Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme served up the funk (video & photo slide show)

Joe Simpson AKA 'Eldridge Gravy' does his thing Photo: Greg Roth / SMI

By Greg Roth / SMI

There is nothing like ice cream, hot dogs, soda and music on a Fourth of July weekend in the Emerald City. The sun did it's best to hide out from the diverse Crowd at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle this past Saturday, July 3rd.

On thjs day the sun would not be denied, as it finally peeked through the clouds to shine the light on one of Seattle's most funkiest and fun bands, Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme.

The folks that came out to the Park  wanted the funk and that is exactly what they got as the band served up some of th funkiest and tastiest gravy west of New Orleans.

If Prince, The Temptations, George Clinton, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye were able to collectively form a band, it would sound something like EG and his court of merry funksters.

Their element...

Typically this eleven piece group that features the amazing rhythm section of bassist Wilson Mason and drummer, Ol' Pollina and fronted by Joe Simpson, AKA "Eldridge Gravy," does it's thing on the club circuit throughout the region. However, this group is right in it's element in a festival setting. The band delighted the festival crowd with a blistering set from the group's album, "Us is What Time it Is."  Moreover, this funky bunch also played it's most recent single "Exceptional" and an unreleased tune sung by "Lady Gravy."

Anyone that has heard the group on record knows that they are a brilliant funk and R&B unit. They deliver the goods live as well. Having a quality sound can be challenging for any sound man at an outdoor setting but the the band looked and sounded fantastic.

Those in attendance could feel the energy and the power of the group, while at the same time hear the instrumental and vocal nuances that the band delivers on record. Of course the impeccable horn section featuring "Yeager" on tenor sax, "The Colonel" on baritone sax, and "G.I.T." on trombone added the spice to "The Gravy."

The show also featured the tasty licks of "The Crime" on guitar, who lays down some of the cleanest and tightest rhythm tracks in the region. "Daddy Diddio" came up with some brilliant Hammond B3 sounding licks, as well as other retro-sounding textures that filled out the group's sound.

This fun, R&B and rock out fit was rounded out by the soulful sounds of "Lady Gravy", "Donnie Dollerstack" on backing vocals.

Nothin' but a party...

The band loved the festival setting and it showed. They looked like they were having even more fun than the crowd was, which is saying a lot because the folks that showed up looked like they were having a hoot. The group had an opportunity to show it's stuff to a new audience not necessarily exposed to the band's music prior to this day.

Of course, the band did have some of it's faithful fans in the audience to see their band bring the funk to a crowd, that after several cloudy days in the region, were ready for some funkshine. Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme did not disappoint.

What's next...

The group will be playing a benefit show at the Tractor Tavern on Saturday, July 17th along with The Georgetown Orbits, Darrius Willrich. Proceeds from that show will benefit Providence House & Sojourner Place.

The band will be embarking on a West Coast tour starting in August and will return to Seattle in September to play Bumbershoot on Sunday, September 5th on  at the Fisher Green stage at 12:30.

SMI TV  had the chance to chat with Eldridge and Lady Gravy after their performance. The video includes some footage of their show at Cal Anderson Park on July 3rd, 2010.

To find out more about Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme check out the SMI Radio interview that we did back in April, here.

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