On March 15th, The Chance was filled with funk all night long for a great night of music, with Kung Fu, McLovins, Steve Broderick and MazMyth. To start the night, Jordan Dummond of MazMyth stated that he would be playing solo material because the rest of the band was unable to perform. He had some help from a guitarist and drummer, which added some extra texture to his looping baselines and overall Claypool-esque sound. With some spacey jamming involved, Jordan’s material would be perfect for a late night spot at a fest for those looking to dance and groove into the wee hours of the morning. Up next were Steve Broderick and his band. While their set started out with songs reminiscent of The Band, they quickly changed into a full on funk/rock fusion that sounded like it could have come out of a club in the mid-70s. Their cover of “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones had some edge to it that The Stones never put on it and it was welcomed by the crowd. Although they only had a half hour to play, they made the most of it, wasting no time between songs and won over fans by the end of their set.
McLovins were next and showed why they are on the rise in the community. With fast beats and catchy choruses, along with quality jamming, they really know how to put on a show. The McLovins not only can jam, but they like to show it off too, and it’s not a bad thing. They can go from indie rock to 70s Grateful Dead in a matter of moments. Ending their set with a funk laced “2001”, much to the crowd’s delight, they went out on a high note and got the crowd ready for what Kung Fu was about to throw down.
Kung Fu came out of the gates hard and got the crowd, which had been only lively at times, up and dancing immediately. Rob Somerville’s saxophone playing was a great partner to Tim Palmieri’s guitar playing. Both of them used each other to push themselves and the music constantly forward. Rob and Tim took turns taking the lead the whole night and then supporting the other. Todd Stoops has a way of playing the keys that I have never seen. He slaps away at them like a bass player would slap his bass. It was an interesting way of playing and very fun to watch. The sounds that came out of his keys were some of the funkiest sounds that I’ve ever heard. The three of them made sure to not step on one another’s space during the evening, giving each ample time to shine and wow the crowd with their beautiful play of their respective instruments.
By the third song Chris Deangelis and Adrian Tramontano were locked in with one another playing the bass and drums respectively. These two laid down the foundation over which the others improvised. They pushed the music without letting up for a moment throughout the show. Chris dug deep a few times to really get the funk moving, pushing the whole band to meet up with him. Adrian finally got time to shine with a drum solo and it made the crowd stop dancing and just watch as he demolished his set. The whole band was having fun on stage and was obvious in the music. The addition of having the sax in the band was something that should be seen more in music. It added that extra layer to their music, making them stand out from other bands. These guys are a must see when they come to a town near you. Make sure you don’t forget to put your dancing shoes on before leaving your house.
Kung Fu setlist: Do The Right Thing, Premium, Gung Ho, Steppin’ In It, Scrabb, Tsar Bomba, Standing on the Verge, S’all Good, Paragon, Hollywood Kisses, Hammer
Encore: Got To Get Your Own
Comments are closed.