Powerful UK funk band The New Mastersounds may hail from across the pond, but ever since that first Boom Boom Room show some years ago their unrivaled Stateside home is the Bay Area. The proof lies in Mastersounds guitar virtuoso Eddie Roberts. Following their inaugural SF appearance and a slot at that year’s High Sierra Music Festival up in Quincy, the band developed a loyal west coast following nearly overnight, and started drawing sell out crowds with each visit at spots like The Independent.

Fast forwarding to 2010, with The New Mastersounds still well intact, Roberts moved here permanently. He could be found what seemed nightly at The Boom Boom Room and sat in with plenty of area musicians along the way. The immersion led to developed relationships with Hammond B3 master Wil Blades, Jazz Mafia members Joe Cohen and Mike Olmos, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Jermal Watson.

These four musicians complete Roberts’ new quintet project the West Coast Sounds, who will release their debut album, It’s About Time, November 13th on Oakland’s Tallest Man Records. The first single, “Black Flag,” has been released and you can listen above. It’s everything you hope for in horn-driven, guitar-laden instrumental funk, wasting no time in challenging even the most stationary of music fans. The full release will be in instant essential for your party music collection.

Roberts is currently on tour with The New Mastersounds in Europe, but he’ll be back in the Bay for three shows at Brick & Mortar Music Hall November 29th, 30th and December 1st, as part of The New Orleans Suspects.

The New Orleans Suspects
Brick & Mortar Music Hall
November 29, 2012
9:00pm, $15

The New Orleans Suspects
Brick & Mortar Music Hall
November 30, 2012
9:00pm, $20

The New Orleans Suspects
Brick & Mortar Music Hall
December 1, 2012
9:00pm, $20