The funk-a-licious Bay Area-based Bayonics are making quite a local buzz for themselves, and with an eclectic sound and nine members from diverse backgrounds, this group is bound to serve up a little something for almost everyone.

The Bayonics have created their own unique sound of music that fuses hip-hop, salsa and reggae together, but funk is the nucleus of it all.

“Instead of having a typical salsa bass line, we’ll funk it up a bit,” said SF State alumnus Jairo “Rojah” Vargas, the lead singer and emcee of the Bayonics.

The majority of the music played by the Bayonics is full of rhythmic grooves and bass lines you can move your body and dance to.

“Our thing is to always get the party crackin’ and the club jumpin’ off,” said Vargas.

But getting the party "crackin’" takes time and effort for the band.

Vargas is usually the one in charge of booking gigs for the band, but Conga player Elena “Shorty” Lepe said they all get out in the streets and go to various clubs around the Bay to pass out flyers to promote themselves and their upcoming shows.

With daily work schedules to balance, Lepe said it’s tough for all of them at times.

“Work does affect (being in a band), because sometimes I can’t make rehearsals, and I had to miss a recent show we did in Humboldt,” said Lepe. “There’s a lot of sacrificing you have to do.”

It all started three years ago as a quintet, continuously gaining more members along the way.

But not only did they not begin with nine members, they also began with a totally different sound. The original five members of the Bayonics met two years prior to the start of the Bayonics, in a salsa band called Mala Sama.

“We decided we wanted to play some funk,” Vargas said.

Galvanized into action, the five members of Mala Sama began having jam sessions and concocting musical rhythms that would soon become the sound of Natoma, the Bayonics’ former name.

According to Vargas, the name Natoma only lasted for about a year. Natoma was the name of the street in San Francisco their music studio was located on.

“It was a weak name, (and) we were looking for something more catchy,” said Vargas. “We wanted something bay, because we are all from the bay area.”

Having such a diversified sound enables the Bayonics to cater to a diversified audience. Vargas said all kinds of people come to their shows, giving them an edge over other bands.

Bayonics drummer Pedro “Buddy” Gomez said he thinks they stand out because of their unique musical arrangements.

“Our music is unique in the sense that it’s still kind of home-grown,” said Gomez. “We go on feeling, although we are all musically trained.”

Alongside Vargas, 23, are two more emcees, Adris “Sir Grizzwald” Beasley and Mario “June” Gallardo.
And keeping the jams banging with Gomez are Adam “B. Bravo” Mori, who plays the saxophone, and Jody “J.O.D.” Scott who toots away at the trumpet. Brian “B. Laz” Lazarus plucks the bass and Cris “C Dot” Carter plucks away at the guitar. Lepe is the band’s only female member.

“All nine people bring a different element to the group, (like) different influences and backgrounds,” said Gomez.

With Latin American, African American, Japanese, Scottish, English and Jewish band members, the
makeup of the group is reflective of the diversity in the Bay Area, which further represents the strength of the name, the Bayonics.

Vargas said he loves the freedom and originality of the group.

“We’re all hungry and love performing on stage,” said Vargas.

While continuously striving to get their names out there and recognized, the group can often be seen at various clubs around San Francisco or traveling to other cities to do shows.

Currently the Bayonics are in the studio working on their first album, which they hope will be finished some time in the near future.

Collectively, the Bayonics said they hope a lot of people throughout the world will eventually hear them, not just in the Bay Area.

Vargas said they just want to push their new album and start traveling around the world.

“We still have a long way to go, but hopefully we go straight to the top,” said Lepe.
To see and hear the Bayonics and find performance dates, visit http://www.myspace.com/bayonics.