When you search "Kung Fu" on the internet newsfeeds, not only will you get the latest about our beloved art, you'll stumble over tour information for a band named "Kung Fu." Since 2012, Kung Fu has been tearing up clubs and music festivals with their scorching electro-fusion sound. The five-piece delivers a highly dance-able mix of explosive funk jams with a modern EDM sensibility. Tim Palmieri, the quintet's guitarist and vocalist, has played alongside some of the greatest live jam band musicians in the business today, including members of Dead & Company, Phish, Umphrey's McGee, Soulive, and many more. As the band celebrates the release of their third album, Joyride, Tim took a quick break from tour to explain Kung Fu's Kung Fu connection.

GC: Why did your band take on the name "Kung Fu"?

TP: When we formed the group, the day came where we needed a name. One of our members suggested Kung Fu and everyone liked it, but I wanted a day to think it over. I practiced martial arts as a kid so I was very interested in the name, but wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do. I looked up its definition, shared it with the band, and we all agreed on the name.

GC:   What does "Kung Fu" mean to you?

TP: I looked up the definition of Kung Fu and found this: “Kung Fu is a Chinese term referring to any study, learning, or practice that requires patience, energy, and time to complete. In its original meaning, Kung Fu can refer to any discipline or skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial arts.” When I read that, I loved the idea of naming our band that. Kung Fu means just that to me – practicing one's craft to the point of excellence. I always felt we were a band of talented players who dedicated their life to their respective instruments, and musically we were ready to share our brand of Kung Fu.

GC:    That’s actually right. Here in America, the term Kung Fu has become inseparable with the martial arts. But in Chinese, you can have good Kung Fu in any artistic endeavor, whether it be painting, calligraphy, gourmet cooking or playing a musical instrument. Does anyone in the band currently practice any martial arts?

TP: No one practices martial arts currently. I did when I was ages 7 to 11. It was a long time ago. I never lost the tenets of the mental discipline it taught me though. I still use its concepts of responsibility, self-control, tenacity, etc., and believe it or not I still do the stretches I learned all those years ago. I went to Fred Villari’s Kempo Karate School. I was good and enjoyed it very much.

GC: Does your band use Kung Fu in any other way beyond the name?

TP: I think the band uses Kung Fu in other areas of life they are passionate about, whether family, hobbies, cooking, studying, etc. No one is currently pursuing martial arts in practice although I love its philosophy and physical poetry.

GC: There have been a few Kung Fu-inspired music videos lately like ones from Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and Muse. Does Kung Fu have anything like that?  If not, are you planning anything like that?

TP: We are releasing a new song along with video very soon for one of my compositions entitled, “Chop Suey.” The song is about taking random elements and making something great out of them. The individual parts of anything in life can be rough around the edges, but when used to assemble the finished product, the whole is greater than the simple sum of its parts.

GC:    Is it difficult for your fans to find you on the web?  Searching "Kung Fu" elicits a lot of other stuff.

TP: As a matter of fact it is. Kung Fu is a popular term on its own, so searching for us by just typing Kung Fu doesn’t put us at the top of the results in your search engine. Kung Fu Music, Kung Fu Connecticut band, Kung Fu Funk, etc., will get you closer if not our website which I’m gonna plug right now: www.kungfumusic.com. We also get Kung Fu Panda jokes quite often but that doesn’t bother us. We are happy people want to check us out and enjoy the music!