New York – Being a city filled with music and a very strong culture of it’s own, New Orleans has produced some crazy talented artists. The Revivalists, a seven piece band that’s been touring pretty nonstop for the past six years, is one of them. They draw heavily on the brass, jazz, and jam-based roots that the Big Easy is most well known for, and create soulful, high-energy originals that they have honed to precision in their live show.
When they performed at Brooklyn Bowl, it was like watching a soccer game when all the players are running back and forth across the field the entire time. These guys did not. Stop. Moving. Least of all front man David Shaw. He may have sung half a song or so while sitting Indian style on the floor of the stage, and also knew when to back off from front and center to let someone else have their solo in the spotlight, but for the most part he was the most active moving part of The Revivalist machine. He worked the stage, spilled his guts out into the microphone, frequently squatting down at the edge of the stage to sing and point to fans to acknowledge them, and slap all the outstretched hands every time. Often he held out the microphone for people to sing the lyrics into, and sure enough they knew every word. Then he’d turn around and sling a guitar on because the dude can really rip up a six string too.
All of that would have been impressive enough, but I would be terribly remiss to give off the impression that he was the only one running laps on stage. Fact: every member of this band kept up the utmost energy throughout the entire set. Guitarist Zack Feinberg was never close to slowing down lick after lick, Rob Ingraham was either dancing, hyping, or wailing on his saxophone; same goes for trumpet/keyboardist Michael Girardot, who also came around from behind his keys setup to dance and clap with a huge grin on his face. Drummer Andrew Campanelli kept the rhythm in check like it was no sweat, and bassist George Gekas generally kept his groove rocking upstage, but often came up to rock with pedal steel guitarist Ed Williams, who worked that shizz to the fullest, tilting his pedal steel setup forward toward the crowd, and standing on his seat going wild on that thing. With their combined energy, feeding off each other and off of the crowd’s exuberance, the musical fire was fueled to the roof.
As if that wasn’t even enough, out comes ten year old Brandon Biederauer to sit in on their cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post.” This kid was incredible. If he’s this good now, in ten more years or so tickets to his show may have to come with disclaimers that people attend at their own risk of having their faces literally shredded off. Or at least for their faces possibly being permanently stuck in an expression of awe.
The Revivalists did one more cover as the last of their nearly 20 song set, and vehemently requested encore: Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls On Parade.” At that point it was just total mayhem on the floor, and the show was sign sealed delivered for every last person that had been holding out on going nuts up until then. The band could feel it too, as it just felt like a free for all with everyone wildin’ out to the fullest extent. They delivered for the crowd, and the crowd delivered right back. That was one explosive show, bravo.
