It has been a long wait since Venture performed in Lawrence last May. Now lead guitarist and musician extraordinaire Billy Wassung is back in town and Venture is back in action! Thursday night Fatso's got a dose of a different scene than the sporty bar is used to. A large crew of funk fans took over the dance floor and rocked out for two sets of refreshing new party jams, making a hot festival of the cold winter night.
The combination of jam-band pros, Wassung, Martin Farrell on keys, Mark Hill (of The Floozies) on drums and Garrett McKinzie (of G.E.M.) on bass brought out a big crowd and filled the roomy venue with smoothly collaborated jams. Venture's debute performance at Fatso's last May was similarly impressive, with the band flexing their improvisational muscles. This time the band took it even further, working together like a team of weathered pros on their 50th tour. The bandmates have worked together and practiced before, but their performance was a unique expression of the jam band's musical energy, rarely found. Knowing these artists, every show after will be a fresh new experience.
Kicking off the show with an upbeat, energetic tune, the band lured the crowd to the dance floor fast. Venture enjoyed a following of friends and fans even larger than last time. The whole bar was dominated by folks who are not Fatso regulars. The jams combined funky bass and jazzy keys backing up the flowing melodies and solos of the guitar all follow the drums' driving rhythm. Clearly Wassung has not lost any of his touch, far from it, this performance was even more inspired than the last one this reviewer saw. Wassung has refined his already-polished guitar skills much to the smiling crowd's excitement.
The bar was alive with musical energy as the band rolled out slick songs of the funky persuasion. A crowd of ladies took front and center on the dance floor, swinging and shaking to the rocking, groovy beats. Gradually, sometimes in shifts, crowds of music-lovers took to the floor for an up-close Venture experience. It was a party all the way until the set-break and as soon as the band returned to the stage, the audience was raging again. Venture's sets filled up the night all on their own. It is positive that this band can take on any venue in town and throw down for even larger audiences. If you missed Venture last May and last night, there may be more chances to catch this fantastic party again, so keep your eyes open!
Now for Previews:
Tomorrow Heyoka will be playing with Spankalicious and Nmezee at the Bottleneck. Expect a whole lot of bass and some hot, dance-able electronica all night long. This show may be the hottest place to warm up Saturday night. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Looking ahead, next Friday there will be two exciting shows splitting the crowd downtown. Fuzz Nasty will be playing at the Jazzhaus at 10 p.m. Meanwhile Old Country Death Band will be playing with Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy and Blue Boot Heelers at the Replay Lounge. Both shows ought to be fun, but it depends on your taste in music that evening. Funky jazz, or bluegrass roots.
See you out there!
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