If you're a regular here at the Audio File, you know that I always talk about the "Coachella Moment"--that perfect moment that defines the festival.
Wednesday night, I had my "South By Southwest Moment"--which was seeing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Stubb's.
The band is releaseing its new album, "I Learned the Hard Way," in early April. I got a sneak preview and it is just absolutely fantastic. I'me a huge fan of the band's most recent release, "100 Days, 100 Nights" and it tops that.
Anyway, why we care is that the Dap-Kings bandleader, bassist and producer, Gabe Roth, is a Riverside native. He also co-founded Daptone Records, the band's label which puts out incredible neo-soul records.
I ran into Gabe before the show and he said Austin has been crazy. We're trying to figure out a time to meet up and talk about the new record a little bit more.
Back to my point--if you haven't seen the band yet, do so.
Someone behind me in the crowd (and it was a packed crowd of thousands who waited in line to get in) proclaimed her to be the female James Brown. All she is missing is the cape. Seriously. She's that good.
The band opened up with two new tunes off "I Learned the Hard Way." Jones wished the audience a happy St. Patrick's Day and said she donned her green-sequined dress for the occasion.
They also gave a shout out to Riverside during their rendition of "This Land Is Your Land." If you've seen "Up In the Air," you'll know it. I think I might have been the only person who hooted and hollered when they said Riverside.
The band sounds like it came out of 1965. They record on analog equipment and only record as a whole band live in their studio in Brooklyn.
What really amazed me was watching how Gabe leads the band. He's up there playing bass, but he's also an incredible bandleader. When Jones took the crowd through a trip on the "Soul Train" and did some of the biggest dances ever (including the Mashed Potato and the Funky Chicken), with a nod of his head and the movement of his bass, the band would slow down or speed up.
Also, you have to love the natural moments--Jones lost her shoe while aboard the "Soul Train" and told the audience that wasn't going to stop her.
I couldn't get closer than this, but here's a sample of the show during one of the more mellow moments.



