The Revivalists Decree Brooklyn Bowl Show Year's Best

When I saw Galactic enrapture Terminal 5 earlier this year, they were accompanied on vocals by a man named David Shaw. I was flabbergasted at how such a booming, soulful voice could come from this super-lanky whiteboy. So when I found out that Shaw's band, the Revivalists, were headlining Brooklyn Bowl, I knew I had to go.

Halfway through the opening number "Catching Fireflies," I learned that the rest of the Revivalists were on par with the spectacle of Shaw. The stage was flanked by two of the New Orleans band's liveliest members, Ed Williams on pedal steel and Rob Ingraham on saxophone. Williams often leaned so hard into his instrument that it teetered dangerously on two legs, while Ingraham whirled his woodwind around to amp up the other half of the room. Although their sound would be classified as rock, it was definitely imbued with that NOLA party attitude. Most songs were rife with call-and-response sections and just dancey enough to have everyone grooving on a Friday night. Welcoming us into "Chase's House," David removed his button-down shirt to reveal a white V-neck. "This is probably the funnest show we've played in a long time. My cheeks hurt from smiling. Straight up," he admitted.

The show may have been opened by 14-year-old guitar prodigy, Bobby Paltauf, but the Revivalists introduced to the stage an even younger axeplayer, 10-year-old Brandon Niederauer. Although it would be trite to say that they whipped the crowd into a frenzy as they tore into "Whipping Post," it would also be entirely accurate. Young Niederauer closed his eyes like an old bluesman, his fingers moving nimbly along the fretboard as he traded licks with Williams and Zack Feinberg. "How do you follow that?" asked a stunned Shaw, taking a rare break between songs. They rightfully chose to pull back a bit with "Soulfight." Just six songs after his initial review, Shaw clarified, "So I've gotta say this. It's definitely the funnest show we've played in a long time." Having played for almost two hours, the band closed out the set with fan favorites "Appreciate Me II" and "Criminal."

They couldn't stay away for long, however. "Best show all year for sure. Definitely best crowd," confirmed David. The Revivalists launched into the rap/rock "All in the Family" to snag one last batch of participation from the audience. As the tune neared its end, Shaw shouted, "Are you ready for this, Brooklyn?" I don't think any of us were. David peeled off his t-shirt, and they stampeded into "Bulls on Parade." Let me tell you, you've never heard the song like this. With powerful blasts of bari sax and Tom Morello's solo played on lap steel, it consummated an already terrific night of music. It may even end up on my best performances of the year list, right beside "Does It Really Make a Difference," which Shaw sang at Terminal 5.

THE REVIVALISTS - 11.22.13 - BROOKLYN BOWL (2 hours, 10 minutes)

SET -

Catching Fireflies / Stand Up / Concrete (Fish Out of Water) / When I'm Able / Chase's House > Sunny Days / Bullet Proof Vest / Not Turn Away > Common Cents / Navigate Below > Upright / Keep Goin' / Whipping Post (feat. Brandon Niederauer) / Soulfight / Soul's Too Loud / Two Ton Wrecking Ball / Appreciate Me II / Criminal

ENCORE - 

All in the Family > Bulls on Parade

Galactic, Toots, & Nigel Hall Astound at Terminal 5

Rarely do you go to a concert where every band puts on an excellent show with top-notch musicianship and stage presence.  Last night at Terminal 5, Galactic, Toots & the Maytals, and Nigel Hall Band were that amazing rarity.

With the subway trains behaving badly, I didn't want to be late, so I sprinted to the venue.  I was frisked excessively by the security guard, but got in at 7:59 for the 8:00 show.  Unfortunately, when I opened the door, Nigel Hall Band were already laying it down thick.  It was the least crowded I'd ever seen Terminal 5, which is actually not a bad thing.  Your loss if you missed it though.  Nigel sounds like Stevie Wonder.  Sometimes you could even catch him waving his head from side to side as he chirped along on his Korg CX-3.  Highlights included the funky "Layaway," a tease of "If I Only Had a Brain," and the closer, a grooving take on Maze & Frankie Beverly's "Back in Stride."  "It's gonna be a full-out rage tonight," forewarned Hall as he left the stage.

The crowd swelled to its standard (way too many sardines in the can) for Toots & the Maytals.  A reggae legend (He was the first to ever record the word "reggae" in a song.), Toots Hibbert has one of the greatest singing voices of all time, and I'm happy to report that at 70 years old, he sounds even better than he did on the Maytals' LPs from the 1960s and '70s.  Time has ripened his already rich vocal palate, and he made his way deftly through hit after hit: "Pressure Drop," "Time Tough," "Pomp & Pride," "Sweet & Dandy."  Seriously, awesome.  Toots picked up a guitar and led the band on a laid-back "Bam Bam" that just floored me.  "There's peace in this music," said a guy behind me, who obviously didn't know that "bam bam" is patois for "fight."  To be fair, the narrator of the song is a peaceful man... until you trouble him.

"Has anyone ever been to Jamaica?" questioned Hibbert before taking us on a medley that ended in a full-crowd singalong of "Take Me Home, Country Roads," with "West Virginia" obviously modified to "West Jamaica."  The "You Are Just Looking" part of the song cycle even featured some prog guitar reminiscent of Phish.  "If you have a lighter, this is the time you can take it out and strike.  Let your love light shine," directed Toots.  Lighters swayed in the crowd for "Light U Light," but they were quickly extinguished when the band segued into "Monkey Man" so we wouldn't literally ignite.  We were all skanking so much, we might as well have been on fire.  Toots and band left the stage after an hour+ set.

Guitarist Carl Harvey returned a minute later to prod the crowd: "Are we done or do you want one more?"  Of course we wanted more, so we cheered until the Maytals came back.  After teaching us to sing the "la la la" intro to new song "Jumpy Reggae," Hibbert said with a smile, "You have so much talent down here.  I want to take you to Jamaica."  If there was anyone in the audience at that point who wouldn't have taken him up on the offer, they would've changed their minds after the crowd-pleasing "54-46," which was capped off by the uptempo gospel of "Got to Feel It."

Just like the previous two bands, Galactic fired on all cylinders.  Kicking things off with the staccato horns of "Karate," they established the tone for a fun-filled set of Louisiana funk.  Vocalist David Shaw of New Orleans' band the Revivalists kept the party rolling on "Hey Na Na," and really shined on a cover of "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City."  Looking like Michael Showalter with a perm, you would've never expected him to continue so perfectly in the night's tradition of full, soulful voices.

"Keep Steppin'" was probably my favorite song of the set, with Corey Henry gunning down the crowd with rapid-fire blasts from his trombone.  Shaw returned for a twisted "I Am the Walrus," segueing into "Heart of Steel."  They played a new song "Nobody Knows But Me," and followed that with the dynamic jam "Funky Bird" from their first record.  Amped up from the high-energy final measures of "Bird," Jeff Raines took his turn with the hard-edged rocker "Shibuya."  Corey took the mic to rap "From the Corner to the Block," and passed it to Shaw to lead the crowd on a cover of ODB's "Got Your Money."  And then he sang "Better Off Dead."  Not many singers can transition so smoothly from Ol' Dirty Bastard to Bill Withers, but then again, not many singers have the chops that David Shaw has.  "Ooh Nah Nay" finished the set, complete with extended solos from Robert Mercurio and Stanton Moore.  Corey Henry grabbed the mic, shouting, "Thank you, music lovers!  Give it up one time!  Galactic in this bitch!"

And even though they left the stage, it wasn't time for them to leave this bitch.  Less than a minute later, the band returned to tremendous applause.  "Nobody wants to go home, do they?" asked Shaw.  Not yet.  Galactic delivered an impeccable "Does It Really Make a Difference" and then sent us home rocking with "When the Levee Breaks."  What a fantastic night of music.

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS - 04.13.13 - TERMINAL 5 (1 hour, 27 minutes)

SET -
Pressure Drop / Time Tough / Pomp & Pride / Sweet & Dandy > Reggae Got Soul / Never Get Weary / Bam Bam / Funky Kingston / One Eye Enos / Louie, Louie > I Love You & I Know You Love Me Too* > You Are Just Looking* > Take Me Home, Country Roads / Light U Light > Monkey Man

ENCORE -
Jumpy Reggae* / 54-46, That's My Number > Got to Feel It

GALACTIC - 04.13.13 - TERMINAL 5 (1 hour, 40 minutes)

SET -
Karate / Hey Na Na / Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City / You Don't Know / Keep Steppin' / I Am the Walrus > Heart of Steel / Nobody Knows But Me* / Funky Bird / Shibuya / From the Corner to the Block > Got Your Money / Better Off Dead / Ooh Nah Nay > Bass Solo > Drum Solo > Ooh Nah Nay

ENCORE -
Does It Really Make a Difference / When the Levee Breaks