MarchFourth!, Pimps Of Joytime at Fox Theater [Review]
MarchFourth! is an original band to its core
By Eric Frank
Sunday, February 26, 2017
On Friday, February 24th MarchFourth! (Marching Band, as they were previously known) hosted a rousing concert at Boulder's famous little venue, The Fox Theater. It was an evening of funk, of merriment and unexpected theatrics in which energy bled from the stage and into the hearts and souls of its audience.
The night began with Pimps Of Joytime, the Brooklyn, NY-based soul/funk outfit whose ties to Colorado grow ever tighter. The most obvious of those ties comes with the recent addition of vocalist Kim Dawson, whose previous work includes vocals with Colorado-based Eufórquestra and The Motet. A tremendous personal fan of Dawson's, perhaps my own bias swayed my opinion, but to me, her performance was undoubtedly the highlight of POJ's production.
The Pimps took the stage to a pre-recorded track, something that was featured throughout their set. While I'm not a huge fan of click tracks or pre-recorded music, Pimps Of Joytime make it work well for them, creating a production value that blends the precision of a studio recording and the energy of a live performance. Perhaps my favorite moment of the night came during a solo from drummer John Staten, who shed his headphones and surrendered to the music's pure will. A jovial fella who always seems to wear a smile, Staten kept the band at a steady pace while intensifying each song in a well-crafted set list.
I would be remiss not to mention Brian J's killer enveloped guitar tones, Mayteana Morales's on-point percussion and soulful backing vocals, and that moment near the end of the set that saw Kim Dawson belt a note that stretched from her place on the stage to the high heavens, a moment that actually brought tears to my eyes. That kind of power isn’t easy to conjur, and a reaction such as mine prevails as mystical and unfeigned. The band offers diligence and passion into their funky craft, and it shows.
On to the main act, MarchFourth!, a band that had previously eluded me and my schedule each and every time they were in Colorado. However, they did everything but elude me on Friday night. The Portland, OR marching band has been described as circus funk and, after witnessing the band live, that characterization is immaculate. The opening were emitted from brass only - a septet of saxophone, trumpet and trombone that created an enigmatic mood rife with anticipation.
The rest of the band would soon join to create a soundscape that matched the band's unique visual makeup. Clad in psychedelic marching uniforms reminiscent of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, the cast of musicians, performers and acrobats are unlike any other touring act in the nation, original to its very core.
Sometimes, more musicians on stage means more chaos and more mistakes within the performance. Not so for MarchFourth!. The arrangements are clearly thought out and precise which, in turn, create sonic settings that encapsulate and challenge its crowd. This is my kind of band.
Likewise, stage antics and outside visuals can sometimes detract from the music, or perhaps act as a substitute to anything truly unique or, well... good. Again, this is not the case with MarchFourth!. Whether punch-dancing, stilt-walking or pure Cirque du Soleil style acrobatics, there was always something to watch while effortlessly grooving to quality and distinct sounds. When attending a concert, I hope to learn something about music, composition, stage presence and/or communication between band members. If I'm not learning, I probably won't enjoy the evening to its fullest extent. I learned a hell of a lot from watching MarchFourth!.
Personal highlights included a tune called "Fuzzy Lentil" which featured the most high-energy, bad-ass flute solo I've ever witnessed. Another magical moment occurred when Angela the acrobat stacked three wooden chairs and steadily held poses while perched atop them. Her strength, discipline and focus while a full-fledged rock concert raged below her were as impressive as anything throughout the entire night. Lastly, a cover of The Doors' classic "Roadhouse Blues" put an exclamation point on my wild and awe-inspiring night. A huge thank you goes out to Gretchen Troop Photography for sharing her beautiful pictures of this night! Visit her official website at www.gretchentroop.com.