Did you even think for once that I wasn’t coming back? Crazy! Check out Envy Alo‘s set supporting the Rob Compa Birthday Hang at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom(Other Side)!
Fresh off the heels of the release of their newest live album “Cruise Control” – Envy Alo looked like a band that had truly come into their own last Friday night as they took full command of their set to support Rob Compa’s birthday. Dressed to the nines, because they are a group of classy individuals, Envy Alo burst out the gate with the sanctimonious rager “Once”. A man-down, as keyboardist Aaron Pettine was out of the country, the band was missing a key melodic component of their sound. But Envy Alo is all about making the adjustment. Saxophonist Kevin Supina‘s first big solo of the evening employed a filter that made his sax sound similar to a talk-box, adding the missing synth element and then leading into guitar solo by Kevin Hinder which was so fierce you’ll check yourself for scratches after its finished. While the band was missing a member, the show must go on!
Next up the band performed another one of their staples, “Prom Queen” which the band quipped was actually written by the currently absent Aaron Pettine. The song’s dynamics were on full display through each movement, shifting from frantic horn driven riffs and smooth jazzy interludes.The newly added lyrics by vocalist Callie Morrocco further define the song and give it a whole new personality which really speaks to how far the song has come from its instrumental origins when the band was only a three-piece. They then launched into another new song, the Kevin Supina penned “Clutch”. The crunchy opening riff had some serious bite, maybe too much as Kevin’s guitar briefly was thrown out of tune for the first verse/chorus but as I said earlier, this band knows how to adapt. After a quick tune-up, Kevin came back to deliver on what he does best, incendiary solos with purposeful phrasing. The band then shifted gears a bit to what reminded me of a 70’s R&B vibe akin to Chaka Khan with the Callie Morrocco song “Tigress”. This also served as another opportunity to hear Kevin Supina’s wah’d out synth-sax as he ripped a soulful solo over some beautiful rhythm guitar work by Hinder.
Every time I see Envy Alo I feel like I’m seeing an evolution of their sound and personality as a band. In “Don’t Want To Wait” the band mixes elements of lounge and jazz with psychedelic-rock to create a trance inducing experience that serves as the improv centerpiece of their set. The song delivers a completely different experience than their typical style and maybe its just the jam-fan inside me but it was a welcome break in structure. The following “Be Good” draws stylistically from some of the same realms as “Don’t Want To Wait” and again offers glimpses into what a more thoroughly explored version could be.
The end of the set was a trio of crowd pleasing numbers starting with one of the band’s most accessible tunes, the ode to debauchery “Wasting Time”. The vocal melodies felt as polished as ever and the song was possibly the most well executed of the evening. They then closed out with a pair of covers, “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” both which featured Eric Luba on keys. Whirling away on the organ, Luba’s sound complimented Alo with a discerning patience that helped elevate all those playing with him. As the set closed, the band had successfully laid it all out on the stage. Capping a performance that showcased Envy Alo doing what they do best, making it the best show it can be.
Envy Alo | 2018-10-12 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO
-= One Set =-
01. Once
02. Prom Queen
03. Clutch
04. Tigress
05. Don’t Want To Wait
06. Be Good
07. Wasting Time
08. That’s What Love Will Make You Do (Jerry Garcia Band cover)[1]
09. Manic Depression (Jimi Hendrix cover)[1]
Show Notes: This was billed as Rob Compa’s Birthday Hang in celebration of Rob Compa’s birthday. Envy Alo and KingFriday The 13th opened the show.
[1] “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” & “Manic Depression” featured Eric Luba (Analog Son) on keys.
Thanks to Envy Alo for having us out and always supporting tapers – thanks to Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom and FOH Alon for the awesome sound and one of the best venues to see live music in the entire country. Go see live music and tip your bartenders! #spacetapes
LINK: https://archive.org/…/EnvyAlo2018-10-12.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Ma…
