The Elegant Plums | 2020-01-25 | Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

I don’t know how much my hearts see over my eyes but my ears love me some Elegant Plums opening things up at Cervantes!

Denver’s classiest produce-based band, The Elegant Plums, threw down a raucous set comprised of new tunes and fan favorites to open things up for the rotating cast that is Everyone Orchestra.

The band kicked things off with a newer tune, titled “Fiendin”, which elaborated on their mixture of tangy SoCal rock and soulful lyrical charm. The tune segued into the ballad “She Runs”, which helped settle the crowd into the dynamics of the Plums and took everything home with a fiery solo. The band played several fan favorites, including the riff-heavy instrumental “Soggy Tots”, transitioning into the Latin-rock of “Amamos”, which literally commands listeners to dance—a request that’s made easier by the song’s infectiously danceable rhythm. Then there was the fierce funk-rock of “Tofu 4 2”, paired with newer tune “Don’t Talk Back”, which then quickly shifted into the sultry start-stop cadence of “Stops”.

There were several notable sit-ins that helped accentuate the best parts of the Plums unique sound. “Amamos” featured additional vocals from local Denver musician, Rachel Davis, and the final quarter of the set featured vocals from Plum fam, Rachel Davis and Whitney Carmichael, better known as The Pits. In addition, Matt Wikolak sat-in on “Workin’ Ain’t Hard”, before inviting up brothers-in-horn, the Mercenary Horns, to sit-in for the remainder of the set, which featured fan-favorite “Funky Day”, a clever mash-up of Kool & The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie”, Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down”, Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”, and “Higher” by Sly & The Family Stone. Needless to say, the party was at full throttle by the end of the set when the band debuted a new tune, titled “Disco Dev’s Dirty Disco”, a brilliant array of synth pop, 70s funk, and 80s disco. A fitting end to their dance-party set.

The Elegant Plums are a unique blend of styles that feel like the best ingredients of a house party. A high energy sampling of genres, mashed up in a robust serving of fruitful tunes that hit you like salsa made by hippies that dig rock and funk. As rocking as they are soulful and everything in between, the Elegant Plums will bring out the party in you.

The Elegant Plums | 2020-01-25 | Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO

-= One Set =-
01. Fiendin >
02. She Runs
03. Sail Again
04. Soggy Tots >
05. Amamos[1]
06. Tofu 4 Two >
07. Don’t Talk Back >
08. Stops
09. Workin’ Ain’t Hard[2]
10. Funky Day[3]
11. Boogie Town[3]
12. Disco Dev’s Dirty Disco[4]

Show Notes: This was an opening set for Everyone Orchestra.
[1] “Amamos” featured Rachel Davis on backing vocals.
[2] “Workin’ Aini’t Hard” featured Rachel Davis (The Pits) and Whitney Carmichael (The Pits) on background vocals and Matthew Wilkolak on trumpet.
[3] “Funky Day” and “Boogie Town” featured The Pits on backing vocals and The Mercenary Horns.
[4] “Disco Dev’s Dirty Disco” was a debut performance and featured The Pits on backing vocals and The Mercenary Horns.

Taper Notes: Stage right of the soundbord – mics raised around 9′ PAS. Board mix and patch thanks to FOH Sound Engineer David Tash.

LINK: https://archive.org/details/TEP2020-01-25.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16