G. Love & Special Sauce at The NorVA
A mad case of Philly Funk infected everyone at The NorVA on March 18 when G. Love & Special Sauce took the stage. The trio of Garrett Dutton (G. Love) on guitar and vocals, Jeffrey Clemens on drums and Jim Prescott on bass is coming off a very successful appearance on Jam Cruise and is touring behind their latest album, Sugar. The new studio tracks not only mark the band’s 20th anniversary but also celebrate the return of Prescott, known as Jimi Jazz, on the upright bass.
Even though they’re from Philly, this alt hip-hop trio sounds like they’ve spent some time in Louisiana or at least sampled some gumbo along the way. Call it Creole urban, but they definitely have a steamy, funky feel to their licks. They opened the show with selections from their new album including the single Nothing Else Quite Like Home as well as the title track. After playing for about fifty minutes, they said thanks and left the stage, but nobody was buying that. After a couple of minutes, G. Love reappeared with his acoustic guitar, took his seat, and got comfortable with the crowd, riffing on tunes like Shootin’ Hoops and Cold Beverage. Matt Costa, one of two opening acts, joined him onstage for a duet, followed by the rest of the band and Costa’s friend Danny Garcia for a cover of Weezer’s Say It Ain’t So. Throw in some Who’s Got The Weed, Booty Call, and Too Much Month, and you’ve got a full on frenzy on the floor! They closed out the show with Weekend Dance #2 and even though it was only Wednesday, everybody danced their butts off.
Matt Costa, a folksy singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach, CA preceded G. Love. He and Danny Garcia have been on the tour since February and have several more dates on the calendar. Costa co-wrote the track Saturday Night from the new G. Love album.
Local bluesman Anthony Rosano opened the show. Normally performing as a four-piece as Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos, this was an “aRoostic” set with Rosano on his Fender steel resonator and Jack Campbell on harmonica. They played a selection of original tunes from their latest album, Get Rood.
