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If I had to choose one thing that truly makes me appreciate and love this musical community, it’d have to be its ever-broadening boundaries. The all-encompassing label of “Jamband” continually evolves to include everything from bluegrass to funk, organica to acoustic. A label, by definition, is a definition, and if this is indeed the case, then the Jamband label is moot at this point, more a reference to the overall scene than the music.
Exhibit A: I introduce to you the heavy, heavy boogaloo of the Sugarman 3. Pushing the envelope of the “jamband” moniker, the funky soul sounds of this quartet (yes, there are 4 in the “3”) will most certainly appeal to fans of bands like Galactic, KDTU, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress and their funky brethren.
I first saw Sugarman 3 last August in Chicago at Silver Wrapper’s phat Summer Funktion event. S3 opened the show, and were followed by the 20th Congress, Stanton Moore, Skerik and a whole mess of incredible musical cross-pollination. I’d flown in for the headliners, but left with a firm assessment of the opener: They had to come to Los Angeles, but quick! [You can actually hear me on the tapes from that show imploring Neal Sugarman to bring the band to L.A.] Well, after waiting all this time, my need for their particular brand of swingin’ boogaloo soul was sated not once, but twice. On February 1st, they brought their New York flavor to a midnight set at the Root Down -- a hip-hop/rare groove club, no less -- and the following night when they played a fat set at Temple Bar in Santa Monica.
Headed up by saxman Neal Sugarman, the Sugarman 3 deliver a sound heavily influenced by the rare-groove funk and go-go that I so love. They don’t sound like anyone else on the scene right now -- a GOOD thing, my friends. Nothing like a new groove to lock yer hips into, am I right? Performing songs off their Soul Donkey release as well as new material such as, say it with me now, Also Sprach Zarathustra. And lest you think they’re biting Phish’s rhymes, I spoke with Neal and when I told him that Phish also does "2001," he told me he’s never heard Phish before. Don't worry, I’ll burn him a show.
Good luck standing still when faced with Adam Scone’s scathing B3 whirlwind -- he’s definitely the Sugarman 3’s ace in the hole. Sugarman himself will make ya sweat, boys and girls. I strongly encourage fans of the funk to run-don’t-walk when the Sugarman 3 comes to your town. Don’t let yourselves be on the receiving end of those awful "Aw, man you MISSED it!" e-mails. Sugarman 3 is the real deal, son. They’re touring right now as the headlining act for a bunch of shows and opening for Robert Walter’s 20th Congress 2/10 - 2/17. Tell ‘em I sentcha. ...and don’t forget your go-go boots. You’ll thank me later.
Check out Sugarman 3 tour dates.
Now go see some live music, wouldja?
Gina Figliuolo
JamBase Los Angeles Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
Listen to Sugarman 3 on JamDr.com!
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