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by Jenny Buchan (Guest Critic)

Show Date: 5/8/09

Bill: Backside Pick, Fatty Lumpkin, Waters of Lake Minnetonka (Prince Cover Band)

I had one of those great nights while catching an album release party Friday night. You know, the kind of evening that leaves you grinning yourself to sleep and waking up the next morning with the tunes still bouncing through your head?

A Denton hot spot, Hailey's, hosted the delightfully funky Backside Pick's album release. The large crowd, already in the dancing mood thanks to the talented opening band, Fatty Lumpkin, greeted Backside Pick with enthusiastic wolf whistles and cheers, and for good reason. The first note quickly drew the mingling groups into a tightly huddled mass of happy people around the stage, already singing along.

Backside Pick's newest album is a smooth but twisting journey. Mellow grooves are woven artfully with thick bass lines and strident brass. Opening with old school, 70's style horns in the song "No Change", the palpable energy only grew as they slid into the killer intro to "Sweet Thang". Halfway through the set, Backside Pick gets melancholy and soulful, making "This Is The Way" an instant favorite. Of course, "Shake It" picks it immediately back up into pure fresh funk sound.

While playing the last song on the album, "Big Guns", a few members of the nine-piece band exit the stage, still playing their instruments, and enter the melee of the audience. Horns blaring, they boogied their way through the dancing crowd. The remaining members supported them from onstage. Rocky Ottley, guitarist and the lead vocalist, belts out the last lyrics with an inviting grin, while Mike Hodges on drums and Cooper Appelt on bass act as the foundation of funk, keeping the pressure rising until the final, sweet culmination that ends on a single bright and seamlessly harmonized note.

It is easily an album where you can discover something new to enjoy on each listen. Each track segues into the other effortlessly but not predictably, making this album very pleasing to listen to straight through, an important but all too often missed part of a first-class album. Be sure to catch them live. Backside Pick's enthusiasm is contagious; they obviously loved every second of performing.

Photos by Thorpeland Photography