LEO .fx tribal electronica

check out LEO .fx on YouTube.com

LEO .fx create and perform a unique mix of ancient and modern music.
The group was formed by two members of SMAC , Vince Sanregret & John Armstrong. Often performing with special guests, the duo is exploring new sonic frontiers by combining sequenced tracks and real time loops of electronic beats, hand drums & bass guitar with Theremin, didgeridoo, saxophone, flute and vocals.  LEO .fx are also well known for adding elements of video and dance to their shows.

Vince and John began performing together in the late 90’s with the Stone Merchants and their experimental alter-egos, the Ancestors.  The two bands merged to form SMAC in 2003 and have since released two CDs.  "Vox Populi" (May 1st, 2004) and "Yigi Yigi" (October 4th, 2003) were both produced and engineered by multi-award winning producer, engineer & studio owner, Barry Allen at Homestead Recorders in Edmonton.

LEO .fx began forging their new sound at a weekend house gig at the Melting Pot on Edmonton's Whyte Avenue (August through October, 2004).  This residency led to their opening for the Afro Cuban All Stars at Edmonton's Winspear Centre (September 17th, 2004) and performing for the University of Alberta's Department of Ethnomusicology (November 19th, 2004).

During the Summer of 2005, LEO .fx performed at Medicine Hat's Spectrum Festival, the North Country Fair and the South Country Fair.  Vince relocated to the West Coast in 2006.  In the summer of 2008, John, Nineca and violinist Izumi Kuribayashi joined Vince for a series of LEO .fx gigs.  Vince will be returning to Edmonton to perform with John & Nineca at the Works Festival on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm in Churchill Square.

Quotes on LEO .fx :

"Opening act LEO.fx was a revelation to many in attendance. This unique duo comprised of John Armstrong and Vinnie Sanregret combine didgeridoo and theremin with bass guitar, percussion and electronic  loops & beats. Their 30-minute set of "tribal electronica" was inspired, and Winspear Centre is proud to be able to feature some of Edmonton's finest musicians. The duo plays Fridays and Saturdays at the Melting Pot on Whyte Avenue."
- Winspear Centre E-Newsletter for October 2004

"Kudos to the Winspear for booking opening guests Leo FX.  Vince Sanregret's didgeridoo and looped hand percussion lines made an exotic backdrop for the ethereal sounds of John Armstrong's melodic Theremin manipulations.  If the experimental duo left some scratching their heads, their trance dance "tribal electronica" offered a short, cool taste of trends to bridge primal and high tech"
- Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal 09/20/2004

“Call it world music or out of this world music; exotic or ethereal.  Those terms best describe the sounds that two members of SMAC have been discovering in duo shows at a Whyte Avenue restaurant for the past few weekends.

If you’ve seen the band SMAC in concert, you might already know Vince Sanregret as a virtuoso of the didgeridoo.  He brings his collection of authentic tuned blow tubes together with various hand percussion in the duo, sometimes using electronics to sample his real-time drumming which then plays as a loop underneath facilitating polyrythmic textures.

Meanwhile, John Armstrong stays busy on electric bass and another more esoteric device, that magical “space age” instrument known as the Theremin… Armstrong reports that using the Theremin in the duo has created so many inquiries from patrons that they had to print up a little information sheet to hand out.

…It’s not about toys though.  Beyond pyrothechnics, the duo are practised players who enjoy the fun of pure improvisation with a choice of fresh, exotic tonalities on hand.
- Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal 08/25/04

"Vince Sanregret's arsenal of didges is the backbone of Yigi Yigi (which, by the way, means didgeridoo) and his diverse talents on the rare axe turn an ancient primitive instrument into a sure-fire groove stick. Instrumental tracks such as "Seven Seas,” "Dr. Spice" and "Hummingbird" — where the didge mimics the sound of the bird — are brave world fusion with break beat drums and often screaming guitars.
- Brent Hagerman, Exclaim 02/02/2004

additional photos of LEO .fx
are available at Tribal Treats .com

courtesy of David Williamson

Contact LEO .fx c/o
Brass Monkey Productions .com
P.O. Box 47033, 62 Edmonton Centre
Edmonton, AB T5J 4N1 Canada
Tel: (780) 433-9675

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