Hailing from the West End of Hartford, CT, West End Blend comes to Garcia's at The Cap on Thursday, November 2. Led by the fearless Erica T. Bryan, West End Blend's dynamic performance and electrifying chemistry on stage will surely grab you by your soul. The "Blend" will make their debut at Garcia's for an evening of good vibes and funky jams. We hope to see you in the crowd.

1. Congrats on the release on Attitude on October 30, your second full-length studio album. On Rewind, you basically turned the CT funk scene on its head, which bears the question, how does Attitude highlight your progression as a band, especially since practically being on the road for the past year?

Since last year we’ve gotten a little smarter and a lot more focused. We’re still studying our friends and major musical influences in the funk and soul scene, but I feel we’re recognizing more and more what we do well while continuing to evolve, putting as much time, love and soul into our music as we can. It’s slowly become a kind of freeing process as our chemistry continues to grow. Recent collaborations with super-talented engineers, producers, and artists (our friends) who also understand this kind of journey have helped make this album something really special for us. - Erica T. Bryan (Vocals)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y2v9xUrKuA

2. Speaking of touring, you’ve hit up many jamband festivals such as Disc Jam and Frendly Gathering, while also opening up for bands such as The Motet and the late Charles Bradley. How was working with these musicians as well as being on the road, molded West End Blend to what it is today?

Every person you encounter on the road influences the music you make. Some have huge impacts and some small, but they are all important. Charles Bradley was one of those huge impacts that the band will be feeling for a long while. Musically, the Daptone sound is something we really look up to and sharing the stage with them the first time was something I won’t soon forget. Spiritually, seeing Charles Bradley perform reminded me that there is more than just playing a good show. Delivering a message of hope, happiness, and the human understanding of grief and mourning were some of things I took away from his performance. This reminded me that music is one of the most powerful ways to translate human emotion and can change the world if it’s strong enough. - Mike Dipanfilo (Guitar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVDht-zA7P4

3. Branching off of that, what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from another band regarding going on tour?

Playing in a touring band isn’t always all about playing music as much as it is a collective expression with your bandmates all over the place. We have odd hours being touring musicians. We constantly are meeting people and seeing new places, tons of music from other bands. However, the most important thing I have picked up from other bands that also operate similar to this is that it is always important to be a good listener. This goes far beyond being a good listener on stage in a performance. This also comes into play while traveling as a unit with the band. Communicating clearly and being able to be a good listener is really important for things to go smoothly day after day on the road. It’s also important in a bigger sense. You will learn a lot about yourself and the world around you if your eyes and ears are open to everything and everyone. - Paulie Philippone (Keyboards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSpcfoHzv0

4. This year, we noticed that you’re really pushing your boundaries from the Northeast and heading West. How has the reception been thus far as you explore these new states and experiment nightly with new and differing audiences.?

It’s been very exciting entering into new markets lately. It can be worrisome not knowing what to expect from the crowds but we always get on stage with a positive attitude and give it everything we have no matter what. So far, we've been having nothing but great experiences and we are eager to continue to expand down south on this Fall Tour. - Sam Horan (Drums)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1o-ZA7Rqok

5. You guys have posted on your Instagram that you are Dead fans. How will it be playing in the same room that Jerry’s banjo is hanging in as well as having images of him adorn the walls around the stage?

I always love showing up to venues and seeing some sort of dead iconography, whether it be a stealie or a photo of the band. It gives a sense of familiarity or a common language. The fact that Jerry's banjo is hanging up in the club makes it give off a cool sense of beginning, where the banjo was the instrument he played early in his career that helped him find his sound. Much like the position that we are in, where we are just starting to branch out more with our touring and hone and shape sound as well. - Mike Bafundo (Trumpet & Vocals)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLI_34NY9xU