written by GigMaven guest-blogger Jonathan Goldman, photo by Amy Touchette
By day Jonathan Goldman is Assistant Professor of English at the New York Institute of Technology. By night he leads and plays trumpet in Spanglish Fly, NYC’s own Latin soul and boogaloo band. (http://www.spanglishfly.com)
Catch Spanglish Fly at R-Bar on Weds. March 31st for GigMaven Presents: the NYC Music:Tech Meetup
About 100 people crowded the back room of Union Pool last night for the debut of Smoota, but I imagine that years from now many more will claim to have attended. Smoota is the alter-ego of local semi-legend Dave Smith, a much in-demand trombonist known for his work with Burnt Sugar, the Red Baraat Festival, Chin Chin, the Reverend Vince Anderson, and others. Two years ago, alone in his bedroom, Smith (Smoota) recorded “Fetishes,” a suite of raunchy, unironic, unapologetic songs about sex and idiosyncratic desire. Last night, Smoota finally went public, backed by a trio; Kevin Blackler (keys), Mike MiWi Williams (bass) and Evan Howard (electro drums) successfully breathed new life into Smoota’s tuneful dirty psychedelic soul. (Imagine an updated Shuggie Otis but one with a willful, jagged, and endearing unprofessionalism.)
Ever been to a band’s first show where half the audience could already sing along with the lyrics? That happened at Smoota. It started with the incantatory, repetitive opening to “Pink Bra” and continued through the night’s finale, “These Are the Things (That Fuel My Desires)” – a musical litany that celebrates surgical scars and lovers who leave the bathroom door open while sitting on the can, among other fetishes.
The crowd’s early familiarity with Smoota’s tunes serves as testament to the grip he already has on his audience. Other testament comes in the form of my friend’s parting words as Smoota closed out the set. “G’night” she said to me, jerking a thumb toward her husband, “We gotta go have sex.”
Kudos also go to opening acts Afuche and and Sonia’s Party & the Everyone’s Invited Band. Sonia’s rendition of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Be Blind” never fails to hold an audience spellbound.
Tags: English language, Etta James, Latin, Music, New York City, Shuggie Otis, Trumpet, Union Pool
[...] a suite of raunchy, unironic, unapologetic songs about sex and idiosyncratic desire (via gigmaven.) Smoota is now a foursome with Kevin Blackler on Keyboard, my good friend Mike [...]