and percussion, Papillon Smartypants on percussion, Joe Ball on cello and percussion, and Miss Felicia and Lillith bringing their gift of belly dancing. The band is from the Boston area unless otherwise mentioned above. Incus also often travels with an accompaniment of beautiful fire spinners when playing venues that allow the art form. Incus`s full sonic spectrum has moved audiences from Boston to Miami to LA and back. An article in Boston`s Weekly Dig suggested that they would be better suited performing in the woods around a fire in front of thousands, than on stage at a bar. Strangely enough, the band took up the idea and has since been a major headliner at fire festivals all across the country. Drawing on influences from Middle Eastern, Native American, African and Eastern European musical traditions, Incus is redefining the American Tribal music movement. In addition to five national tours and an independent CD release ("Burning Thread") with guest vocalist Yanka Rupkina, vocalist/composer Jason Cohen is also known for his work developing the "Forestdance Gatherings". Yanka Rupkina, is best known for her work with "The Bulgarian Women`s choir", Kate Bush, Linda Ronstadt, and George Harrison. The band has also worked with such talents as Brian Viglione from the Dresden Dolls and Kara Trott of Fluttr Effect. There is certainly a magic that is almost impossible to describe about the band`s live show. In both their music and ideology, Incus embraces darkness and embodies light. Experiencing Incus can be deeply emotional, uplifting and joyous. With their "music for fire worshippers", Incus`s fiery energy has been gaining national recognition. During the summer of `04 Incus toured over 13,000 miles in 11 weeks, proving their live show to be an experience to remember. After this last tour through the spring and summer of `05, which brought them to make music around 30 or so fires, and at various other venues, Incus`s future has never looked hotter.