Perpetual Groove Makes Triumphant Return To Brooklyn Bowl

Images by: Andrew Blackstein

Perpetual Groove :: 10.09-10.15 :: Brooklyn Bowl :: Brooklyn, NY

Read Scotty’s take on PGroove at the Bowl after the gallery. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”35″ gal_title=”20151009 Perpetual Groove Brooklyn Bowl”]

Here’s a sentence I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to type again: “I saw two Perpetual Groove shows this weekend.”

There was time the likelihood of the quartet reforming seemed as likely as the possibility of pigs flying. When the band broke up in 2013, its frontman was in a bad way. At that point I was just hoping Brock Butler would survive let alone get back together with bassist Adam Perry, drummer Albert Suttle and keyboardist Matt McDonald. Well the human spirit Is strong and PGroove is back.

Perpetual Groove turned in a pair of powerful performances at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City Friday and Saturday nights. Butler and Co. already have their sealegs under them a mere ten shows into the unlikely reunion. The quartet uncorked inventive setlists that told a story each night and showed off the songwriting skills that separate PGroove from the rest of the jam pack.

Friday’s show both opened and closed with the TV On The Radio cover “Trouble.” It was hard not to think about what Butler has been through as he sung the lyrics “the devil’s got my number” and “all this borrowed time, it’s been running out. It’s the ending of the show.” Yet there’s a theme of hope and redemption within the song thanks to its “everything’s gonna be okay” refrain. Meanwhile, on Saturday, the group kicked off the show with “Life” and ended it with “And Everything” which is the same sequence found on their 2004 studio album All This Everything.

PGroove is the “emo jamband” as they infuse so much emotion both into the lyrics and music of their songs. “It Starts Where It Ends,” which began Set Two on Saturday, is a perfect example as the tune tells a story to which listeners can easily relate. Even instrumentals such as “Robot Waltz” and “Mr. Transistor” are filled with soul and a vibrancy you don’t hear much these days from up-and-coming acts. One of the band’s newest compositions, “Paper Dolls,” showed the PGroove songwriting well is far from dry.

Suttle, McDonald and Perry didn’t take much time off after the breakup as instead they formed Ghost Owl and toured behind the project. That might explain why there was little rust and such a strong rhythmic connection between Albert and Adam. Brock seemed ready to go from the start as he smiled more within the first few songs on Friday than I’d seen him smile at entire shows near the end of PGroove’s first run. He joked around with his bandmates throughout the run and at least from an outsider looking in, it appeared all is well between the foursome.

Some bands are known for their ability to perform spot-on covers, while others add their own spin to songs from other acts. PGroove is in the latter category as they made “Trouble,” Peter Gabriel’s “Digging In The Dirt” and LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends” their own. “Digging In The Dirt” was a standout in Brooklyn thanks to the emotion Butler threw into his vocal delivery, the powerful drumming of Suttle, the dynamic bass work of Perry and the subtle layers infused into the mix by McDonald. Matt also showed off his guitar skills during the jubilant “All My Friends” on Saturday night.

If Friday and Saturday’s performances are any sign of what’s ahead, the future is bright for Perpetual Groove. 2015 has seen the group play a number of weekend runs to test the waters. Here’s hoping they dive in full blast in 2016.

Setlists

Friday

Set One: Trouble > Three Weeks > Speed Queen, Holy Ship, Lemurs, Two Shores

Set Two: Sun Dog, Diggin in the Dirt, TTFPJ, A Day the Way > Robot Waltz

Encore: Out Here > Trouble

Saturday

Set One: Life > Man With All The Answers, TSM2, Paper Dolls, Walkin in Place, Stealy Man

Set Two: It Starts Where it Ends, Mr. Transistor, Cairo, All My Friends

Encore: Teakwood Betz > …and Everything