The Blend

Founded by national slam poet/coffeehouse haunt Toussaint Morrison, The Blend is a five-piece concoction of working-class ruffians who infuse hip-hop with jazz, rock with Bach, and politics with pleasure. (And some punky blues thrown in to keep the devils at bay.) The result? A slow-roasted, genre-defying blend of musical influences more restive than a triple shot of espresso. Call it hip-hop, call it slam-dance poetry, call it whatever you want-- just don’t call it emo. (Seriously. Don’t.) Weaving veracious lyrics through billows of gorgeous noise, the Blend has been deemed worthy enough to appear with the likes of Atmosphere, Saliva, Story of the Year, Mike Jones, P.O.S, and Brother Ali. This should come as no surprise, as The Blend is one of the most talented bands in the country, not according to their landlords. Their ever-widening fan base and nationwide network of co-conspirators is a testament to their immense stage presence, compelling sound,and perverse willingness to traverse the country in a deteriorating mini-bus that gets 8 miles a gallon downhill. Despite receiving press from (The) USA Today, The Blend has yet to be discovered by the arbiters of musical taste. (Hint, hint.) The Blend’s latest creation of sound, their EP Losing the Game,is to be released this Fall 2008 on national tour and radio