Sly Stone News

Tune in from 12-2 P.M. today for the Zest Pool on KCSB-FM 91.9, or KCSB.org, to listen to UCSB Battle of the Bands' 2013 victor and sweet-singing sextet Alpha Phunk.

Not to spoil the ending, but director Nelson George absolutely does find the funk.

For some music connoisseurs, guitarist/singer Shuggie Otis is the living avatar of psychedelic soul -- filling a void left by the passing of Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Miles and the long-lamented decline of Sly Stone .

Dave Froehlich may have been "Vallejo's Dave Brubeck," but his knowledge expanded far beyond half notes and augmented 7th chords.

Each week we take a band, pull apart the threads that make them who they are and build a Spotify playlist from those influences.