If it’s true absence that makes the heart grow fonder, it may also be true that absence makes the band grow stronger. Judging by Vorcza’s second set at Burlington Vermont’s Red Square March 28th, that would seem to be the case.
Chinese Bookie is Viola Keeton and it seems whomever she can get of friends or audience members that want to dance backup for her. Dressed in her dapper style with just a white guitar, she starts by singing acoustic for a few songs with lyrics like, “hope I don’t have to have another near death experience just to feel alive.”
There were no boots on the piano, and his time on stage was about 40 minutes, but the final run of “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lot of Shaking Going On” is what everyone came to see and The Killer delivered, requesting the ladies shake it for him and letting them know, even if he was old, he can still give it to them.
It’s easy to complain that the Keys should play a little bit longer….after 70 minutes they were hitting that peak. But although the show was short with little stage banter, their bygone swamped up rock still knocks em dead loud & live.
It’s the simple things that make a Greencards’ show special: gratifying harmonies, stunning solos, and clear vocals. All were on display for this two-set performance on songs like “The Ghost of Who We Were,” “Life’s a Freeway,” “Who Knows,” and “Here You Are.”
For their second Sullivan performance, Lettuce wasted no time getting the crowd grooving with tunes from their new release, RAGE!. Paying homage to all stripes of funksters including Parliament / Funkadelic, James Brown, Sly Stone, Herbie Hancock, and Earth Wind & Fire, Lettuce proved- to the delight of the crowd- that funk is alive and well.
After a few years spent pursuing other projects, the members of Lettuce finally regrouped for a two-night stand at Sullivan Hall in support of RAGE!, which will be released April 22. (Note to all funk fans: Buy this album; it’s outstanding.)
Walking through the hallways of the Wachovia Spectrum, a sense of history lingered through the photos of all of the amazing musicians, athletes, and performers that have graced the arena in south Philadelphia. However, recent talks about removing the venue shadow many of those memories, but there is one thing for sure, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters came to tear down the walls a bit early.
A recent triple-bill at LA’s Spaceland showed three different bands in a similar orbit, with locals Hearts of Palm UK opening for Portland’s The Builders and the Butchers and the The Helio Sequence.
If there's a word for the Dumpstaphunk experience-and articulating what gives great funk bands their mojo is a futile exercise-it's "full." Politics, passion, punch, and professionalism-and you're dancing your face off all the while.
