The Routine flits between genres with bass

About seven years ago, Jamie Minotti of the Madero Group management outfit teamed up with several promoters throughout town to produce the Ocean Beats series, a forum for electronic bass music that had hitherto been hidden in niche pockets of the underground.

“Nothing like it was happening in San Diego at the time,” Minotti says. “After much convincing, we threw the first bass music shows in Ocean Beach, Hillcrest, the Belly Up, pool parties, and beyond. It caught on quick and for a while there were bass music shows almost every night in all parts of town. This is essentially the same gap I’m seeing in the San Diego scene for funk, soul, old school, R&B, and even old-school hip-hop. So I wanted to create a night to introduce a new audience to these styles and give the folks that are already down a place they can go to hear the classics, but also see what’s new in the scene.”

Minotti and local funk soul rockers the Routine produced their first Funk Soul Social last fall at the Holding Company in Ocean Beach, followed by a downtown edition at Music Box in February featuring the Routine, the Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, and the Funk Soul House Band with Soul Brigade and members of the the Mustache Bash Family Band.

“The Routine was a big part of creating the concept,” Minotti says. “These guys are doing some really unique things with various styles yet they don’t fit into just one of the genres. Creating the night has helped open up an entire scene in San Diego, spanning from hipster kids to people in their 60s. There’s a long-standing, deep cultural history of old-school music which spans styles and generations in San Diego....”

On Saturday, June 17, Funk Soul Social is bringing Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 to Music Box ($16/$20), where he’ll be performing with his live funk band along with sets from the Routine and vinyl spun by Barrio Logan’s Beat Box Records. Stop by Music Box before the show for a free meet & greet and book-signing with Chali 2na.