The Granada got a mixed bag last night, when four groups performed a pre-party celebration for Festy Fest, which starts today. The bands playing varied in style and quality, but the entire show was free, which meant a lot of happy listeners from all walks of life. The switch from the big bands of bluegrass styles to the electronic designs of a few DJs seemed a little jarring in the concert setting, but it was a realistic sample of the variety of sounds to be expected at music festivals like Festy Fest. Sadly the quality of music took a sharp turn for the worse after the two opening bands, but like they say, 'You get what you pay for.' Thankfully the opening acts were a bargain for free.
The show began with Cowgirl's Train Set, a bluegrass group with a lot of potential. The big band includes a stand-up bass, a saxophone, harmonica and banjo. There's also violin, guitar and vocals. All blending together, you have a sound that's both familiar and unique. Cowgirl's Train Set started the show off early, for a small crowd, but the band poured their hearts out in their set. The opening band deserved a bigger audience, but their fans cheered them heartily at the finale of their set.
Next up was Dumptruck Butterlips an extraordinary four-piece group utilizing stand-up bass, an accordion with keys, guitar and washboard. The vocals of the different musicians added a sonorous leading melody to the instrument's combined powers, creating soulful folk bluegrass of the highest calibre. Dumptruck Butterlips' quintescential sound feels like the stuff of a classic movie soundtrack. To top off the beautiful music, washboard player Surka also has a knack for dazzling crowds with her hula-hoop expertise. She's performed alongside other bands in the past but last night's show was stunning. Dumptruck Butterlips hosts a variety show and jam session at the Jazzhaus on Sunday nights.
Sadly, after all the glorious bluegrass-flavored music, the show at the Granada derailed while trying to switch gears. Brent Tactic played a set of DJ mixes that, while occassionally featuring bass-heavy, dance-able goodness, were mostly weak, lack-luster time-killers. The audience was united in their disinterest for this one-man act and the dance floor was at its emptiest between 11 p.m. and midnight, while this set dragged on. Finally the DJ finished and the crowd cheered for the headliner, impatiently overlooking the dance floor and stage from the railings by the bar.
The EZ Brothers are a fairly well-known duo out of Kansas City. For their show last night they featured a live drummer accompanying their DJ work. While this show definitely was a step up from the previous DJ, these guys still did not meet the audience's expectations. A slow start, followed by lengthy, repetitive beats filled most of the last hour of the show. Including the live drums with the DJs' beats meant a lot of rhythm and little melody. The odd whomping, stomping good part of a song would take the crowd up to a climax, but for some reason the EZ Brothers' do not seem to like climaxing for long. Their songs would drop back into repeating bland beats, just when they were getting good. The short, awkward switches left the half-full dance-floor uncertain if they should even bother trying to find their groove, or if the song would change to another mindless, droning beat.
Before long people were leaving the show early to find better places to spend their night. Thankfully there was a worthy show still raging at the Jazzhaus. Cory Phillips, a full band including some of the members of Fuzz Nasty as well as a singer and guitarists, held a full Jazzhaus in rapture throughout the night.
This weekend the music rocks on, with Festy Fest playing tonight, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Be there or be square!
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