The Little Green Men, a band made up of Pittsburg State University students, released their debut album “Unidentified Funky Object” Friday, Oct. 24, now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Bandcamp. The record blends elements of rock, funk, and jazz fusion, highlighting the distinct sound the group has worked to develop over the last two years through performances together.
The band consists of Jude Wolfe, a senior music major with an emphasis in composition and media production, on keyboard and vocals; Evan Harries, a senior studying 2D art, on guitar and vocals; Jocelyn Goodwin, a senior majoring in music performance, on tenor saxophone and vocals; Jack Stefanoni, a junior music education major, on drums and percussion; Gavin Burdette, a senior, majoring in music performance, on bass; Joe Lancaster, a senior music education major, on trumpet and percussion; and Peyton Winnett, a junior music education major, on baritone saxophone.
This album also features a guest appearance from Sachio Nang, the only non-PSU musician involved, who performed an alto saxophone solo on “Strange, Strange, Love.”
Nang, a touring pit-orchestra musician and longtime friend of the group, contributed an alto saxophone solo and loaned recording equipment for the project.
“Without him, making this album would have been nearly impossible,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe produced, mixed, mastered, and engineered the album, with assistance from Nang. The album’s cover art was hand painted by Harries.
“There’s a sense of vastness and discovery that I get from the image,” Wolfe said. “It’s a perfect representation of the curiosity and the nebulousness that is the Little Green Men.”
The Little Green Men started as a group of students who met through the university’s jazz band, along with other ensembles and classes, occasionally getting contracted by the university or other groups to play cocktail jazz, Christmas music, or classic rock. It was not until the group was perfoming specifically jazz-funk, when Goodwin commented on the potential of just performing funk songs as a whole show.
“It was from this idea that I decided to start contacting local joints to play funk music,” Wolfe said. “With the expectation that we would play at least 90 percent original music, as I’ve always wanted to remain creative and original.”
From there, the Little Green Men began performing locally, developing their sound around live performances, often workshopping in new songs on stage before recording them. Some songs, like “Intro,” were sketched out by Wolfe when he was 16 years old.
“The truth is, most of what’s on the album we’ve been performing for a couple years at this point,” Wolfe said. “I feel strongly that listening to the album is a studio interpretation of what you’ll hear in an LGM show. It’s very faithful to our live vibe with the added benefit of studio production.”
The album was recorded in a spare bedroom a few blocks from campus using only four microphones and an audio interface borrowed from Nang. The process relied on recording most tracks live, with most members playing together in one room.
“It was often times difficult and overwhelming,” Wolfe said. “Especially on my end as the mixer/masterer, but it was beyond worth it.”
Each member contributes a distinct influence that shapes the group and the overall sound. Burdette and Harries bring elements of jam and psychedelic rock, while Goodwin draws more funk and jazz fusion, with Lancaster adding a smoother, cool jazz sound.
“I think it’s interesting to hear how the improvised solos can vary based on the musician’s personality and experiences,” Wolfe said. “It’s unlike anything else I’ve experienced. This variety is one of my favorite things about UFO and the band as a whole.”
The band draws inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Weather Report, as well as modern acts like Vulfpeck and Jacob Collier and less funk-based acts like Phish, Gooses, and Dogs in a Pile. The results are a mix of funk-driven grooves, jazz-inspired improvisation, and experimental arrangements, creating an album that moves smoothly between genres.
“You’ve Got a Grip on Me” is a traditional funk track, while “Strange, Strange, Strange Love” draws a mid-century doo-wop, and “Second Place” leans more into an energetic arena rock song.
“There’s a lot to enjoy for different preferences without us compromising our unique sound,” Wolfe said.
One of the band’s earliest originals, “Andromeda Men,” has become a staple to every live performance and a signature piece for the group.
“It’s paradoxically simple and complex, with an earworm of a bassline and lots of soloistic passages for the band to play with,” Wolfe said. “Each time we play it it’s a little bit different, and I feel the one on the album really captures the vibe of LGM. It’s one of my favorites to listen to, I know every note of each of my buddies’ improvised solos like the back of my hand.”
“Being able to work with the other members of the band is the thing I’m proudest of,” Wolfe said. “I’ve wanted to create an album for years, but I never envisioned I’d get to make one this ambitious with so many cool people. LGM really has the best musicians of the area in it, and that is a privilege that is not lost on any of us. We appreciate each other and respect each other, and I’m glad we finally got to capture it on a recording and put it on streaming platforms for all to listen to.”
The group said they have several more songs written and performed live, though there are no immediate plans for another recording project. Their next performance is scheduled for Nov. 6 in the U-Club at the Overman Student Center, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.