The SWAT Team | 2018-01-06 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

#MusicMonday ‘aint over until the Swatkins talkbox sings! Check out my pull from The SWAT Team’s second night headlining Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom(The Other Side)!

This whole evening was one of the funkiest nights of 2017, hands down. After fantastic sets from both Envy Alo and Casey Russell & The Soul Shack, the crowd was more than primed and ready to keep getting funky. From start to finish, the second night of their stay at The Other Side took off where the first night left off. Delivering a set full of funk music from some of the scene’s most acclaimed funk maestros.

The set opened with Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothing” which established the group as the funk powerhouse the crowd came to see. The second tune “Root Down” was a very patient and smooth jazz number which had a vibe absent from the previous evening. It also featured Motet trumpeter Gabe Mervine. The band communicated impeccably throughout the song, building several moments to tense crescendos and showing off a new side of the group. The band invited up Pimps of Joytime vocalist Kim Dawson for the next song, an extra funky version of “Boogie On Reggae Woman”. As if things couldn’t get funkier, the band whipped out their version of Vulfpeck’s instant classic “Funky Duck”; another song where the talkbox truly shines. Next up was the Lyle Divinsky portion of the set which featured some more stellar song selection including one of my favorites, “Footsteps In The Dark”. You may know the sample of this song from the Ice Cube hit “It Was A Good Day”. Afterwards, the Team busted into Zapp’s “So Ruff So Tuff” which provided another unique moment when the band called up local rapper JuBee who freestyled a few bars in the middle before the band segued into a mash-up of Zapp’s “I Can Make You Dance” and Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” much to the delight of the crowd. The set closed out with a rousing rendition of “Funkify Your Life” which featured some great guitar work from Dan Schwindt and a commanding vocal performance from Lyle Davinsky, the crowd was left, once again, funkless. However that would not last long as the band came out for a powerful encore which featured another one of my favorite moments of the evening, the incredibly satisfying “Got To Give It Up > Electric Avenue -> Got To Give It Up”. The Marvin Gaye song is legendary and has such a melodic structure but really I’m a sucker for the Eddy Grant tune “Electric Avenue”. There’s something about that song that always puts me in a good mood. I want to go Electric Avenue…I think it’s in London but I digress.

The SWAT Team put on two seriously funky nights of music filled with well chosen covers, fantastically talented sit-ins, stellar supporting acts and just all-around good vibes. I hope to see more of The SWAT Team in the near future!

The SWAT Team | 2018-01-06 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO

One Set: You Haven’t Done Nothing (Stevie Wonder), Root Down (Jimmy Smith)[1], Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder)[2], Funky Duck (Vulfpeck), Superman Lover (Johnny Matson)[3], Do It Like You Do (Lettuce)[3], Footsteps In The Dark (The Isley Brothers)[3], So Ruff So Tuff (Zapp) > (Jubee Freestyle)[4] > I Can Make You Dance / Juicy (Zapp / Notorious B.I.G.) [4] > Take Control Of Your Body (Juno What), Funkify Your Life (The Meters)[3]

Encore: Outstanding (The Gap Band)[5], Got To Give It Up (Stevie Wonder)[5] > Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant)[5] > Go To Give It Up (Stevie Wonder)[5]

:: Lineup ::
Steve Swatkins (Allen Stone, Juno What?!) on keys and vocals
Adam Deitch (Lettuce, Break Science) on drums
Garrett Sayers (The Motet) on bass
Dan Schwindt (Kyle Hollingsworth Band) on guitar
Joey Porter (The Motet) on the clavinet

Show Notes: This was the second night of a two-night headlining-run at Cervantes: The Other Side. Envy Alo opened the show followed by Casey Russell & The Soul Shack.
[1] “Root Down” featured Gabe Mervine (The Motet) on trumpet.
[2] “Boogie On Reggae Woman” featured Kim Dawson (Pimps Of Joytime) on vocals.
[3] “Superman Lover”, “Do It Like You Do”, “Footsteps In The Dark” and “Funkify Your Life” featured Lyle Divinsky (The Motet) on vocals.
[4] “(JuBee Freestyle”) and “I Can Make You Dance / Juicy Mash-Up” featured JuBee on vocals.
[5] “Outstanding”, “Got To Give It Up” and “Electric Avenue” featured Kim Dawson (Pimps Of Joytime) on vocals, Gabe Mervine (The Motet) on trumpet and Lyle Divinsky (The Motet) on vocals.

Taper Notes: Stage right of the soundboard. Slightly off-center, Mics raised around 9′. Vocal mics were running a bit hot and there is some distortion on some of the “louder” vocal songs but nothing too major. Some feedback as well. Reduced bass and EQ’d AUD feed to reduce mud. Thanks to Jason for the patch!

Thanks to Steveland Swatkins, The SWAT Team and Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartender! #spacetapes

LINK: https://archive.org/…/TheSWATTeam2018-01-06.AKG.P170.SBD.M…/