Night Shift | 2021-03-06 | The Wrong Planet., Denver, CO [AUD/SBD Matrix]

It’s funny how the Night Shift at The Wrong Planet.….

Is it possible that we are in MARCH and this is the first #spacetapes recording of the year? To put that in perspective, in 2019, by this point, I had uploaded 24 shows. Even in the cursed year that was 2020, I had already recorded 7. So while the number makes me a little sad, the prospect of a show at all makes me feel like there may be an end in sight. As we see restrictions begin to lift around the country, and the summer begins to creep in, it’s starting to look like there may be light at the end of this tunnel. For me, I’ll (hopefully) remember the beginning of that glimmer with two heady sets from Denver local super group, Night Shift.

As far as Denver local talent is concerned, you would be hard pressed to find a better lineup. Starting with two thirds of the power trio Cycles, bassist Tucker McClung and guitarist Patrick Harvey drove many of the compositions with their tenacious back-and-forth, which has become a staple of their band’s sound, and loaned itself nicely to Night Shift. Adding all the dirty chords and spice to each piece was Eric Luba, of ManyColors. Luba is an absolute master with the keys, both in his tasteful accents and downright filthy solos, but also in his ability to play with selfless patience, helping harbor the communication between band members and letting it flourish through each tune with chords and effects that frame every piece with soulful grace. Last but certainly not least, the backbone and leader of the group, Kirk Larson of Kessel Run, kept things together with effortlessly steadfast drumming, often punctuated by fierce double bass kicks and swift drum rolls that constantly kept each tune dynamically compelling.

Both sets were filled with predominantly instrumental songs (minus one Talking Heads cover) with a heavy jazz lean. Tunes by blue note legends Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, and a solid medley of Grant Green tunes peppered the first set and showed the band’s affinity for the pioneers of the genre. It also featured more contemporary cover selections, such as the hip-hop classic “So Far To Go” by never-forgotten producer J Dilla, a song from Yussef Dayes (“For My Ladies”) which opened the second set, and a take on Yussef Kamaal’s “Lowrider” right before the last tune of the night. Then, to show that there really is no bad juxtaposition of great music, the band mixes in covers by electro-dance pioneers Prodigy (“Breathe”), over-sized suit wearing pioneers The Talking Heads (“Making Flippy Floppy”), plate-smashing-and-shouting snyth-pop pioneers Tears For Fears (“Everybody Wants To Rule The World” which featured Kessel Run guitarist Cam Canepa), and not-using-letters-or-numbers-for-your-artist-name pioneer Prince (“1999”).

The sets had a captivating flow—moment after moment had a memorizing effect, as you’d watch any given member take a thoughtful lead; or even observing their selflessness to allow each other back into the conversation, to regain focus, or to move on. This interplay is especially illustrated in the back-and-forth in “So Far To Go”; from the shifting dynamics, to the ebb-and-flow of each member taking a respective turn to contribute, these are the moments that make Night Shift great.

Night Shift isn’t just about the tight and funky badassery of Tucker McClung, or the firestorm of whirling licks from Patrick Harvey, or the insanely disgustingly dirty beauty that is Eric Luba’s playing, or even the mountainous presence of Kirk Larson’s unfaltering rhythm… well, actually it is. But it’s also more how it coalesces. When this group locks in, their focus becomes so present, you can’t help but feel a tension as you anticipate their next move, or a satisfying release when they hit their peaks. With Night Shift, it’s less like being brought with them on a journey, and more like existing in a space big enough to allow them to guide you through it.

Writing this recap and listening to the “Black Satin” jam that closed out the first set, I can’t help but feel like this show was special not just for the music, which was great, but for what it represented. It’s the pulse of the resuscitating heart that is the Denver live music scene. It’s the bleeps of the EKG monitor showing that we’re still out there, we’re still here, the end may be in sight, hold tight…. damn this “Black Satin” jam is awesome. Don’t sleep on that. Definitely funny how that Night Shift.

Night Shift | 2021-03-06 | The Wrong Planet, Denver, CO

-= Set 1 =-

01. Red Clay (Freddie Hubbard cover)
02. Mystic Brew (Ronnie Foster cover)
03. Rootdown (Jimmy Smith cover)
04. Grant Green Medley
05. So Far To Go (J Dilla cover)
06. Black Satin (Miles Davis cover)
-= Set 2 =-

07. For My Ladies (Yussef Dayes cover)
08. Nautilus (Bob James cover)[1]
09. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Tears For Fears cover)[2]
10. Breathe (Prodigy cover)
11. Making Flippy Floppy (Talking Heads cover) >
12. 1999 (Prince cover)
13. Lowrider (Yussef Kamaal cover)
14. (Band introductions)
15. Daggertooth (Mark Lettieri cover)

-= Lineup =-

Patrick Harvey (Cycles) on guitar
Tucker McClung (Cycles) on bass
Eric Luba (ManyColors) on keys
Kirk Larson (Kessel Run) on drums

Show Notes: This was a private party. There was no opener.
[1] “Nautilus” contained “Tweezer” (Phish) and “West LA Fadeaway” (Grateful Dead) teases.
[2] “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” featured Cam Canepa (Kessel Run) on guitar instead of Patrick.Taper Notes: CA14 omnis setup on-stage, DIN configuration. Got a direct out from Patrick’s Helix multi-effects pedal which is the only soundboard feed. Thanks to Kirk for having us out!

Thanks to Night Shift and The Wrong Planet. for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and support your local band’s and venues in any and every way you can. For many of us, they are the heart and soul of Denver. #spacetapes

ARCHIVE LINK: https://archive.org/details/ns2021-03-06.CA14.omnis.onstage.AUD.SBD.mono.Matrix.flac16