Black Pumas, Hard Proof

A deep brooding soul project from vocalist Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada, Black Pumas arrived like a bullet in 2018. The funky felines debuted in February and soon graduated to festivals from Oregon to France on the strength of single “Black Moon Rising.” The psych quintet rings in what should be a breakout 2019 alongside Hard Proof, a stampeding herd of honking horns and pounding polyrhythms inspired by Afrobeat deity Fela Kuti. – Thomas Fawcett