Basic Food Group
“The difference between BFG and all those SST-label alt-rockers is one of musicality-afore-irony.”
Basic Food Group, comprised of Steve Boyles (guitar) Todd Larson (bass) and Rik Sferra (drums), employs rock trio instrumentation to investigate new combinations of musical genres. Compositions are scored in detail with sections allowed for improvisation. Over time the work is "pureed," that is, reworked and rearranged by the entire band, with elements of the music scrambled and shuffled, and new influences added.
We approach it as if we were playing electric chamber music, yet each piece might include combinations of latin, reggae, rock, punk, funk, avante-garde or classical forms. The music has three equal parts, with each instrument playing a different, often non-traditional role. We intend to challenge ourselves and the audience through the twisting of familiar genres into new hybrids.
Basic Food Group at The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, November 17, 1998
Origins
Basic Food Group began as a side project for Todd Larson while studying at Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Assembled to perform a new musical improvisation in 1986, their first gig included additional musicians Rob Foy (drums), Paul Vachon (guitar) and Hall Sanders (saxophone). Other former members include Mike Bruns (guitar) Ben Glaros (guitar) and Vernon Norwood (drums). Since 1993 the group is comprised of Steve, Todd and Rik.
Collaborators
Steve Boyles
Guitar
Todd Larson
Bass
Drums