The Inclined are a hybrid progressive-pop-funk-soul-rock-trip-out that hailed from the Westside of Los Angeles back in the day, when Miles (aka Music Man Miles of Breakestra), Steve and Gene started jamming the summer before their first year of high school in 1984. That was the start of a 13-year run (longer than most bands ya think of) that would include many backyard parties, Palisades High School quad jams, 4-track cassette demos, and eventually Hollywood bar gigs (and that’s with 3 cats who were too young to be in bars in the first place!) The band...consisting of Steve Smart on drums, Gene Perry on bass, and Miles Tackett on guitar & vocals, was as influenced by the late 80’s/early 90’s hip hop golden age as they were by older progressive & newer pop rock styles & psychedelic sounds. In 1991, The Inclined issued a self-released CD from a handful of studio sessions recorded in Burbank and Chatsworth, California. Soon thereafter, Sony/Columbia Records bought the record, repackaged it, added a few new tracks and released it as Inclined’s debut album,“Bright New Day,” on March 9, 1993. The album featured 13 songs that had been developed from playing and evolving over the previous 9 years of the band’s existence. In addition to the unique sounds and songs found on the record, it is also most likely the first pop/rock guitar record to have used sampled pieces from records and looped breakbeats. The closing track of Bright New Day featured DJ Cut Chemist, making his CD debut on "Outclined," a shout-out track…also the first for any non-hip hop record. Later that year, the band toured throughout the country, spending some very exciting & fun times with Blind Melon, with whom Miles would later play cello on their second CD, as well as at their appearance at the Woodstock Festival. A second record was made for Sony/Columbia called “Sifter,” which, after a series of label reorganizations and shifting personnel, they decided to pass on. They made a CD which was self-released as the “Sifter” EP. But soon the band would succumb to circumstances both within and beyond their control which led them to disband in 1996. Steve and Gene continued to play in the Latin jazz funk band Custom. The original lineup of Custom also featured Dan Ubick of The Lions & Connie Price, as well as Jeremy Ruzumna, keyboardist and main songwriter on Macy Gray’s first 2 albums. Miles switched from guitar to bass, and organized what quickly became the Breakestra, and also started the clubs Root Down and Funky Sole. The band fell in and out of touch as happens over time…but early in 2008 the band finally reconnected, buried some hatchets, and plans were laid for a mighty reunion. Steve flew in from Pittsburgh, where he resided and played in The Pretty Goods. Gene journeyed north from his home in Carlsbad, California, and the band converged in Miles’ home studio in Highland Park. The band played a blistering series of shows over two weeks that May, and stirred up the frenzy in their loyal fan base, as they connected with friends old and new. Based on the renewed interest, the band finished putting together a new full-length album "Might Not know It Now" released in 2010 on iTunes. 2011 saw another series of LA shows at the annual Topanga Days festival and Venice landmark The Townhouse. 2012 saw a show in the spring, a new EP release in the summer "Better to Be Late" containing 6 tracks recorded just before the "Bright New Day" album, and a series of shows in the fall including Jammin' In The Canyon where they shared a stage with local legends Jane's Addiction!  Stay tuned for more!

kauldron is following