MEET THE BAND
The Get Down is one of the newest bands on the live music scene in Des Moines, Iowa. The band is made up of veteran musicians from the area and brings a mixture of funk, jazz, blues, R&B, and classic soul in a way that has been delighting audiences since they started in early 2023. The Get Down is made up of Ben Williams on drums, Bubba Daye on bass, Philip Herbert on keyboards, Bob Lasnek on guitar, and Abdullah Muhammad as the lead singer and frontman. Each member brings their own unique style, influences, and sound to the band, creating and great sound and an unforgettable experience for audiences. Coming to a Get Down show is always a great way to spend a night out on the town!
Abdullah Muhammad is the lead singer and frontman of The Get Down and brings some new-school funk-soul swagger to the band. Abdullah is a veteran singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and percussionist. He lays down a buttery smooth vocal that is also rich, powerful, and soulful. His vocal versatility and range allow him to effortlessly move across genres. Abdullah is a veteran performer, fronting bands for over 30 years. He has also produced music for local and regional acts and performed his own solo music. He then changed musical directions, leaving the R&B and soul scene to pursue ministry as a pastor and worship leader in the early 2000s.
Abdullah came out of what he calls "musical retirement" to return to performing soul music with The Get Down and other Des Moines musicians. When he is not performing, Abdullah pursues other artistic outlets such as podcasting and audio production.
Influences: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, Michael Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations, Prince, The Time, James Brown, Jill Scott, A Tribe Called Quest, New Edition, Teddy Riley and Blackstreet, The Roots, John Mayer, Rahsaan Patterson, Robert Glasper, Usher, Ne-Yo, Sting, J-Dilla, Pete Rock, and Neosoul as a genre.
Bob Lasnek is the man on the strings! Bob is a veteran guitarist who is well-versed in soul music! Bob's guitar playing adds great "sauce" to the band's sound.
Bob has had fun over the years playing different styles of music with some of the best bands around and feels lucky to be able to express himself through music with like minds. The rhythmic and sonic feel that Bob brings to The Get Down comes from his expertise with several styles of music. Bob is equally at home playing jazz, funk, rock, country swing, blues, soul, Latin, Afro-Cuban, fusion, and more!
Influences:
Alvin Lee, Kim Simmons, George Benson, Pat Martino, and Joe Diorio. Bob also gives props to his local Des Moines heroes including Mitch Espe and his friend Dan Nicholson, whom he considers "true inspirations."
To keep the rhythm section tight, Ben Williams lays down the groove on drums, while Bubba's bass lines help to provide the backbone of the band's sound. Ben loved drums from the time he was 7 years old, watching the drummer in his church. Although in his heart he always wanted to be a drummer, Ben played the baritone horn throughout his school career before picking up the drums After attending many Thursday night jams at The Grand music venue, Ben has played in several bands and has started his own bands as well. This eventually led to Ben playing with the soul and blues band Sumpin’ Doo as the original drummer. Ben is currently the drummer with Bob Pace & the Dangerous Band and The Get Down, as well as playing drums for his church, which is a very important part of his life.
Ben spends his chill time with his wife, loves to watch his beloved Boston Red Sox on TV, rides his motorcycle, and is a gamer.
Influences: Dennis Chambers, John Blackwell, Stanton Moore, Eric Moore, Keith Carlock, Sonny Emory
Philip Stiles Herbert's keyboard skills are the icing on the cake, Adding texture and depth to the band's sound. Philip also helps to round out the sound by providing background vocals. Philip brings over 45 years of performance experience to The Get Down. He is a 2019 Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a former member of the R&B, Funk, and Soul group Flipside.
Philip's music career has spanned several states and a European tour,
He plays a variety of music genres. A multi-instrumentalist, Philip plays keyboard, guitar, and bass. Philip is most at home on the keyboard, where he delivers his combination of schooled musical training and self-taught styling. Philip strives to bring a force to The Get Down equal to the gratification he finds in this "confluence of extraordinarily talented musicians."
Influences: The Beatles and the British invasion, The Motown Sound, The Ventures, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, George Benson, Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton, Billy Preston, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Horace Silver, Russ Ferrante, Donald Fagen, and many others.
Brian "BubbaBass" Daye is a veteran musician in De Moines. Like Philip, he is a 2019 inductee in The Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a former member of the R&B, Funk, and Soul group Flipside. Nowadays, Bubba is the low-end foundation of The Get Down as half of the rhythm section that keeps the groove tight and swingin'! Bubba also helps provide vocals for the band's harmony-rich sound. Bubba is also a bassist for his church, which he says "is where I learned everything as an ear-trained musician." In his spare time, Bubba enjoys spending precious time with his family and friends. You might see him smoking up some Bubba 'Q!
Influences: James Brown Rev James Cleveland, Shirley Ceasar, Bootsy George Clinton, Stanley Clark, Chick Corea Herbie Hancock George Duke, Edwin Tremaine, Walter Hawkins, The Temptations, The Four Tops, BB King, Albert King and so many more were all inspirational to my musical development,
Zach Von Stein regularly fills in as the alternate drummer for The Get Down. But don't be fooled, Zach is definitely a full contributor to the band’s sound. Zach has been playing drums/percussion for 27 years, and enjoys a very eclectic range of music. He further honed his signature chops by studying drums, music theory, and song writing at the Los Angeles Music Academy; where he studied a wide range of genres including funk, rock, jazz, fusion, odd time signatures, soul, blues, classic rock, hand percussion, Afro Cuban and Brazilian. Zach has played in numerous bands including Pale Blue Erf, Aries Rising, The Workshy, and Neu Moniker. He has also filled in with many different musicians in the Des Moines area like Dirk Von Stein, Dustin Farrow and the Relics, Randy Burke and the Prisoners, Rob Ankum, The Soul Searchers, and is the house drummer for the open jam on Thursday nights at Kenny’s Garage.
Influences: Billy Cobham, Ralph Humphrey, Joe Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Garibaldi, Tim Alexander, John Bonham, Thomas Lang, Nate Smith, Harvey Mason, Benny Greb, Larnell Lewis, Stanton Moore, Danny Carey, and too many others to list!