The band consisted of seven cream-of-the-crop musicians. Van Hunt tackled the rhythm end of the guitar, dabbling in fantastic leads, with his voice dispersing his soulful lyrics into the hearts and minds of those in attendance. Off to his left was a pair of keyboard/synth players adding their smooth touches to the mix, one of which who made it his goal to involve the audience in the performance, accompanied by what appeared to be a conga player. Off to Van’s right was the backbone of the group, generating the tight grooves - a drummer keeping the music glued together, a lead guitarist with chops few can match, and The Duchess, herself, on bass, laying down the funk she was born to play.
I fell into a trance that guided my soul into a heavy, deep groove, only to be broken when hassled by a security guard while trying to get my work accomplished; however, the music was so powerful, I was quickly forced back into that state of reverie which I was to remain in until that moment when the house lights shined again. With few pauses throughout the set, the music quickly transitioned from one song to another creating long blocks of non-stop dancing. I recognized “Hot Stage Lights”, with its distinct switching between a Parliament type groove and Prince guitar styling. The song was given an extra level of depth with changes in the colors of stage lighting cued to the precise timing of the musical style switches. Its bridge, an unexpected jazzy interlude, was the highlight of the song for me, as it was the perfect passage to the final upbeat segments of the song.
You could hear Van’s rock influence on the song “Ride, Ride, Ride”, with its heavy sound reminiscent of Lenny Kravitz, yet more intricate and profound. Its repetitious lyrics, “get on up and dance,” was the theme of the night. He continued the set with the song “Being A Girl” as well as numerous tracks off of his recent release On The Jungle Floor and self-titled debut album. Towards the end of the set, Van Hunt made everyone’s night a little more memorable with a walk into the crowd, complete with hand shakes and some hugs for the lucky ones.
As soon as the music ended, I stood still, sweating, replaying the events of the previous hour and a half in my mind, unable to grasp how such beautiful, funky music was created and performed. Rashon and I, ecstatic over the set, were debating what to do now. There was another group, called The Brand New Heavies, headlining that we had never heard of. After a debate over whether to stay or go back to
They stormed on stage and began with a jam, one that sealed the mood for the rest of their set. It was a fuse of funk and R&B with an underlying disco tone- one reminiscent of our Motown era. This large group, hailing from the UK, is on their first tour in over ten years, complete with funk bass, guitar, synth keys, trumpet, sax, trombone, a drum set, congas, steel drums, and both lead and backup singers. The lead singer has the voice and moves that mimic the famous Disco era singers.
Energized and full of emotion, these Brits kept everyone on their feet with their musical assault. I found myself putting away my camera for long periods of time just so I could dance to my heart’s content. It was as if I was given a chance to live out the 70’s R&B/Disco/Funk era, that I had recently wished I witnessed, with songs such as “Brother Sister” recollective of an early Earth, Wind, and Fire. Occasionally, I glanced over to Rashon, only to find him deep in a wild groove.
Parading on stage and clearly having fun, the bassist and guitarist connected with the audience. They would sit on monitor speakers, talk with the immediate audience, and by request, toss their towels to die-hard fans. One at a time the horn players came to the forefront for solos, allowing us to hear and understand why they deserve to be onstage.
The music was mixed in such a way that the bass, vocals, horns, and drums were the main focus. After having now picked up the album “Brother Sister” and reflecting, I can hear the major differences. The synth keys were played down to an almost unheard level, while the recordings glorified it. I preferred this live mix, as it portrayed the sound as a full and consistent form of Disco, and brought the best out of each musician.
After these final two hours of grooving, the night came to an abrupt end. As soon as the house lights went back on, the crowd cleared out like cockroaches, scattering quickly and stealthily. I understood that what I had just heard that evening would change my appreciation for music, not only as a fan, but also as a bassist. These two groups had phenomenal bassists that I look up to and eagerly attempt to grow from.
Van Hunt is on a clear path to fame and glory. Be sure to spread the music to the masses, so others can understand its beauty too. While it is nice to see The Brand New Heavies reuniting after a long hiatus, I’m eager to see where they go next. There is no doubt in my mind that I will do what I can to see these artists perform again. You’ll find me standing front row center, grooving to the musical mastery.
The Brand New Heavies Set List:
Intro Jam
Right On
Dream On Dreamer
into
Back to Love
Midnight
Get Used To It
BNH
I Don't Know Why
Sex God
Let's Do It Again
Spend Some Time
Brother Sister
Stay THIS way
Never Stop (Trumpet)
Dream Cum True
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