Supermassive, one fun funk jam
We’ve said it before, Super Massive remains one the best local funky jam bands around. We’re saying it again because its worthy of repeating.
We caught the May Rong Tans show. The perfect place to catch a great band with a jam band vibe by the way. Super Massive started out playing to about 5 people at 10 o’clock. By midnight that number had swelled to triple digits leaving not a single parking spot vacant.
“We’re a late bloomer” Alonzo (percussion) told us. That’s probably because a strong jam band vibe comes on slow. You don’t just hit it and boom there it is. It creeps.
“Strong jam band vibe” is accurate if not understating Super massive’s talent.
Of course you will hear cover tunes that span across genres of reggae, rock and the great jam bands in the live shows. But the true jewels are Super Massive’s original work. Band members Jeremy Lacinak (Vocals/Guitar), John Gentry (Guitar), Nick Blasky (Bass/Vocals), Andrew Lenihan (Keys), Tim Hensley (Drums) and Alonzo Leggette (Percussion) come together as a well oiled machine. Smooth reggae grooves, scalding rock riffs and hard hitting bass bumps are laced with the funky drum work and tickled over with precise percussion. It’s hip as hell, cool as a frozen cucumber and hotter than a Scotch Bonnet smoothie.
The tracks Dog Eat Dog, Unk, Bad Men and Dem Wrong really show off the rock n roll in the bands blood. On the other hand, Gotta Have Time, Shine, All Night, Collie Mi Cutchie, and Night Walk sound like straight Jamaica joints, musically as well as lyrically. The cd’s sound is a reflection of the bands’ diverse influences. Jeremy explains: “This band started as a reggae cover band, so we know quite a few reggae tunes. The beauty of this was that it allowed us to focus on the feel and timing. To sink our teeth into the rhythms, and experiment with different beats and chord changes. It also left us with a decent repertoire of covers to sprinkle about the set, include Peter Tosh, Steel Pulse, Third World, Bunny Wailer, and of course Bob Marley. Lately we’ve been taking songs we like from other genres and arranging them as reggae tunes, such as “Dirty Work” by Steely Dan, and “Across the Universe” by the Beatles”.
They’re back at Rong Tan’s on Friday June 18th. For the schedule, music & more go to www.myspace.com/thesupermassive6.
