I Do Stuff…

The New Mastersounds marquee

I was very excited when I found out the New Mastersounds were coming back to town.  I saw them in early January up at the 8×10 and it was a great show.  A small club nicely packed with people that danced the night away to rhythmic beats.  So when I saw they where playing a slew of shows in the area I jumped at the chance to see them at the State Theatre.  They were playing the 8×10 the following night, but I decided to hedge my beats and catch the show closer to home on a Thursday.

Just like the first show at the 8×10, tickets were only $12 (playbill), a steel for any show, and with that ticket price it didn’t take much arm twisting to get Jeremy interested.  After the show in Baltimore I got a few albums and let him listen, he was hooked.  Then when I found the set posted on the Archive I gave him a copy to enjoy and for me to reminisce.

After a long week I was looking forward to the Thursday night show to let loose and have a little fun.  We arrived at what turned out to be real early.  The website and ticket both said music started at 8:30, but when we walked in the venue it was completely empty.  Obviously others new something we didn’t at the time.  The opening act, Higher Hands, was not even close to taking the stage when we arrived.  So it was already late before the show even began.  I felt bad that we arrived so early and had to sit and wait but there was nothing I could do about it.  There was no one else to talk to and my limited reserve of cash quickly plowed through the $6 Guinness I was drinking.  We did however spent a lot of time joking on the DJ spinning before the show started.  I thought the first guy was pretty good at time, there was a good 20 minutes during his set that was banging.  At times his buddy would jump in and twist a knob, literally that was all he would do.  We joked “Thanks for saving the day, you really had my back with that knob twist.”

The New Mastersounds

When Higher Hands finally took the stage at 9:40, the venue started to fill in, at least now people were on the dance floor and not just milling around the bar.  I have seen them several times before and they are……well, alright.  They need to refine their sound a little more, work on some new songs, and ditch the singer.  If they can do that they would be much better.  But to their credit they got the audience energized for a night full of funk.  After a short intermission and some more music by the DJ’s, this time by DJ JMack’s partner.  Finally the house lights went dead and the band walked on the stage.

There was not to a whole lot of fan fair.  Of course the audience cheered, I for one was all to happy to get the beats rolling and bring me back to life.  There was just no pomp and circumstance.  Each member casually walked over to their instrument, greeted the crowd and it was on after that.  For the first few songs I was sitting at our table on the side, tapping my foot.  By the third song I couldn’t take it any longer and I needed to get up and dance.  Their shows are filled with such energy it just makes you want to get on your feet.  For about the next hour and a half I danced my ass off into the wee hours of the morning.

The band didn’t take the stage till about 10:40 so

I was expecting a late show, just didn’t think it would go as late as it did.  As the night went on they played several of their hits and a few from their new album Ten Years On that is not yet available in the states.  By the end of the night I was ampped and ready for more.  The show didn’t end till 12:40 but I didn’t care, even if it was a school night and I had to be up early the next morning for work.  I could have danced for another hour easy.

This is the second time I have seen New Mastersounds and I will continue to see them because of their high energy levels.  They have this driving beat that makes you want to get up and dance to some funky stuff.  I am hoping they will return early next year for another US tour.

The New Mastersounds
State Theatre – Falls Church, VA
November 5th 2009

show start 10:40pm
show ends at 12:40am

I have been listening to the Soulsearching podcast with Michael Rutten for almost two years.  I found the podcast by accident while listening to Raute Musik’s Lounge station from Germany.  Michael has introduced me to a ton of good music and when I can find it on iTunes I get it.  One of the band that he has played several time is The New Mastersounds from Leads in England.  They have this jazz/soul/funk sound that just wont stop.  The few songs I heard on his program are funky with a rhythm and beat that wont quit.  After checking their website I found they would be touring the United States in January with a local stop in Baltimore at The 8×10.  With a kick ass band doing a US tour at a local venue and tickets only $12 it was a sign.  I needed to go to this concert.

The show was on Friday January 9th so it was a no brainer to make it an evening in Baltimore.  I left work about 6:30 to get up there.  I was a little worried about crossing the Woodrow Wilson bridge, but with the redesign getting across was a piece of cake.  Finding a parking spot in Federal Hill turned out to be a problem.  The one parking deck they have was filled up.  So I spent the next 45 minutes driving around the narrow streets looking for a parking space.  The ones that I did find were to small so I started to expand my circle looking for a spot.  I eventually found a spot about 8 blocks away near a high school.  After that long walk I was really hungry for some food.

Walking down the street I found this great little Thai place called Ten-O-Six, exactly what I was looking for.  When I walked by the front window I could see the chef cooking, that was what drew me to the restaurant.  When I walked in it was a tiny little place that was packed for a Friday night.  Being just one person I took a seat at the bar where I could see the chef work.  I ordered a duck dish that was amazing.  It came with some vegetables in a good sauce and rice.  Being Thia it was spicy, but a good level of spice.  Nothing to weak and not to strong, just the right amount.  And for $13 the price couldn’t be beat.  For desert I had the creme brulee that was fantastic.  I stumbled across this restaurant and I thoroughly enjoy the place, I highly recommend the place if you are in the Federal Hill area of Baltimore.

After a great meal it was time to head to the club.  I was running late, because of my parking situation, but didn’t mind.  The food more than made up for it and I was only missing the opening act, Higher Hands.  I saw them once opening up for Soulive back in August at the Rams Head Live also in Baltimore.  They are pretty good, but not high on my list of bands to watch.  So when I got there I got a beer and stacked out a spot.  Higher Hand only played a few songs and they where off, hell it didn’t even take long before The New Mastersounds came to the stage.

These guys played two sets that night and kicked ass.  They brought the funk all the way from Leads in England to this little venue in Baltimore and I was completely blown away by them.  The venue was packed with people dancing to the music.  Many of the songs I recognized from their album This Is What We Do.  The rest of them were just as good.  I wish I knew the setlist better because the second to last song ending the first set was great.  The jam in the middle was put together perfectly at the right time.  All I can say is if they come to your town make the trip to see them, you will not be disappointed.

After a long night it was time to head home.  I was thinking about heading over to Sabatino’s in Little Italy for a cappuccino and tiramisu, but getting back to my car at 2am all I wanted to do was get home.  I could barely make it home I was so tired.  When I finally did make it, it was lights out the moment my head hit the pillow.  My chance to see them again will happen soon.  They are announcing a three week US tour for March and I am pretty sure they will be back to Baltimore.  I will see you all there!

The New Mastersounds
The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD
Friday, January 9th, 2009

Set 1 (10:47 start)
01. Zambezi
02. Carrot Juice
03. All I Want (Right Now)
04. Miracles
05. Thermalbad
06. Coming Up Roses
07. Brother Soul
08. Baby Bouncer
11:45 end

Set 2 (12:08 start)
01. Thirty-Three
02. Hole In The Bag
03. Fastman
04. Six Underground
05. Turn this Thing Around
06. 3 on the B
07. You’ve Got It All
08. Eazin Down
09. Quantico VA
10. Nervous (remix)

Encore
12. One Note Brown (with jam intro)
1:35 end with encore