Khruangbin, Cake, and Bleachers recently headlined the Capitol Groove Festival, in Hartford, CT which took place on June 28 and 29.
The Capitol Groove Festival is a two-day celebration of music and community centered in the heart of downtown Hartford, Connecticut in the historic Bushnell Park. This was its second year, with this year’s lineup having a great amount of acclaimed artists and emerging talent. The mayor of Hartford, Arunan Arulampalam, excitedly went on stage and said that his goal was to “build Hartford into the music capital of the Northeast” and that the festival will continue to grow for years to come.
Ghost Funk Orchestra and Improvement Movement started off the first day with fun, whimsical music. Ghost Funk Orchestra is a band from New York that uniquely blends a ton of different genres like soul, R&B, Latin, and jazz. The band’s dynamic arrangements kept the crowd entranced, blending together moody instrumentals and haunting vocals. It was really a must-see and great start to the festival.
Improvement Movement is a pop band from Atlanta, Georgia, and has a beautiful psychedelic and acoustic sound. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Tony Aparo, keys Zach Pyles, bassist Tim Friesen, vocalist and instrumentation Marshall Ruffin, and multi-instrumentalist Clark Hamilton. The band impressed with genre-bending songs and had a setlist that was unpredictable in the best way because it showed their range in sound, resulting in a very bold and vibrant performance.
Up next was Too Many Zooz, a brass band from New York City, consisting of saxophonist Leo Pellegrino, trumpet Matt “Doe” Muirhead, and drummer David “King of Sludge” Parks. The trio teamed up in mid-2013 and started playing at various subway stations around New York City, combining jazz, funk, EDM, and Afro-Latin rhythms. The crowd was extremely locked into the music, jumping up at the brass sounds and dancing about. Leo Pellegrino couldn’t stand still, dancing around in his golden Jordan 6s, as he played his saxophone. Something that is very cool is that most of their music comes out of doing improv, and the band even demonstrated by doing some improv in the midst of their set.
English roots reggae band Steel Pulse followed up with a very animated and upbeat set. Frontman David Hinds sang out lyrics with a huge grin on his face and interacted with the crowd that waved their arms around. Hinds took the time between songs to talk about bringing peace around the world and speaking out against the unfortunate things with racism, fascism, and many other discriminatory and hateful acts are being done globally. Steel Pulse transcended social and cultural boundaries to appeal to all types of fans and have such a strong influence on reggae music.
Thee Sacred Souls was up next. The band formed in 2019 in San Diego, California and consists of bassist Sal Samano, drummer Alex Garcia, and singer Josh Lane. Fans stretched their hands and belted out cheers to the band as they began to sing fan-favorites. Some songs in their set included “Will I See You Again?,” “Easier Said Than Done,” “It’s Our Love,” and “Can I Call You Rose?” One of the highlights of their set was when Lane ran off stage into the crowd, handing the mic to fans to sing and running up the slope to the fans watching from their chairs. It was such a cool and heartfelt moment as he cut through the crowd and smiles were on everyone’s faces.
Thundercat brought the instrumental intensity back to the crowd following up Thee Sacred Souls’ incredible set. Stephen Lee Bruner, known by his stage name Thundercat, is singer-songwriter and bassist from Los Angeles. Thundercat has been a very influential and major contributor in music working with great artists like Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Gorillaz, and Erykah Badu just to name a few. Thundercat’s setlist included popular songs “Dragonball Durag,” “Funny Thing,” “Overseas,” and “Them Changes.” Thundercat’s set was like a stand-up comedy show as he continuously joked with the crowd and brought his quirky presence that you could see online on-stage. “If I were a cat, I would be an orange cat”, said Thundercat.
Now for what a lot of the crowd was anticipating – the Grammy-nominated, Houston-based band Khruangbin. Khruangbin is a musical trio that consists of bass guitarist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson, with each of them providing vocals. This stop is a part of their “A La Sala” tour that has 23 stops and is an extension of their 2024 tour of the same name. The trio blends all sorts of different genres with influences from Latin, Thai rock, soul, Iranian pop, and psychedelic music. The show really put the crowd into a trance with their beautiful and mostly instrumental music backed up with a gorgeous set, visuals, and lighting. The band looked as though they were playing in the clouds as the haze waved around them. Members of the crowd waved their arms, hugged one another, and danced about throughout the show. Some of the songs performed include “So We Won’t Forget,” “Maria Tambien,” “People Everywhere (Still Alive),” and “So We Won’t Forget.” It was an incredible, engaging show that left fans with an unforgettable experience.
Day 2
The second day of the festival kicks off with the electrifying energy of Spectre Jones. After a 36-hour journey from Los Angeles, the band warms up the crowd at Bushnell Park with a vibrant performance in true Indie Rock style. Spectre Jones offered the perfect Capitol Groove-style welcome, reminding the audience that when it comes to energy, there’s no such thing as too much.
Next up were The Greeting Committee, a band formed in 2014 in Overland Park, Kansas. Led by the powerful vocals of Addie Sartino, and backed by bassist Pierce Turcotte, Micah Ritchie, and Noah Spencer, the group delivered a charismatic performance that captivated the crowd. It was impossible to stay still, Addie had everyone jumping along to the beat. A surge of energy swept through the audience, from the pit all the way to the bleachers.
Taking the stage on day two was Fantastic Negrito (Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz), who immediately commanded the crowd with his powerful blend of blues, R&B, rock, funk, and roots. The Capitol Groove audience was swept up in the rhythm, unable to keep still. The pit filled up within moments of the first chords. Xavier forges a deep connection with the audience, drawing them in with his music and holding their attention as he opens up, and shared a story about his father over a soulful R&B backdrop. It was a magnetic performance, one that’s hard to forget.
Now it’s time for St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Founded in Alabama in 2012 by vocalist Paul Janeway and bassist Jesse Phillips, the band brings a true sonic revolution rooted in Southern Soul and deeply influenced by gospel. Words can hardly capture the power Paul unleashes on stage. The crowd, now fully energized, couldn’t contain its excitement. The performance feels like something straight out of a Broadway theater, anchored in Paul’s background as a preacher. His voice is one of a kind, intense and unforgettable, reaching every corner of the audience.
Like a rollercoaster ride, after the briefest of pauses, the crowd is ready for yet another show-stopping performance. Sammy Rae & The Friends then took the stage with a dynamic blend of folk, funk, soul, jazz, and pop. Despite some early technical issues, the band immediately captured the audience’s full attention. It’s impossible not to move or dance to their songs. With a voice that’s nothing short of extraordinary, Sammy Rae connected deeply with the crowd, sharing stories of her roots and touching every listener’s heart. Playing in front of the Capitol in Hartford is a special moment for her, as she left Connecticut at just 19 to chase her musical dream. Together with her bandmates, she created a moment of pure adrenaline and unforgettable joy.
Next to take the stage is Cake, the band formed in 1991 by John McCrea, Vince DiFiore, Xan McCurdy, Daniel McCallum, and Todd Roper. Framed by a stunning sunset, they immediately took command of the stage. It felt as if the audience had been waiting all day just to hear them live. Their energy is infectious, and there’s a nostalgic undertone to the performance that deeply resonates with longtime fans.
The cherry on top—or rather, the strawberry for the most attentive fans—is the arrival of Bleachers, who take over the entire Bushnell Park. The band is led by Jack Antonoff, now internationally known thanks to his high-profile work as a producer for artists like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. Formed in 2013, Bleachers embrace an indie-rock sound with strong echoes of Bruce Springsteen. Their performance is one of the most anticipated of the entire festival, some fans waited in line for hours under the sun just to secure a front-row spot for this unforgettable moment.
Jack and the rest of the band unleashed an energy that completely swept over the crowd. Even the youngest attendees were lifted onto their parents’ shoulders to fully enjoy the show. With a set design that mirrors the band’s identity a black-and-white checkered floor evoking the classic American style of the ’70s and ’80s. Bleachers delivered a performance packed with personality. Jack’s inimitable way of connecting with the audience made sure this show will be etched in the memories of many.
The crowd jumped to the beat of songs like “I Wanna Get Better“ and “Rollercoaster,” and pulled out tissues for more tender moments like “Isimo.” As Jack sings, “the tiniest moves you make, the whole damn world shakes”, it’s clear that every gesture sends a ripple of excitement through the sea of fans.
With the lights dimmed and hearts full of emotion and new experiences, the crowd slowly headed toward the exit leaving behind a weekend of pure adrenaline.
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