The Reality Invite Future Vintage and Guavatron to Celebrate Their Album Release Party
[Photographs of The Reality courtesy of Chuck Smalling]
The Reality held a party at the Ringside Cafe in St. Petersburg on Thursday, May 3rd, that involved three of Florida’s outstanding original bands (and not coincidentally three of my absolute favorites) for an incredible night of dancing, funk, joy, hugs, and smiles all around. The reason for the party was the release of The Reality’s third studio album, the superb Politically Uncorrect (read our review here).
Also important to note: the Ringside is not the easiest room in terms of sonics, but the sound engineer had each set dialed in exactly right. BRAVO!
The “locals” were first up — St. Petersburg’s Future Vintage. Their mix of funk, dance and electronic music always gets the party started, and this was no exception. They began with a deep groove jam that eventually slid into “Supernova,” keyboard king Matt Giancola also using his talkbox. Eric Layana was directing the beat from his drum kit, with a fan blowing his flowing locks (“his hair was perfect!”).
After “Tell Everybody,” another new tune, Giancola invited Reed Skahill and Ella Jet to the stage. Jet fronts her own great band Ella Jet and Future Soul; Skahill is lead vocalist for Ajeva and plays guitar as well. Skahill has collaborated with Future Vintage on a number of occasions, featuring his originals and music by Jamiroquai and Michael Jackson. First was a Skahill original, followed by “PYT,” both delightful.
Another new Future Vintage composition, “Coupe deVille,” featured the trio again, and they closed with a monster version of “Do It,” one of the group’s signature songs. Bassist Trevor McDannel was front and center in the mix all night but perhaps no more so than on this one. And the dance floor was packed.
[FUTURE VINTAGE: Jam > Supernova, Tell Everybody, Reed Skahill original, PYT, Coupe deVille, Do It]
The Reality were rolling out their third album in three years, and this one fits in perfectly with Rhetoric and Car Trouble, full of funk, sass, great vocals, smartassery, and fun. And, as we have come to expect, the live product trumps the studio version, although the studio album was brilliantly mastered my Vinny Svoboda, himself bass master at Displace and guest with Row Jomah.
Taking the songs in order, they lit into “She’s Too High,” Dan Jones’ punchy vocals absolutely spot on. The album itself features both the organ and trumpet work of Austin Kelly, former keyboard player, and new key abuser Josh Kim, whose personality and style dovetail flawlessly with the other three crazy band members. His synth solo was just the first of many on the night, followed by Dan on trombone. A guitarist who also plays trombone might be a gimmick; this is definitely not: Dan’s got serious chops. And that blaring tone works so well in the band’s presentation.
“Fat Fanny Pack” really showed off Caleb Bone’s bass playing and outstanding backing vocals (he is a fine singer in his own right, but his harmony vocals are gorgeous). “Out of My Life” was a kick, a different direction subject-wise from the first two songs. Then “Deserve the Lovin’” turned it around again.
The funk is so deep with these boys, anchored by Bone’s bass in tandem with Brian BA Jones’ drums. BA shone all set long. “Perfect People” is a song that calls out people who, quite simply, aren’t. The bass and Kim’s synths were killer. “Set Her Free” is one of the most powerful tunes on the album, especially in terms of vocals, Dan and Bone soaring. And Dan is a fine guitar player, whether delivering that glorious James Brown-type chunky funk or soloing, as he did here. Kim’s organ and Bone on bass again stood out.
Two guests joined the quartet for the island lilt of “End is Near.” Josh Haley sits in with the band occasionally and acquitted himself nicely on guitar. Meanwhile, Sarah ‘Mama Bone’ Phillips allowed Dan to play guitar while she played trombone (Dan double-tracked those on the album) and had a killer trombone duet with Dan as well.
“Here” showcased more of Kim’s organ, after which Dan assured us that the band was “all business from the waist up!” Bone took lead vocal on “Really Don’t Care” — so good! And then it was time for “Dancin’ in D,” a tune that appeared on the band’s first album and pops up in setlists from time to time. This was a superb cap to The Reality set, with a special drum intro from BA and more crushing funk.
You could say the third time’s the charm, but all three albums are a blast!
[THE REALITY: She’s Too High, Fat Fanny Pack, Out of My Life, Deserve the Lovin’, Perfect People, Set Her Free, End is Near, Here, Really Don’t Care, Dancin’ in D]
(PSST! Shhhh! Look: don’t tell Future Vintage and The Reality. I dearly love both bands and have seen both dozens of times. But Guavatron…)
There are so many incredible bands in the Sunshine State. Russ Bowers spends five days each year highlighting as many as he can at Orange Blossom Jamboree. There is no other band in Florida who moves me MORE than Guavatron. (All three bands have played OBJ often; The Reality and Guavatron will be at next week’s festival in Brooksville May 16-20.)
Like Future Vintage, this outstanding quartet works their magic in and out of electronic jams and rock with some fun covers thrown in for good measure. They launched this set with a piano intro of “Hit Me Baby One More Time!” Then (to my delight) they ripped into the song I’ve listened to more than any other the past 12 months — “Xilla.” This tune takes a killer jam and changes direction several times, each dynamite. Adonis Guava on guitar and keyboard wiz Roddy Hansen absolutely crushed this. “Xilla” then yielded to “Gloopin,” another great jam.
Nothing in the world of jamtronica gets “crushed” without a brilliant rhythm section, and Conor Crookham and Casey Luden (bass and drums) are the perfect companions for Guava and Hansen. Crookham was on crutches (before he got on stage) and probably should have been sitting, but he just couldn’t help himself.
“Name Game” produced another epic jam, and so did “Spring Roll.” Hansen was huge on synths here and on the closing “Ray Gun.” Juanjamon was invited up to blow some wicked tenor sax to send the jam even higher. Guava was simply awesome on guitar, and the aforementioned Crookham and Luden were pure magic.
[GUAVATRON: Hit Me Baby One More Time, Xilla > Gloopin, Name Game, Spring Roll, Ray Gun]
What a wonderful way to spend a Thursday night!
