|
Words & Images by Kerry Heffernan
Family Groove Company :: 03.09.06 :: Wilbert's :: Cleveland, OH
Family Groove Company :: 03.09 |
You may feel that something has been lacking in your musical endeavors lately, but after one listen, you will be satisfied with this band's stylings. You may have yet to be introduced to their music, but when you are, you will be blown away by their sheer talent. You may have yet to hear their name, but you will soon know who they are. I'm talking about Family Groove Company (FGC), and I'm telling you... Go out and see this band.
Dreamed up at the Musical Institute in Hollywood, California and brought to realization in Chicago, Illinois, FGC is a brilliant quartet made up of Jordan Wilkow (lead vocals, Rhodes, organ), Adam Lewis (guitar), Janis Wallin (bass, vocals), and Mattias Blanck (drums, vocals). If I had to describe this band's sound in one word, that word would be "clean." The music is pure, intricate, and extremely well thought out.
Although Family Groove Company's sound is easily summed up in the word clean, their style of music is a little harder to describe. It's definitely jazzy. It's funk and groove without a doubt. A little bluesy, there's no question about that. There's a gospel feel to it, and let us not forget the soul and rock & roll elements. Their style is all over the place, in an organized way, but what do you call a sound as diverse as this? FGC says, "It's groove-informed jazz rock," and that is a damn good description. As with all great improvisational composition, there is give and take amongst all of the musicians in FGC, and according to Janis, that is one aspect that the band truly focuses on. "We try to do that a great deal. You know, make sure the guitar part isn't stepping on the bass part and make sure everything's interlocking." Adam adds, "It's about leaving space and room for one another to play."
Janis Wallin :: 03.09 |
I had the true pleasure of witnessing this melding of sound firsthand at Wilbert's in Cleveland, Ohio on March, 9th. A red velvet curtain lined the back wall of the stage, and small candles adorned every table. With the lights dimmed low and the candles flickering, Wilbert's took on an air of an old 1920's jazz bar. I felt that if I listened hard enough, I could almost hear Billie Holiday singing in her sultry voice; however, I was quickly pulled back into reality because today's modern influences were all around. Leftover Mardi Gras decorations hung from the ceiling, and the Grateful Dead was playing in the background. This venue, a place that has seen the likes of Derek Tucks and Taj Mahal, provided a perfect outlet for Family Groove Company's creativity to roam free.
The first song of the night, "Remember Sue," started off with an old-school funk beat. Jordan's breathy falsetto played an interesting protagonist against the definitive thumping bass that's associated with groove rock, and it was in this song that the first glimpse of the "space and room for one another" idea came to fruition. There were no instances of stepping on toes. All of the instruments, even throughout the solos, were easily detectable. Usually, all a listener gets is one stand-out instrument (whichever one happens to be wailing away at the time) and a slight trickle of far away resonance from the other pieces, but not here. Family Groove Company was well aware of one another on stage, and they did a beautiful job of playing as a cohesive unit.
Demonstrating the true uniqueness of their sound, FGC moved from style to style in their song choices. "The Money Shuffle" was overtly bluesy in the beginning and then quickly switched to a fast-paced, lullaby tone. However, once the sound settled comfortably into its new genre, it abruptly switched back again to its blues-based beginnings. "Rumba," with its distinctive Latin flare, was another superlative example of this band's ability to instantly shift gears into an entirely new realm of sound. Mattias's timing was impeccable, and his addition of the hollow sound-block added to the beachy feel. In "Bird 'N' Diz" and a cover of Miles Davis's "All Blues," the band's inspirations from the roots of jazz were easily detectable. Both songs had a cool breeze feel, and both contained that unmistakable light jazz tap on the top of the high-hat. Listening to all of these songs, I realized how truly nostalgic this band was and how deep their love of music truly ran.
Adam Lewis :: 03.09 |
A cover of "Get Outta My Life" was, once again, bluesy at its core, but when the song really got cranking, there was no way that it could be dubbed as the blues. There were too many other elements. Adam, whose strumming style and basic body position reminded me of Widespread Panic's John Bell, produced some truly captivating guitar solos that added a little southern rock to the equation. The funk portion of the tune made it nearly impossible to refrain from bobbing one's head, and the jazz riffs on Jordan's keys created some well-placed dissonance in the song. Jams were also thrown into the mix, but as with the rest of the songs, there were no overpowering voices. Mattias's cymbal taps were the constants during the journeys that aided in keeping the focus on the whole, rather than one single element, and each band member had something worthy to contribute.
The bands' energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and they filtered out into the crowd throughout the night. The entire audience was completely enthralled in the music whether it wanted to be or not. Family Groove Company's sound was mesmerizing, and that made it impossible to not pay attention. Cheers were plentiful and smiles were abundant.
The last song of the evening, "Byron's Got the Time," showcased everything that Family Groove Company had to offer. Janis did an amazing job of keeping her beats rocking, and at the end of the song, she performed a run that completely blew minds. Her fingers flew effortlessly up and down her fret board like they were in fast-forward, and it was a completely unexpected surprise. Redolent of a sound created by the Dottie People's Choir, Jordan's organ added a gospel feel to every song of the evening, but this instance in particular blew the roof off. There was some definite church being held in Wilbert's, and for the audience members, it was the prime moment for getting down and boogying throughout the venue.
Family Groove Company :: 03.09 |
Watching FGC during their performance, I was reminded of a quote from the great Gregg Allman, "We're not a jam band. We're a band that jams." That is exactly the sentiment that Family Groove Company portrays in their explorations. There is a conscious effort to mesh the elements, rather than to have someone go off on his instrument for ten minutes. The term "jam band{" has kind of lost its meaning, and according to Jordan, that makes FGC more inclined to create a sound that transcends the typical jam band persona. "The term covers such a huge expanse of territory now. It seems if you're not Top 40 radio and you acknowledge the tour as the principal activity, it seems like that's all it takes and you're a jam band. That can include bluegrass, funk, pop, jam rock, so what does it really mean anymore?"
For Family Groove Company, it means no gratuitous solos. It means intently focusing on song-writing and composition because according to Adam, "That's what's really fun and engaging." FGC's music is unpretentious, and they are all honest and talented musicians who are in this business because it's what they love. Music is in their hearts and souls, and it shows through every action they take. Not only is FGC out there trying to make it as a successful touring band, they are also the sole proprietors of their business ventures. They run the entire commercial side of their world in addition to putting on some of the most impressive shows that I have ever seen. If that is not love for the music, then I don't know what is. Jordan puts it best, "We're doing something that is really dear to our hearts, and we hope that comes across to the fans." So, be a fan. Get out there and see this band. Pure talent like this doesn't grow on trees, and when a band can awaken your senses, then you know you've found something special.
JamBase | Cleveland
Go See Live Music!
|
