The New Mastersounds The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD
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
