Best Albums of 2016 - Number 6

St. Paul and The Broken Bones are a live band. That can't be argued with. I've seen them twice already. The first time, I drove 4 hours to see them -my first time alone at a concert - in Orlando and was completely blown away. I already have tickets to make that exact 4 hour drive to see them again in March and this time, I'm probably even more excited, because now I know what I'm going to experience. And maybe this is why I would place their albums so high on any list. Maybe, every time I hear their music, I'm transported to that religious experience. I know that's at least part of it. But also, Sea of Noise is a demonstration that they are growing. They are reaching beyond any idea of them being just a soul revival, a fucking amazing one, and trying to not only expand their sound, but their content. Their concept. Their point of view. Their new album brings a new sense of timeliness, funk, exploration and confidence that only gets better with more listens.

Anchored by 3 short interludes called "Crumbling Light Posts" the album brings to mind the 70s more than the previous effort, which was much more anchored in 60s southern soul. This is more high concept, exploratory and socially conscious. It's a bit of soul searching, basically. But it never gets heavy handed because first and foremost is the soul. After that short intro, we get right to it with the funky "Flow With It (You Got Me Feelin Like)." Right off, what I noticed here was Paul's more restrained performance. The bombast is there, and you can feel it about to burst (and it does), but he's adding texture and expanding his range. That range continues to expand in the deep disco of "Midnight on Earth," with a chorus that is somehow equal parts Bee Gees and Al Green. And right along with Paul's expanding range, the band is exploring different corners of the funk.

In addition to the funk, there is also a choir and string section on a few songs, as well as more overtly gospel influenced songs that give this an interesting dynamic range. It's all elements that have existed in soul and R&B from the beginning in varied measures, but the way this album flows feels very much alive and of the moment. Maybe it's the context of a song like "I'll Be Your Woman," at a time when gender conceptions are finally being challenged in our culture. It's a soul ballad which lyrically echoes Prince's "If I Was Your Girlfriend" but somehow takes it to another level by completely embracing fluid gender roles with lines about being rescued by his female lover and then flat out saying "let me lie in your strong arms" and "I'll be your woman." And there's "All I Ever Wonder" which is all about questioning the state of the world. It's not so much political as it is just socially aware and heartfelt.

If I had to choose one song to represent the range this album goes through, it would have to be "Sanctify." Some of the funkiest organ I've ever heard somehow leads to the one of the lushest most inspiringly orchestrated crescendos I've heard in a long time. What happens in between is religious, sexual and chill inducing. I am really looking forward to seeing them play this live.

Every time I listen to St. Paul and The Broken Bones, I get a little lost in it. And while this album brings some of the real world into that with lyrics like "That’s my daddy with a gun shooting someone else’s son. Is it over yet? A bullet with intent for the color of his savior and he can’t forget. What do we do when the fight goes out? I just want to know can we find love in a black hole?" from "Brain Matter," it's still comforting to be in a musical space that reassures the way soul always has. They are not retro or a throwback - they are timeless. They put the music first and their knowledge of the history of the form is as evident as their talent. My excitement for this band has not decreased one bit since first listening to them a couple of years ago and I'm looking forward to continue to be excited with every phase of what they do. 

Humming House at The Funky Biscuit

Humming House cures disease. At least temporarily. Maybe. I don't know.  All I know is yesterday I was sick all day, and actually almost cancelled going to see the show at The Funky Biscuit in Boca, what with a sick kid and Carlos being sick, too. So, yeah, lots of sick. None the less, we decided to go and while I was there, I felt totally fine. It lasted enough to get me home and now here I am, after a sleepless night, in need of that sweet harmonious medicine.

We got there earlier than expected and found our seats, directly in front of the stage, while the band was doing their soundcheck. The place is pretty small and once they started playing, there were maybe 30-40 people in there, tops. And it was exactly what the doctor ordered. They mentioned how they hadn't slept and were probably not going to be sleeping for some time, either, but their attitudes were exactly what I remembered from last year, when I saw them open for St. Paul and The Broken Bones in Orlando. The major difference this time was obviously the intimacy of this venue, which felt like we were all sitting in someone's living room and our friends, Humming House, just happened to stop by. It was a more subdued experience than the raucous party vibe last year, which made one thing stand out to me more than ever: their harmonies, in all combinations, are impeccable.

Among songs that have become old favorites for me, like "This Hell Where We Belong," "Fly On" and "Run With Me" there were several new songs, which they mentioned didn't even have titles yet. The new material seemed to lean more on soul and R&B than their older material, and it works really well. They already were covering several classic soul numbers from The Jackson Five to Whitney Houston and Justin Timberlake last year, so it's not a stretch. One thing about this band is you can't really pigeonhole them. Are they folk? Country? Bluegrass? Celtic? Sure. And then some. They've added some electric instruments to their repertoire and did a half acoustic, half electric cover of Cake's "The Distance" that was unexpected and tons of fun to see everyone scramble to switch instruments halfway through while Leslie Rodriguez sang an acapella bit.

Another addition this time was a full drum set, which Bobby Chase jumped on, and keyboards which Bobby and Josh Wolak both played at a couple of points. Ben Jones picked up an electric bass a few times and Justin Wade Tam went electric several times as well. It wasn't Dylan at Newport revolutionary, but it was still refreshing to see them add layers without losing anything in the process. What holds them together in my mind, aside from the obvious talent, is their sense of fun and how well rooted they are in the traditions they play with.

After the show, we hung around and talked to Justin for a bit. I mentioned I had written about them before and had reviewed their latest album, Revelries. He told us a little bit about the vinyl mastering process, because I think he recognized we were music geeks (good call). We also talked briefly to each member of the band as we had them sign the album for us. All of them are as down to earth as their stage presence suggests. I've said it before and I'll say it again, see this band live whenever you get the chance.

St. Paul and The Broken Bones with Seratones at The Culture Room

Back in January, I said I might have set the bar too high for best concert of the year because the first show I saw this year, St. Paul & The Broken Bones at The Beacham in Orlando, was on a level I never really understood before. And, although at least one other show this year came close (Ana Tijoux), I would have probably ended the year still saying that show back in January was the best of the year. Except that last night, that certainty was, at the very least, brought into question. Very serious question, by (wait for it) St. Paul & The Broken Bones who turned The Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale into some kind of sweaty soul church that I never wanted to leave.

Sertones brought it.

Opening for them last night was Sertones, who were also pretty damned good. This band from Louisiana play a certain flavor of Rock n Soul that brought to mind some of the psych and mod influenced bands of the 60s. Their groove is heavy with an almost punky feel but still firmly rooted in R&B and soul hooks. I had only heard two songs before the show, (the only 2 currently available on Spotify) but I was bobbing along to all of it. They really brought the party vibe with them and it stayed all night. As a matter of fact, singer AJ Haynes came out to join St. Paul on their "last" song, "Make it Rain." She is an electric performer in her own right. Watch this band, I will be.

Browan Lollar

From the opening notes of the instrumental intro, "Buy the Ticket" the crowd was informed that The Broken Bones meant business. And once Paul hit the stage, it was a done deal. Everyone was in his pocket instantly. This is not the sort of band you see in small venues for very long, even though that's probably where they really do best, so I can't emphasize enough how lucky I feel to have seen them twice in small venues. And last night, it was front row, baby!

Throughout the show, I sort of dangled in a strange place of overwhelming joy where I had a perma-smile and was on the verge of tears. At one point, when they played "Broken Bones and Pocket Change," which was a performance that I don't even have a word for because it I'm not sure you can emphasize the word SOUL enough, I may have even gotten a little lightheaded. It would be easy to put the glory for this all on Paul, and the man is a born performer and really did own everyone in that tiny club, but don't ever, ever, EVER discount what the Bones are doing. That band, as a unit, as individuals, as conduits for everything they play, is impeccable.

St. Paul Janeway preaching.

They played a lot of new songs last night that hint at a funkier direction on the album they mentioned they were going into the studio to start recording. They played a fucking mind melting cover of The Beatles' "I Want You." I cannot wait to hear the new album and although I immediately and desperately wanted to see them live again when it was over, I get the feeling they will be too big to play the venues I like. On the other hand, they've been playing large venues and still found pockets to play small as well, so maybe there's hope. I hope. But I also don't want to take their deserved success away in any way. 

I don't want to spend too much time talking about it, really. So let's just leave it here. That show back in January was my first time ever going to a show by myself and it's an experience I enjoyed and will do it again. But when I left that show, I really felt evangelized and like I needed loved ones to see what I had seen. Hear what I had heard. Feel what I had felt. So when I found out they were coming to Ft. Lauderdale, I knew I was going, but made damn sure to drag some loved ones to church with me. Watching my wife and friends be blown away by this band was a feeling of not so much "I told you so" satisfaction, as it was a "yes, now you understand." And, really, no matter how much I write about it or show you videos, you won't understand until you're in the room, sweating and shaking with them.

2015 Week 37: Vigilante

Getting kind of excited for a bunch of shows coming up. First up on October 15th there's Buddy Guy, who I saw once before about 10 years ago. Back then he was pretty crazy live, jumping from song to song with no warning and yet the band somehow kept up. He's basically the last real blues guy left so this is special. A couple days later, on October 17th, Raquel Sofia who I discovered through NPR's Tiny Desk and instantly loved. Her brand of loose, organic pop brings in elements of just about everything from folk, rock, salsa and jazz and beyond. Here, check her out for yourself.

Really looking forward to this one because she's not HUGE yet and it's a relatively small venue at University of Miami's Frost Theater. Stay tuned. Anyway, then in November there's Broncho, a band I came across last year and really liked. It turns out they're opening for The Growlers, who are cool too, but in true hipster fashion, I'm going for the opening act. And then in December I get to end the year the same way I began it by seeing St. Paul and The Broken Bones again! This is the one I'm most excited about since that show in January still stands out as the best of the year for me and the best ever really. Simply amazing band.

In the meantime, this week's Spotify playlist is jazzy, mysterious, dark and thrilling. It's sort of about Batman, maybe. The lonely vigilante, gloomy and heartbroken, going through his adventures in the city at night and occasionally being reminded how lonely he is. But he dusts himself off and goes back to his mission because it's the only way to forget. Forget the past. Forget the pain. Forget the love and the lack of. Gotham is a hard place for love. 

St. Paul and The Broken Bones and Humming House

Definition of Soul.

I went to see St. Paul and The Broken Bones in Orlando. Took the family up, but went to the show alone. Only my second time going to a concert alone, but it will not be the last. Look, let's not mess around, the full review will be at FDRMX, so go read that. This is more about showing than telling. This show will be in my list of maybe top 5 shows ever. It might be the best one, if I really think about it.

I was going to see southern soul from Alabama, but first we made a stop in Nashville. These guys were awesome. Had a chance to meet them later, and they were very cool.

They also covered Justin Timberlake later, but I didn't get that on video, which is disappointing because it was the best cover they did. At several points, I'm sure they were looking right at me and smiling because I was so fucking into their music, I must have stood out.

This last song they played made me think of Treme and how awesome the live music scenes in that show were. So much fun. I immediately wanted to see them again. And this was just the opener, who I'd never heard of before. By the time St. Paul and The Broken Bones came on, my phone was almost full.

I had chills the whole time they played. I don't think I've ever been more excited to see a band before. Not even The White Stripes or Black Keys. I think it's because I knew this was a smaller venue and that this was a much hungrier band than at the times I saw The Stripes or Keys. Plus the connection to classic soul artists that I was born too late to see had me ready to cry a couple of times. Just simply amazing. Quite possibly the best show I've ever seen.

I wish I could have captured some more, but like I said my phone was full and the battery was dying. It's all in my head though. And after all this was done, I joined Humming House and am now on tour with them.

My new best friends.

2015 Week 2: Into the Fog

BRMC used TONS of fog.

Thursday night I will be at the St. Paul and The Broken Bones Show at The Beacham in Orlando, followed by a trip to Legoland with the family on Friday, so this post is being programmed ahead of time so that my fan doesn't feel abandoned in my absence. Anyway, all I have at the moment is the week's playlist. We'll go with fog as a theme because it was foggy a couple days, so there. Once I get back, I'll have a review of the St. Paul show which I'm pretty sure is going to be fucking awesome, or else why would I drive 4 hours to it. So, until next week, grab the playlist and share it away. More to come.