Published:
February 5, 2010
Opening for Dumpstaphunk was Fatty Lumpkin, bringing the jam to a lively crowd. Seth Myers' voice is unusually expressive; you can feel every emotion seeping out of him as he sings and plays his bass. His voice reminds me of Jim James' from My Morning Jacket, always containing more than a hint of bittersweet longing. Guitarist Kelyn Crapp kills us over and over with his gnarly shreds and a voice as deep and smooth as velvet. While the two voices sound very different, they compliment each other nicely. Matt Dixon is all over the drum set, his drumsticks almost an extension of his body. I loved watching his restrained energy expand and eventually break open when he transitions from a laid-back groove to a tremendous cacophony of sound. I suspect he was a punk rock drummer in a past life...While it seems I can't say enough about this promising group of musicians, I do have one suggestion: the only thing Fatty is lacking is volume in the vocal mics. Turn 'em up, we want to hear what you're saying!
Fatty plays this Saturday at Poor David's Pub in Dallas in the Waka Winter Classic. They will compete with four other bands for a spot at the 2010 Wakarusa Music Festival. The competition is based on attendance: everyone who shows up gets to vote, the band with the most votes wins! Fatty played at Waka in 2008, and they're anxious to go back. There's even a FREE party bus shuttling between Dallas and Denton, so if you want a spot holler at Fatty. They'll also be releasing their first full-length album on March 5th at Hailey's. This is a CD release party you won't want to miss: not only is it in celebration of Fatty's highly-anticipated LP, but they'll be sharing the stage with Backside Pick and Hatch. A little birdie told me there might even be a special guest DJ spinning in between sets. Come on out!
Moosehound was up next, another local band that makes me so glad I live in this musical utopia we call Denton. Moosehound is truly unique, fusing so many styles of music so masterfully that I really can't classify them as one specific genre. It's obvious that every member was or is involved in the illustrious UNT Jazz Studies program, making them a musician's favorite. They're a band that has so much badass shit going on onstage that it's hard to decide who to watch. And that's a good thing, because it keeps the audience on their toes. I never know if Phil Aelony's going to blow my hair back with yet another astonishing guitar solo or if Ryan Hagler is going to redefine my idea of what a bass player can do. Brian Donohoe's ethereal sax solos float on the top of Chris Villanueva's nonpareil piano playing. Drummer Steve Pruitt faced the rest of the group, smiling or grimacing appropriately as he played the life out of the drums. Moosehound is enthusiastically agitated and chaotic, but there's a method to their madness. Everyone is putting out their own sound, and the combination is fiercely brilliant. While I never know exactly how they're going to shock and awe, one thing is certain: they're going to kill it. Every time. Moosehound is intently aware of their enigmatic yet constantly resplendent performances, simply stating "We are a band. That much is clear. The rest is up for debate." Moosehound's CD Telepathy Pageant is available in iTunes and CD Baby.
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk was headlining, a band from New Orleans that describes themselves as "crushin' funk" on their website www.dumpstaphunk.com. Kelyn Crapp of Fatty Lumpkin described them as "grimy funk". I couldn't agree more- there's something decidedly ferocious and raw about this band that can't be described as simply as funk. It's not just their phenomenal talent, but their stage performance and presence as well. What's incredible about this band is how quickly and easily they attained and held every audience member's attention throughout the entire show.
Of course, hearing about a band that's played everywhere from the New Orleans Jazz Fest to Red Rocks Amphitheatre to LA's Key Club would be enough to pique anyone's interest. But Dumpstaphunk didn't just live up to the hype: they took our expectations, scoffed, and set the bar higher than anyone I've seen play in a long time. They played with so much force and panache the audience couldn't help but scream and cheer after every mind-boggling solo. But it was the little extras that really made the show extraordinary-their interaction with the crowd was exactly the kind of thing that most bands aspire to. Not only did they have us all chanting "Put it in the dumpsta" in perfect time (which almost never happens, especially towards the end of a $3 doubles night), but they invited several ladies up on stage to dance, adding fuel to an already blazing fire.
Dumpstaphunk is currently on a cross-country tour, but unfortunately without any plans to come back to Denton. If you happen to catch them playing somewhere, I assure you it will be unforgettable. Want the 'phunk but don't want to wait? Check out their CD Listen Hear available on iTunes.
Photos by Ben Bohorquez with Jammin' Photography
