Single Release Concert + Live Album Recording (w/ Trash Panda Brass) July 24 at 7:00 PM @ The Rivoli in Toronto
They’re back! In a stunning return to form, after a lengthy absence, following the release of their acclaimed album Momentum, Toronto’s sassy, brassy, Turbo Street Funk explodes with a new single, “(Hello, My Name is) Good Fortune.” Mining the rhythms and harmonies of classic New Orleans funk, they sing about taking a chance on chance itself. The single release will include a concert/live album recording, and a band birthday bash all-in-one, taking place at The Rivoli, 344 Queen Street West in Toronto. The concert is $10 and starts at 7:00 pm with an opening set by Trash Panda Brass. For more information, please visit any of the links below or the band’s website | Facebook Event Page
“(Hello, My Name is) Good Fortune” rides an irresistibly funky groove that fires on all cylinders, from the catchiest of guitar riffs, to the propulsive horns, to the strident vocals, to an instant-singalong chorus, to a red-hot blues harp, wailing away. Like much of what they do, this is designed to grab the crowd at a live show and never let go.
“They say luck finds you when you’re not looking,” says TSF frontman, singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter Casey Van. “What if feeling funky, and just walking with a groove, could bring you luck? Then, out of nowhere, someone appears, calling themselves the embodiment of good fortune, and invites you to sing along. Would you? ‘Good Fortune’ reminds us to not fear the unknown, to go with the flow, and to follow groove of the world around us.”
First off, care to introduce yourselves to our readers?
Hi! We are Turbo Street Funk, a 5-piece brass-rock band based in Toronto, Canada. We got our start in 2011, busking on the streets of Toronto for fun. We started by playing covers of songs we liked, reimagining them as funky, New Orleans-inspired versions.
We realized that we were onto something, and with the help of George Koller and Richard Underhill from the Shuffle Demons, we recorded our first album. Thanks to the support of our fans and great people in the music industry, we’ve grown from the street to the stage, touring clubs and festivals all over Canada, the US, and, most recently, Europe in 2024.
Turbo is: Casey Van on vocals and guitar, Chami Tanaka on sax, Joel Eric Szabo on French horn and keys, Ian Feenstra on sousaphone, and Daniel Szabo on drums.
How did “(Hello, My Name is) Good Fortune” come to life? Was there a particular spark or story behind the song?
Good luck is something we all need and deserve once in a while. They say luck finds you when you’re not looking. What if feeling funky and just walking with a groove could bring you luck? Then, out of nowhere, someone appears, calling themselves the embodiment of good fortune, and invites you to sing along. Would you? I would.
“Good Fortune” reminds us not to fear the unknown, to go with the flow, and to follow the groove of the world around us.
The main riff and melody came to me while I was walking down the street in Toronto on a sunny day. I had a certain rhythm in my step, feeling good, and started humming a riff to myself. When I got home, I immediately opened up recording software and quickly started recording the bits and pieces that would later become the song. I guess Good Fortune was walking with me that day and gave me the idea.
How does the new single reflect your musical evolution since Momentum?
When we started, we had a fun, raw sound inspired by the sounds and rhythms of the streets in a big city like Toronto. Over time, we’ve grown as musicians and songwriters, guided by the music of the greats who came before us. We aim to create something more polished with each release, while still remembering our concrete roots, pun intended.
In 2023, we added keys to the live show, which really expanded the sonic possibilities of our songs. Chami and Daniel joined the band in 2024, bringing their own unique talents and sounds to Turbo.
I [Casey] have been working in Japan since 2021, playing at clubs and working with a recording studio in Tokyo. It’s had a big impact on how I write, record, and produce music. “Good Fortune” was produced by the owner of that studio, Eric Rodriguez, a 20-year veteran of the Japanese music industry. He taught me a lot, pushed me to aim high, and helped get everything to a level at which there was no feeling of compromise. We wanted to feel that when we sent the song to be mastered, there was nothing missing, no thoughts of “Oh, maybe we should have done x or added y.” The song is complete, and it represents years of growth, learning, and the next step in the Turbo world.
The song was tracked in both Canada and Japan, with mixing and final production done in Japan. Turbo’s members are from all over, having grown up in different environments. We hope this fusion of cultures and experiences comes across in our new sound.
What can fans expect at the Rivoli show? Will there be surprises beyond the live album recording and birthday bash?
We have lots of little extra activities and giveaways planned. You’ll have to come to find out the specifics. It’s exciting to record a live album. Just like when we recorded our music video for “To The Street,” it was a wonderful feeling to have our fans’ and friends’ faces and voices captured in something that was a very special moment in time.
For someone who’s never seen Turbo Street Funk live, how would you sell the experience in one sentence?
Come with us on an adventure of unexpected sounds, groovy dance, explosive energy, and feel free to feel funky!
You blend New Orleans brass vibes with funk, rock, and Top 40—how did that sound become your signature?
Quite naturally. At the beginning, we didn’t think too hard about what to play or how to play it. There was no calculated decision. We just picked songs we liked, made them work for our instrumentation, contributed our different musical backgrounds and tastes, and our sound was born. Since we had a sousaphone instead of a bass, and since New Orleans is the birthplace of street brass, we let that tradition guide us. The whole process was completely natural. How do we make a French horn fit with a distorted electric guitar and funky drums? Try, experiment, and most importantly, listen.
Finally, how can fans support you right now besides showing up at the show?
Be our friends online and in real life. Listen to our music wherever you listen. Send us messages. Talk to us, connect! The best feeling in the world is hearing from someone that they like what we’re doing; that our music brings them joy just as it does to us.
And most importantly, STAY FUNKY! 🙂
2025 UPCOMING DATES:
July 24 – Live Album Recording | Single Release | Band Birthday Party
(w/ Trash Panda Brass) | The Rivoli | Toronto, ON
July 25 – Music & Makers Series | Rotary Aqua Theatre | Orillia, ON
July 27 – Concerts in the Park | Central Park Bandshell | Burlington, ON
August 17 – McKay Stage | Markham Jazz Festival | Unionville, ON
August 31 – Canada’s Largest Ribfest | Spencer Smith Park | Burlington, ON