HotStar: Beats Antique

The San Francisco Bay Area’s fertile underground music scene has another claim to fame for its part in the formation of Beats Antique.

The band composed of David Satori, Tommy “Sidecar” Cappel and Zoe Jakes creates a unique mix of world music and electronic that has been grabbing fans since forming in 2007. The trio’s musical backgrounds in Eastern European, Middle Eastern, African and other genres debuted on 2007’s Tribal Derivations.

Jakes’ Tribal Fusion bellydance talents, honed as a member of the Bay Area’s Indigo Bellydance Company and Miles Copeland’s The Bellydance Superstars, add an otherworldly feel to the live show that pulls from vintage vaudeville and carnival shows with a rotation of guest dancers and musicians.

Tours with Bassnectar and Yard Dogs Road Show as well as Burning Man appearances helped build Beats Antique’s fan base and develop its production.

The rest fell into place when co-managers Dave Geller and Elliott Dunwody of C3 Management and agent Jake Schneider of Madison House came on board.

“I think that right when [Beats Antique] came in, they obviously had the ear of this entire community of people that listens to Bassnectar, Glitch Mob, Pretty Lights and other acts,” Dunwody told Pollstar. “The multicultural aspect provides something for everybody.”

Nearly non-stop headline tours have taken Beats Antique to festivals including Coachella, SXSW, Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza as well as venues throughout the States and Canada. The trio has also released three more albums – the most recent 2011’s Elektrafone – and several EPs.

Geller told Pollstar that with Beats Antique, the possibilities are endless.

“They’ve achieved in three years what some bands don’t achieve in 10,” Geller said. “When we signed them, we had high expectations but … they’ve exceeded all of them.”