NYS Music 20​19

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  • Karl Denson Brings Tiny Universe, Big Smiles to Jersey City

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe brought their brand of optimistic funk to White Eagle Hall in Jersey City on July 31 for an enthusiastic Wednesday night crowd. With them for an opening set of reggae and saxophone showmanship was DeLa and Steady Rock Easy. DeLa is the saxophone player for Slightly Stoopid, the San Diego reggae outfit with which Karl Denson has recorded and performed with as a sought after horn player himself. And I must say… Karl Denson is a hell of a bandleader!

    Seriously, this guy is relentlessly generous. When you share the stage with some of the top-notch talent in the music business, there’s plenty of room to share in the groove.

    karl denson jersey city
    DeLa and Steady Rock Easy

    Pulling from a selection of bouyant reggae beats from his latest studio effort Opening Night, on which Denson is a guest musician, DeLa and Steady Rock Easy provided a straight up and joyful delivery. DeLa’s chops are seasoned, and tasteful, greasing the wheels for the ride Karl Denson and Co. were about to venture on. For the finale of the opening set, DeLa spoke, “If Karl Denson is in the house, we’d like to get him up here…. Oh I guess he is here!” Denson then came out for a collaborative saxophone duo to close out the Steady Rock set.

    karl denson jersey city
    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

    The most glaringly obvious thing about Karl Denson is his humility. Tiny Universe is widely regarded as one of the most talented and lively acts on the planet and, in addition to being a founding member of Greyboy Allstars, Denson was tapped by legendary rockers The Rolling Stones in 2014 as their touring saxophone player. In fact, the Stones played Metlife Stadium just one day after this gig. That’s quite a resume’ already, not even counting his impressive list of studio sessions and sit-ins. All of this, suffice to say, is enough to fluff anyone’s ego. Despite that, it seems that Karl Denson keeps a tighter grasp on his own humbleness than he does on his instruments. He grins and dances on stage with a tambourine as much as he fires on all cylinders with his saxophone or flute.

    Gnomes and Badgers (out now via Seven Spheres Records) is Karl Denson’s commentary on today’s political atmosphere. A handful of the songs from that album made their way into Wednesday nights set, like “What If You Knew,” “Gossip” and “Can We Trade.”  Each track is toe-tapping, no matter the pace, and laced with positivity. It’s uplifting that there is so much music being created right now that is built on optimism as opposed to avoiding hope for the future, given the state of affairs around the world.

    karl denson jersey city
    Karl Denson shakes the tambourine during “Under My Thumb”

    There were also some throwbacks. “New Ammo,” from the album of the same name, is a racer. There’s also the Rolling Stones cover “Under my Thumb,” which abandons the lyrics in favor of harmonized horn lines of the vocal melody instead. Throughout all of it, Denson took a lot of opportunities to point, glance, and shift towards other members of the band as if to say, “You take a solo! Now you take a solo!” Again, hell of a band leader.

    The closer, “Time to Pray,” was a fresh reminder that none of us are in a competition. Each member of the Tiny Universe team was shining bright and grinning in delight, reveling in each other’s stamina. The lyrics “Kneelin, kneelin, there is no other way / You think it’s time to win, I think it’s time to pray” gives weight to this idea; it’s not about being right, it’s about sharing in hope for a more positive and optimistic future. A blazing guitar solo, plenty of flute action, an up-tempo beat to drive the dancing festivities, and a huge, rising organ build up drove it all home on a high note.

    karl denson jersey city
    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe is on tour through the end of August and takes on a Fall Tour from September through November.

    Setlist via guitarist Dj Williams:

    Catching Sparks, Everybody Knows That, Satisfied, Gossip, What If You Knew, Rich Man’s Welfare, I’m Your Biggest Fan, Can We Trade?, Under My Thumb, New Ammo, Time to Pray.

    karl denson jersey city
    DeLa of Slightly Stoopid
    Tiny Universe guitarist DJ Williams

  • Train and Goo Goo Dolls Bring Summer Fun and Positive Energy to CMAC

    On Friday, August 2, Train, The Goo Goo Dolls and Allen Stone entertained a sold out crowd on a perfect summer night at CMAC. All three bands brought an amazing vibe and positive energy to the evening while The Goo Goo Dolls and Train performed all their classic hits from their respective extensive catalogs spanning from the 1990’s to the present.

    train CMAC
    Allen Stone entertains the crowd

    Kicking off the evening was Allen Stone, an amazing R&B and soulful artist from Chewelah, Washington. He and his band definitely had the sold out crowd primed and energized for the night. Stone, who has been on the scene since 2010, cites his influences as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and other legends. Stone is a very dynamic exceptionally entertaining showman, not to mention a phenomenal singer. It is apparent in his music and performance from where his musical inspiration originates. His set included his songs “Brown Eyed Lover” and “Chippin’ Away.” Pat Monahan even joined them on stage for a number.

    train CMAC
    John Rzeznik and Robby Takac perform “Slide”

    Making their way to the stage at 7:45 p.m. were co-headliners The Goo Goo Dolls. The enthusiastic crowd was already on its feet in anticipation as John and Robby made their way to the stage. The Goo Goo Dolls launched their hour-plus set with “Stay With You” and immediately followed with “Big Machine” before swapping out guitars. John greeted the crowd while making a reference about being close to his home town of Buffalo, NY before the band performed their third hit in a row, “Slide.” The Goo Goo Dolls continued playing their mainstream hits that span two decades, including “Black Balloon,” which, you guessed it, included what seemed like thousands of black balloons floating down into the crowd, “Name”and “So Alive,” before closing out the night with “Iris” and “Broadway.” They also played “Miracle Pill” in support of their upcoming album of the same name which is due out on September 13.

    train CMAC
    John Rzeznik performs “Stay With You”
    train CMAC
    Robby Takac

    Finally, taking the stage at 9:20, were co-headliner Train. Train seemed to pull out all the stops on this gorgeous summer night during their performance. Not only did they play an impressive hour and forty minute, 18-song setlist which included two encores, they also brought along confetti and streamer cannons as well as some pretty dazzling pyro effects. Despite the cool bells and whistles that helped make for a mesmerizing and stunning visual performance, there seemed to be something else, something uplifting and moving during Train’s performance.

    train CMAC
    Pat Monahan and Train sending love to the sold out crowd at CMAC

    Train, formed in 1993 and hailing from San Francisco, CA , has been a hit-producing machine since the release of their self titled debut album Train in 1998 with “Meet Virginia.” The multi-platinum and Grammy award winning band kicked of their set with “Calling All Angels.” It was during this song when frontman Pat Monahan put his hands up towards the sky and asked the audience to follow him in sending love to all loved ones near and far as everyone sang along. Monahan’s energy seemed to flow through the audience and back, giving a sense of connection and tranquility that flowed throughout the venue. Train’s second song, “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” incorporated blasts of colorful confetti into the audience which continued to enthrall the crowd along with their third song, “If It’s Love.”

    train CMAC
    Confetti shoots into the crowd at CMAC during Train’s set
    train CMAC
    Pat Monahan of Train

    Train continued throughout the night with hit after hit including “Meet Virginia,” which featured a blazing solo by guitarist Luis Maldonado, “Hey Soul Sister”, “Play That Song,” as well as a house-rocking rendition of Queen’s “Under Pressure” and Tom Petty’s “American Girl” where John Rzeznik joined them on stage. Allen Stone also made a guest appearance on “Bruises.” Train ended the night with two encores, including a Led Zeppelin cover with “Heartbreaker” and, finally, “Drops of Jupiter,” which also included visually stunning pyrotechnics. Train rocked into the night with the energy and power of a locomotive steaming full ahead, yet the atmosphere was fun, happy and positive. I mean with balloons, beach balls, streamers, confetti and sparklers, the show was definitely a fun experience for all that attended. Despite the fun and positive hoopla, let’s not forget about all the songs that these two bands with over 50 years of combined experience deliver flawlessly night after night, while still having a blast and keeping their crowds entertained and dancing ’til the last drop.

    • train CMAC
    • train CMAC
    • train CMAC

  • Herbie Hancock and His All-Star Squad Shine at the Beacon

    The legendary Herbie Hancock brought his current gang of talented musicians to New York City’s Beacon Theatre last week and delivered a great mix of old and new by the jazz great. Thundercat opened the evening with his unique R&B, jazz-funk flavor and vibrant energy. Hancock then put on an incredible performance to a full house and showed NYC that he has still got it.

    Thundercat and Dennis Hamm

    Thundercat, aka bassist Stephen Brunner, started the evening off with his band that included Dennis Hamm (keyboards) and Justin Brown (drums). His eclectic songs and talented synergy with the band was evident from the beginning. Thundercat made several dedications, including to the departed Mac Miller and Ras G, as well as to Nintendo Switch lovers (video gamers).

    Thundercat and Justin Brown

    NEA Jazz Master and 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock’s line up included Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), James Genus (bass), Lionel Loueke (guitar), and Terrace Martin (sax/synthesizer). Hancock showed his deep appreciation for his band by introducing each member individually. Bass player James Genus was announced as the current house bass player for SNL. Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke were up next for the all-star introductions. Multi-genre instrumentalist and producer Terrace Martin, who according to Hancock has known and worked with Thundercat for years, rounded out this impressive team.

    Herbie Hancock

    The band began with a feeling of old by starting with a jazz improvisation, followed by the classic “Cantaloupe Island.” The band introductions were up next, followed by the Headhunter’s “Actual Proof.” Flautist and vocalist Elena Ayodele lent her services on the next two songs. Hancock went into new territory with his skills, instruments and musical style, and gave the crowd a healthy serving of his new material. He is no stranger to new directions and this material had a fresh blend of hip-hop, R&B, jazz and funk. It will be exciting to see where Hancock goes with his new vision.

    James Genus on the bass.

    The band returned for an encore of the fan favorite “Chameleon,” which was teased earlier in the evening. Thundercat joined the party on stage to make this a memorable rendition. All musicians came together at the end for a final bow, which had the audience on their feet cheering. NYC certainly enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with this legendary musician.

  • Buskin & Buskin – A Family Affair at Caffè Lena

    The love David and Sophie Buskin have for one another was apparent on the stage at Caffe Lena Thursday night. The father-daughter duo performed together as part of Caffè Lena‘s monthly pride series.

    The dichotomy between the two generations was visually present in Sophie’s use of electric guitar and David’s acoustic. David Buskin made jokes about their age. They were obviously dad joke’s, such as “Sophie’s friends call us DNA and DNR. Not sure how I feel about that.”

    The two began with a song that thrilled the heart, Sophie’s powerful soaring voice was complimented by David’s gentler tones. They sang about chasing after life, and who can’t relate to the rush of seeking adventure, of wanting to experience more? There was also a desire to escape from trouble, to find the excitement while dodging the “demons at your back.” 

    The theme of adventure carried on with David’s comedic song he usually performs with Modern Man, “Jews Don’t Camp.” In it, he joked about the perks of living an indoorsy lifestyle. Sophie’s rejoinder was the song “Mountains.” It was written about a month-long camping and hiking trip that she took. As she told this story, she gave her father a wry look which brought out laughter from the audience. Her dad accompanied her on the piano while she played guitar and sang. 

    She followed this with another song of hers, “Sweet Creature.” On her recent album, this is featured as a live track that she performs with her father. In this performance, however, David played a different role. Sophie’s performance was incredibly touching, but nobody was more touched than David. From his seat on the piano bench, he watched his daughter with awe and admiration. He was just as spellbound by her beautiful voice as the rest of the audience. After the applause, there was a moment of silence, broken when David said, “You know, I stand up there saying to myself, ‘You played that wrong. You botched that chord.’ And then, I watch my kid do that.” All of his pride in his daughter was neatly summed up in those words and in the way he looked at her.

    In honor of the Pride Series, David chose to play a song from a musical that he is working on with Jake Holmes. The musical takes place in the summer of 1968. The song is from a scene where two men have slept together, and one is trying to convince the other to come out so he doesn’t have to go to Vietnam. It was a song about struggling for both social and self-acceptance. It is something that people struggle with across the board.

    The duo ended with a song which David used to sing to Sophie as a lullaby – James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes”. The Buskin & Buskin performance had given us an intimate snapshot into their life together, from Sophie’s childhood into the brilliant artist that she is today.

    The next performance in the Pride Series at Caffè Lena will take place on September 5th at 7:00 pm and will feature the Capital Region Pride Singers. Tickets for that performance can be found here.

  • Doc Severinsen Brings Big Band Sound to Caffè Lena Late August

    When Doc Severinsen plays, each note holds a bit of American nostalgia. Well known as the leader of the big band who played on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson for over thirty years, Doc has become a familiar face on television screens nationwide. Since Carson’s retirement in 1992, Doc has continued to hone his craft. He has played on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show with The Roots and has been touring across the country.

    Doc Severinsen

    Doc is well known for playing a game with the audience called “Stump the Band” in which the crowd would attempt to think up a song the band couldn’t play. His sense of humor also included nonsense country songs, often thrown into the mix after he would cry out “Key of E!” 

    If you’d like to conjure up memories of those late-night television antics, you can see Doc Severinsen perform in one of three shows at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs. He will be appearing on Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24 at 8 pm, as well as Sunday, August 25 at 7 pm. He will be joined by his band, the San Miguel 5, with Gil Gutierrez on guitar, Charlie Bisharat on violin, Kevin Thomas on bass, and Tiki Pasillas on drums.

    For tickets to this event, please go here.

  • Hearing Aide: Shiragirl ‘Andi Underground’

    The latest from Shiragirl, Andi Underground, was released on July 26, is a unique blend of old school punk rock and modern pop. If Madonna and The Ramones were to have a musical child, Shiragirl would be the product of this affair. This album described as a dystopian punk rock musical was co-written with Tim Armstrong of Rancid, and mixed by Cameron Webb (Motorhead and Kelly Clarkson).  

    The title and concept of the album are inspired by the infamous tale of Alice in Wonderland, where a girl is wanting to escape a society headed for digital chaos to an underground free world. Andi decides to break away from the dystopia and runs away, and this is the soundtrack to her journey. 

    The album begins with the track “Controlled” where Andi is describing the controlling lifestyle she’s experiencing. It’s a single file march to brainwashing, where if you step out of line, you might end up dead. This track is the start of Andi going against the grain with the aggressive lyrics “We don’t wanna be controlled” and breaking away from the conformity.  This tune sets the reckless attitude for the rest of the album.     

    Shiragirl Andi Underground
    Photo by Max Aria.

    Another track that stands out is the third track of the album and hit single “Nothin To Lose.” The song premiered on July 2, with deep roots and influence of old school punk rock, the hard-hitting track is the anthem of this rebellious story. The lyrics represent Andi running away and falling down a hole into an underground co-existing world, and feeling like she has “Nothin to Lose,” by following her intuition and venturing into this new unfamiliar world. The electrifying guitar solo in the middle of the song gives the imagery of breaking through metaphorical barriers, and a sense of rebellion from the world she escaped. The EP tells a story that’s well thought out by Shiragirl and her manager, with the tracks cohesively placed to give the story order.     

    Shiragirl has made a name for herself in the music industry and proved to be more than a Warped Tour icon with this album. The group sky-rocketed their career when Shira and her band crashed Warped tour in her iconic pink RV and set up a stage on top the RV.  The unknown band at the time rocked out and after receiving a rousing crowd response, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman invited Shira to return the following summer to host the official Shiragirl Stage. The stage was shared by female artists from all over the nation and ultimately helped accomplish Shira’s mission to empower women by providing a platform for creative expression. The stage went on to host over 200 female-fronted bands, some of them making their Warped debuts including Paramore’s first-ever tour, and the legendary Joan Jett.  

    Not only is Shiragirl a staple of the East Coast punk rock scene, but she’s also a symbol of female empowerment in the music industry. It’s no question why Shiragirl is considered a Warped Tour veteran. This album successfully serves as a rebellious anthem to break away from the norms in society and create your path. Expect to see Shiragirl grabbing the punk rock scene by the horns and headlining large scale festivals very soon, especially after the release of Andi Underground.

    Key Tracks: Controlled, Nothin to Lose, We Are the Underground 

    Follow Shiragirl on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

  • Twiddle Delights With Surprises at 4th Annual Tumble Down

    Twiddle held its 4th annual Tumble Down Festival in Burlington, VT at Waterfront Park this past weekend. The beautiful park, right on Lake Champlain, hosted Twiddle for five sets along with: The Kitchen Dwellers, Stephen Marley, Turkuaz, Ghost Light, Jaden Carlson Band, Owl and Crow, The Big Sip, Nina’s Brew and The Jauntee. The festival, a family reunion for Twiddle fans, brought all ages together to celebrate music. The festival also brought fans and partners together to raise money for the White Light Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to help spread love, healing and kindness. 

    Twiddle kicked off the festival with a special acoustic set with fan favorites including “Hatties Jam” and “When it Rains It Pours,” and a special sit in by David Grippo. Their second and third sets closed out the first night and included a prerecorded message from “Colonel Norco,” which helped set the tone for two packed sets, and a special sit in by Todd Stoops. The second set included a new verse to “Jamflowman” that brought his tale home and an additional sit in by David Grippo on the beautiful, “Lost in the Cold.” 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Acoustic Set: Glycerine Medley, Earth Mama, Five, Wildfire, Fat Country Baby, Hattiebagan Mcrat, Hattie’s Jam-> When it Rains it Pours
    Set 2: Enter, Orlando’s, Amydst the Myst, Doinkinbonk, Grandpa Fox -> Apples -> Mamunes the Faun -> Every Soul
    Set 3: Jamflowman -> Subconscious Prelude -> Nicodemus Portulay -> Milk, Lost in the Cold

    Encore: River Drift

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    The second day started with a bit of deja vu as The Big Sip had their set shortened by a weather evacuation, that thankfully didn’t last too long, or turn into anything more than threatening clouds and some high winds. The Kitchen Dwellers began their set as masses of fans were still in line to re-enter the festival, music to the ears of those eager to get back to the party. They also welcomed members of Cabinet to sit in for a few songs, much to the audience’s enjoyment.

    Nina’s Brew, a trio from Burlington, played with a sound influenced by blues, soul, rock and R&B. They’re currently working on their first studio album and are anticipating a fall release. 

    Turkuaz, the nine piece funk juggernaut from Brooklyn, NY, played as the sun was setting over the water. Their brightly colored outfits seemed to glow in the “golden hour” of light, and highlighted their energy. 

    Twiddle’s final two sets to close out the fantastic weekend contained many treats for fans. The origin of “Ricky Snickle” and an additional verse,  another message from “Colonel Norco,” and a new verse to “Frankenfoote.” There were also many sit-ins over the final two sets. Jayden Carlson, The Kitchen Dwellers, Zach Nugent and Todd Stoops all helped Twiddle close out the festival. 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Set 4: Ricky Snickle Origin, Ricky Snickle, Syncopated Healing, Machine, Visions of Mohr, Latin Tang, Beethoven and Green
    Set 5: Polluted Beauty, Gatsby the Great -> Pond -> Zazu’s Flight -> Pond -> Grandpa Fox, Be There
    Encore: Frankenfoote Origin -> Frankenfoote

  • Brooklyn Rapper BURG Releases Music Video for ‘Willis’

    Brooklyn rapper BURG has released his highly anticipated single and official video for his song “Willis.” Produced by Penacho, “Willis” comes after Penacho’s critically acclaimed work with artists including Tyga, Lil Skies, and Bow Wow.

    BURG is an up and coming rapper hailing from Williamsburg Brooklyn’s south side, which unlike the stereotypical hipster clad north side, the south side is a long standing, generally working class, Dominican area.

    His brother Tone, who is featured through out the video, has his hand on the business end of things, releasing the single via their label Stosic Co. The video was directed by award winning film producer, Jason Ludman under his newly formed collective FMH.

    As a producer, Ludman has had films play around the world at festivals such as TIFF, Edinburgh and Cannes. His last film #Horror (Chloe Sevingy, Timothy Hutton) was released in 2015 by IFC and by Paramount in the UK in 2016.

    The video was shot by cinematographer Fanny Texier whose “color obsessed women” videos for the NY Post, about women whose whole lives (clothes, furniture, hair, etc…) revolve around one single color.

    BURG is currently posted up in Williamsburg’s Key + Needle Studios, working on new music to be released this fall.

  • The Claypool Lennon Delirium Party Take-over at The Cap

    The Flaming Lips along with The Claypool Lennon Delirium upset The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY with an absolute party of stage props, light shows and massive balloons towering the crowd. Riding a unicorn in through the crowd, Wayne Coyne set the bar high for an amazing set to come. The fact that it was a hometown show for Sean Lennon made it an even more special event.

    Claypool Lennon Delirium

    Claypool Setlist: There’s No Underwear in Space (Intro Tape), Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd), South of Reality, Blood and Rockets: Movement 1 > Saga of Jack Parsons -Movement II Too the Moon, Little Fishes, The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson), Breath of a Salesman, Boriska, Easily Charmed by Fools, Like Fleas, Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles). Cricket and the Genie (Movement II, Oratorio Di Cricket), Cricket and the Genie (Movement I, The Delirium).

    Check out the live stream of the show here!

    The Flaming Lips Setlist: Also sprach Zarathustra, OP. 30 (Richard Strauss), Race for the Prize, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Pt. 1), There Should Be Unicorns, She Don’t Use Jelly, True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston), Feedaloodum Beedle Dot, The Star-Spangled Banner (John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key) [Two Takes], The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power), Are You a Hypnotist??, All We Have Is Now.

    The Flaming Lips Encore: Do You Realise??

    Photos By Chad Anderson

  • Black Pumas Give Their Soul to a Sold Out Mercury Lounge

    On an otherwise status quo Monday night in New York City, Black Pumas waited patiently in the shadows, ready to unleash their new take on familiar sounds to a curious and anticipatory sold out audience at the Mercury Lounge. Feeding off the energy surrounding their eponymous debut album, the sextet from Austin, Texas brought the heat with them. 

    Just before doors opened at 6:30 p.m., a line of eager listeners began to form, buzzing with hype. “Have you listened to the album yet?” one woman quipped in excitement. “I’ve heard a lot about this,” spoke another. And when the doors opened, the bar became flooded. By 7:30, halfway through the opening band’s set, the performance room was packed from front to back.

    Black Pumas
    Boston blues band GA-20. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    Initially booked as a solo performance for the headliners, Boston-based blues band GA-20 was tapped at the last minute for an opening set. Also newly formed at just over a year old, GA-20 is heavily influenced by traditional blues, R&B, and rock and roll from the late ’50s to early ’60s. Guitarist Matthew Stubbs spent a decade as the guitarist for blues legend Charlie Musselwhite and was able to connect with fellow guitarist Pat Faherty over their mutual love of influences at the time like Buddy Guy, Earl Hooker, and Otis Rush. 

    Armed with classic guitars of the era, a Harmony Stratatone and a mid-sixties Silvertone, the trio passionately conveyed their translation of a nostalgic genre. Setting the mood with a cover of the Clifton Chenier classic “My Soul,” Stubbs’ bigsby tremolo work and Faherty’s raw vocals sounded as if they were coming straight off of a 45. Through their 12 song, hour-long set, GA-20 showcased a truly honest, modern interpretation of a sound that’s become scarce with originals like “Dry Run,” “One Night Man,” and “Happy Today.” With a touch of rockabilly, a taste of doo-wop, and a wave of surf rock, each song was short, to the point, and authentic. Be on the lookout for a new album due in October.

    Black Pumas
    Black Pumas. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    As the band broke down and the house music went up, a black puma statue was revealed at the front of the stage. The crowd shuffled in elation, moving closer to the front as still more people made their way in from the bar. 

    Starting as studio takes and demos from guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma, Black Pumas has evolved into a full fledged neo-soul project, steadily rising as a must-see over the course of the past year. As the band settled behind their respective instruments and mics, the announcer remarked, “Please put your cell phones in your pockets and let’s stay in the moment together.”

    Black Pumas
    Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    The opening intro and ensuing “Next To You,” one of the few numbers not found on the album but still part of their impressive repertoire, provided for a loose kick-off to set the groove in place. Next was “Colors,” which is creeping up as the band’s most listened to track, just behind the single “Black Moon Rising.”

    Singer Eric Burton’s vocals call back to another era. The slow but steady tempo and easy swing feel of most of this music is reminiscent of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love” while Burton’s fearless falsetto evoke the same emotion heard from the likes of Curtis Mayfield. The name Black Pumas, combined with lyrics about love and emotion (“If you’re in pain babe call the doctor / Don’t be afraid to say I need you” – from Fire) hint at the Civil Rights Era in which Mayfield and Sam Cooke were so vigorously immersed.

    Black Pumas
    Eric Burton of Black Pumas. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    In many ways, Quesada and Burton may be the rightful heirs to the kings of soul. The music itself is captivating, well executed, and certainly was able to bring a small room of fans together in a celebratory fashion. But Burton was majestic in the way he was able to harness the energy, absorb it, and redistribute it back to them. At various points of the show, the crowd swayed back and forth in unison and Burton would pause from his singing and encourage everyone to continue the motion while reaching to the person beside them in acceptance.

    “Know You Better” was a stand out. Clearly a love song, in the room and context of the night, it could be interpreted as a heartfelt plea emboldening the listener to love their neighbor and strengthen the bonds of togetherness that were so important during the ’60s and ’70s. Those bonds are equally as important during these divisive times, which is why this music and the band that has created it feels so special.

    Black Pumas
    Black Pumas engage the crowd at Mercury Lounge. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    Clocking in just shy of exactly one hour, Black Pumas gave a performance that felt totally free of time. Other takes from the album like “Stay Gold” and “Oct 33,” a touching and poignant acoustic ballad, filled the middle of the set. Each song provided ample opportunity for the rest of the band, including backup singers, keys, and a straightforward rhythm section, to showcase their locked-in capabilities. With about 5 minutes to spare, they busted out with a hot take on The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” complete with a total funk makeover.

    Black Pumas
    Eric Burton of Black Pumas dances with an audience member on the dance floor at Mercury Lounge. Photo by Jamie Huenefeld

    Ferociously confident, aggressively soulful, and astoundingly energetic, Black Pumas should be on your radar. They’ll be back in New York City at the Brooklyn Bowl on September 30 as they jaunt around the country in the fall before a European tour in November. Don’t miss it.

    Black Pumas
    Black Pumas