Snarky Puppy/House of Waters @ Sage Gateshead, May 3

Chris Bullock, Bob Reynolds  (tenor); Mike “Maz” Maher (trumpet/flugel); Justin Stanton (trumpet/ keyboards); Bill Laurance (keyboards); Chris McQueen (guitar); Michael League (bass); Larnell Lewis (drums); Marcelo Woloski (percussion).

(Review by Hugh C/collage by Lance & Steve T).

The Brooklyn-based collective returned to Gateshead three years after their knockout performance in Sage 2.  The last time they were here, bassist Michael League told us, they had looked admiringly into Sage 1, little knowing that they would be back with a near capacity crowd on levels 1 and 2.

Snarky Puppy's considerable retinue of equipment was already on the stage at the start of the concert.  House of Waters' gear flowed away during the interval.  The stage was set, the house was full and this time the band entered to enthusiastic applause and vocal encouragement.  They proceeded to play a more or less continuous ninety minutes of high octane music, the majority from their latest album, Culcha Vulcha.

I attended this event on the recommendation of a friend, and was not disappointed.  Their product is best described (I think) as jazz-funk-rock.  Synthesisers feature quite a lot imparting an almost prog rock-like atmosphere at times.  Sage One had opened part of the floor at the front as a mosh pit for those who preferred to stand.  Individual solos were delivered all round, including a splendid sparring match between percussion and drums near the end.

The band were admirably supported by newly signed GroundUP artists, House of Waters.  Michael League (entering the house to unexpected silence) introduced the newcomers and their novel format of hammer dulcimer (Max ZT), six string electric bass (Moto Fukushima) and drums (Luke Notary).  The trio played the first 30 minute set before the interval.  They featured both previous material and tracks from their latest, eponymous, album. 

Try/Buy

I was not expecting to write a review, and therefore took no notes.  Luckily, Snarky Puppy have brought their recording engineer with them and are releasing downloads of each of their UK dates on the following day.  Glasgow's was not of sufficient quality to release, but Gateshead and Manchester are both available in MP3 or FLAC format.  This epitomises the progressive attitude of Snarky Puppy and their label, GroundUP.  Their promotion and support of up and coming bands is exemplary.  In the fevered post-Brexit referendum, pre-election political atmosphere I am glad to say that no conventional politics entered the hall.  However, just before the encore there was some political oratory from Michael League – the audience were reminded that musicians receive very little from streaming sites (the main beneficiaries being the owners of the sites themselves and the large record companies releasing their back catalogues) if we want music to survive and thrive then buy the product (physical or digital) from the musicians themselves and tickets for live performances, right?

Sage Gateshead performance available here.

Set list:

1.      Binky

2.      Semente

3.      Whitecap

4.      Beep Box

5.      Tarova

6.      Palermo

7.      Young Stuff

8.      Big Ugly

——

9.      Shofukan

From Michael League:

 “Our first time in Gateshead/Newcastle in 3 years, finally playing the big room at the famous Sage. Standing audience down front, seating behind and on the sides. Michael eases Binky in. Bullock and Maz play on it. The band really takes its time on the gradually waning outro section. Things get weird. Semente gets a solo from Bill on Rhodes. Bob Reynolds plays on Whitecap. Beep Box is extra spacious on the outro with Justin and McQueen laying out for a bit under Maz’s solo. Tarova is slow and funky. Bill takes a Moog solo. Palermo is a highlight. Bullock takes the solo and Marcelo plays around the crowd’s clapping on the outro. Bob takes the first solo in Young Stuff and Justin takes a rare Moog solo on the vamp. Big Ugly gets two solos from McQueen after Maz takes the vamp. Justin plays on Shofukan, then Larnell and Marcelo duel it out to close out the evening. A beautiful sounding room with a lively crowd”.

Hugh C