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There’s music that just sounds better in the spring and summer, and it’s usually groovier, breezier, and sunnier in its disposition (no pun intended). This music is meant to be listened to under an umbrella with your toes in the sand, and a cold drink in hand. Or it sounds just as well in a hot, dusty field at a remotely rural location with thousands of your like-minded friends swaying around over a long weekend. Such is the case with the John Mancini Band, a jammy collection of snappy musicians from Baltimore, who kindly welcome listeners into their version of this aforementioned summertime rock on their latest album, Sun King.
Over the course of ten tracks, Mancini leads his band-mates through an infectious bounty of sharp rhythmic, reggae-inflected tunes that pulse through with sharp energy and positive vibes. There’s no deep rooted catharsis taking place on this album, nor are there veiled metaphors or exercises in haughty self-aggrandizing. It’s not an album that demands your attention or begs for close introspection. What is it, then? It’s a fun listen filled with crafty grooves and sharp musicianship; listen to the twinkling keys that interlock with the horn section on “Trouble”, the rat-a-tat snare fills that anchor the Buddy Holly-esque “Little Things”, or the sneaky guitar work of “Blue Bag”.
As a vocalist, Mancini guides the band through a barrage of words and lyrics in the manner of Anthony Kiedis or the late Bradley Nowell. YouTube clips verify the assumed bounteousness of his stage presence as well. It’s a band that music fans should keep an eye out for. Their music serves as a good elixir for the current winter blues but undoubtedly shines even brighter in the summer sun on a hot, outdoor stage.
