Greyboy Allstars

[Lit]

Wow! Saw them live for the first time last night and was very impressed. Have been enjoying their music on CD for several years now but somehow never had a chance to see them all in person before. Have seen Karl Denson a few times before with KDTU and other incarnations, and have seen Robert Walter a lot (mostly with Stanton)--to the point where I think he is my favorite keyboard player. And both were excellent together last night; but it was the guitarist, Elgin Park (a/k/a Mike Andrews), whom I had never seen before, who blew me away. Can't believe I've been almost unaware of this guy until now. Insanely talented, even taking over bass for a few songs and essentially playing lead on it.

What a great and varied show though. The styles they covered were so far-ranging that they almost defy classification. Whereas the albums I have of theirs are mostly soul-jazz/funk, last night's show had everything from straight-up rockers to avant-garde jazz to James Brown soul to Meters funk to jamband groove, and all points in between. I've never quite known what "boogaloo" means, but perhaps that's what it is, because for the most part it all had a great groove.

In any event, they are obviously touring again right now, so check their website and see if they're headed your way. A guaranteed great night of music, and I hope to see them again soon.

[Rossvegas]

I would LOVE to see them! Unfortunately, I doubt that they'll make it up here to Toronto.... :>(

[swag]

East coast and west, but nothing in between.

They do have a Canada date, though...

http://www.greyboyallstars.com/tour.php

[Phatpapa]

I've seen them once and like Lit said, they put on a great show.
They are playing at the Ogden in Denver on New Years Eve. I'm trying to find tickets for me and the gf.

They don't play very often so catch em' when you can!!

[Apostrophe (')]

YYR, GBA always light it up. Unfortunately for me, they're in town the same night as Rebirth/Dumpsta.

[Lit]

YYR, GBA always light it up. Unfortunately for me, they're in town the same night as Rebirth/Dumpsta.

Damn, that would be very tough call for me. If the venues were close enough I might even try to do both, going back and forth between them. If I had to choose, it might come down to the better venue (and beer selection). All other things being equal, I'd probably choose GBA at this point because they are much more of a rarity for me. I've probably seen Rebirth between 50 and 100 times now; and I've seen Dumpsta/Ivan at least dozens of times.

[Apostrophe (')]

Damn, that would be very tough call for me. If the venues were close enough I might even try to do both, going back and forth between them. If I had to choose, it might come down to the better venue (and beer selection). All other things being equal, I'd probably choose GBA at this point because they are much more of a rarity for me. I've probably seen Rebirth between 50 and 100 times now; and I've seen Dumpsta/Ivan at least dozens of times.

Agreed, in a music-only evaluation it's a very tough call. The venues are in the same quadrant of the city, but too far apart for easy hopping. It's funny, I used the same logic you applied above, but I guess regional differences gave me the opposite result.

GBA and its offshoots come through town quite a bit and have played Bumbershoot often over the last 10 years or so. Wouldn't say I've seen them 50 times (or anybody for that matter, folks in this category -> your stamina is impressive), but definitely enough to be satisfied with the offerings.

Conversely, Rebirth/Dumpsta is a special nugget. We're lucky to get any given touring NOLA band once a year, and even luckier to get a double bill like this one. Add to that the 21+ atmosphere of the much smaller Berbati's for a $20 ticket price and my decision was made for me.

Still, a little piece of me will have hometown FOMS that night.

[funkkjunkie]

I loooooove greyboy allstars. I've seen them at waka a few times.

[sharon_loves_fats]

Unfortunately for me, they're in town the same night as Rebirth/Dumpsta.

When it rains, it pours...

[Leni]

Loved him when he was funky and playing soul/groove jazz --- the 20th Congress was so funky and soulful. The last few times I saw him he was playing more "experimental" type of music, free form, avant garde, dissonant, all-over-the-place, and I couldn't connect. I was very disappointed.

[Rossvegas]

Loved him when he was funky and playing soul/groove jazz --- the 20th Congress was so funky and soulful. The last few times I saw him he was playing more "experimental" type of music, free form, avant garde, dissonant, all-over-the-place, and I couldn't connect. I was very disappointed.

I hear you on that, Leni. The 20th Congress completely rocked me, but the more recent stuff I've head from him was a lot more noodly and less "in the pocket"...

[fantailmedia]

damn, I'm living in the wrong city!

[Phatpapa]

I just got tix to their NYE show in Denver. Gonna get funky!!

[Leni]

I hear you on that, Leni. The 20th Congress completely rocked me, but the more recent stuff I've head from him was a lot more noodly and less "in the pocket"...

You hit the nail on the head -- noodly and not "in the pocket." It's sad that so often musicians who become masters at soul/groove jazz get bored with it and move on, so that there are very few great musicians who are continuing the tradition. The original Joe Krown Organ Combo (w/John Fohl and Brent Rose) was really terrific, but didn't last long with the original personnel. Last I heard Joe was at dba and the volume was so deafening I could barely hear what they were playing -- it was just a loud wall of sound. I have a theory that music is getting louder and louder as musicians' hearing gets worse and worse from the volume. Or maybe their sound people are just not very good at balancing the various instruments. When you hear bass that's so loud you feel like someone is pounding your chest with a hammer, there's a real problem, and it happens more often than not.