Class Band - The Go-Go Beat (1987)
Go-go is a subgenre of funk that originated in the Washington, D.C., area during the mid- to late-1970s. A handful of bands contributed to the early evolution of the genre, but singer-guitarist Chuck Brown is credited with having developed most of the hallmarks of the style.
In technical terms, "Go-go's essential beat is characterized by a syncopated, dotted rhythm that consists of a series of quarter and eighth notes (quarter, eighth, quarter, (space/held briefly), quarter, eighth, quarter)… which is underscored most dramatically by the bass drum and snare drum, and the hi-hat… [and] is ornamented by the other percussion instruments, especially by the conga drums, timbale, and hand-held cowbells." A swing rhythm is often implied (if not explicitly stated).
Another important attribute in go-go is call-and-response with the crowd in concert.
With few exceptions, go-go bands have seen little success outside of the Washington, D.C., metro area (Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland), yet the style lives on and continues to evolve.
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