Like Homer’s Odyssey, the Old Irish story, “The Voyages of Máel Dúin,” follows a star-crossed warrior encountering fantastical places and marvelous beasts while lost at sea. At a point in the epic, Dúin’s crew arrives at an island divided in half by a shimmering brass wall. On one side of the fence there are white sheep and, on the other, black. When white sheep leap over the wall to the other side they turn black and vice versa. Realizing that to tread this strange soil was to risk madness, the heroes sail away for safer harbors.
“We put so much energy into our live shows. We like to have fun on stage. Any musician knows that if you’re having fun, then the crowd is having fun. It goes back and forth.” –Chris Haislet, Island of Black and White
It is from this outlandish tale that Sacramento funk/fusion quintet Island of Black and White takes its name. Formed in 2004, the band is led by wild-haired vocalist, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Chris Haislet.
“It’s kind of like the Celtic version of the yin yang,” says Haislet. “It’s the balance of life. At the time, I thought it sounded cool. It’s a long band name, but it stuck and it’s too late to change it now.”
Haislet attended Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills with lead guitarist Timmy Picchi whose brother Patrick later joined on percussion. In 2007, the group acquired its manager and drummer Nawal Alwareeth while at Folsom Lake College. Their most recent member, Scott Mitchell, became the bassist four years ago. Haislet and Alwareeth married in 2016.
“We absolutely love it,” says the band leader. “We live together and we get to work together and we get to be on stage together. It’s a really cool thing. I imagine some people would get sick of each other, but somehow we don’t. It’s pretty cool to work with my wife.”
For the past decade, IBW as they’re also known as, performed 250 to 300 live shows per year. With the exception of occasional tours up and down the West Coast or throughout the Southwest, most of those gigs have been in the greater Sacramento region. Name any bar, club, brewery or festival in the area and chances are they’ve played it. In addition to their booty-shaking rhythms and catchy original songs, popular band antics include Haislet playing the accordion while riding a unicycle through the crowd.
“We put so much energy into our live shows,” he says. “We like to have fun on stage. Any musician knows that if you’re having fun then the crowd is having fun. It goes back and forth.”
Inspired by classic R&B, rock and pop of the 60s and 70s, Island of Black and White has released two full-length albums, “IBW” (2013) and “West Edge” (2017). They are currently working on a third record and have released several singles so far this year.
“What I like to write about is not necessarily what I will write about,” says Haislet. “If I find an opportunity to become creative, I just have to roll with it. Creativity is one of those things you can’t force. You just have to go with the flow.”
When the coronavirus pandemic put a temporary halt to live music, IBW continued to perform virtually on a regular basis. Haislet picked up a job as a tree worker while he and Alwareeth began performing doorstep shows.
“We would come to your house, knock on the door, take 10 steps back and do three or four songs on your doorstep, then go,” he says. “The love that poured out of people was just amazing. It got weird there for a while with no music and no contact.”
Since live gigs began picking up again this summer, IBW is already booked through February. It’s a welcome relief after months of financial hardship and isolation.
“These summer concerts have just been amazing,” says Haislet. “More people are coming since they’re itching to get out and see live music. As long as we can play, still love it and make other people happy, we’re happy. If there’s somewhere to play and someone to listen, we’re good with that. I don’t think people in general realized how important it was to have that outlet in their life to be able to listen to live music.”
You can hear Island of Black and White on Spotify, iTunes or any streaming platforms. | islandofblackandwhite.com
Heavenly Summer Concert Series
Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
Aug. 20 | Island of Black and White
Aug. 21 | Ted Kennedy & The Residents
Aug. 27 | Whiskey Maiden
Aug. 28 | Golden Cadillacs
Sept. 3 | Rock Monsterz
Sept. 4 | Musicole
Sept. 5 | One Way Street
