The Sunday Sound Clash at McChuills put the f-u-n into Funky as Jutebox brought their New Age tour to a close at Glasgow. What a fun-filled night, showcasing what Scotland has to offer in funk,disco, soul and ska.
Disco Mary
These guys have been making real waves since I saw them at Heartland Festival last summer including radio play on BBC Radio 6 and Jim Gellatly on Absolute Radio. An indie pop/funk collective from Glasgow, they didn’t have to venture too far for the show! They stand out due to their quirky nature (in the best possible way) and their ability to write catchy sing-a-long tunes. As a band they look like they are having the best fun playing with their pals – which to me is what it’s all about. For me, the only thing missing is the absence of a live drummer as the band currently plays to backing tracks which feels slightly robotic for a band that bring so much energy to the stage. They have released their latest single ‘Silent Alarms’, stream it now!
Sovirez
This five – piece brought all the soul for this Sunday sesh. A perfect blend of funk, soul and a lil sprinkle of jazz fusion for good measure – these guys are confident in their craft. Sovirez were an impressive band to watch, not only does the keyboard player also play trumpet at the same time – they also showcased an admirable range of influences within their set. Think somewhere between Stevie Wonder and Vulfpek with a slight underpinning of reggae at times. Sovirez are tiiiiight, their set list blended seamlessly and I appreciated the focus on showcasing as much of their material as possible within their set time! Want to check them out? You can see them at Nice n Sleazy’s in June with more of Scotland’s funk offerings.
Jutebox
Jutebox are back baby! If the rest of their New Age tour show were as good as this, then this is some, comeback for the band. Jutebox released their Soul Maintenance EP back in August last year, but unfortunately, not long after this the band lost several members and front man Dan was on the hunt for new musicians to keep this great project going. I’d say he’s struck lucky. This new six- piece line up are fierce. The set opened up with a fantastic new blues number that gave ample opportunity for each musician to be given 12 bars to shine – even the drummer – which I always appreciate. Each member of the band are talented in their own right but together, they are strong and possibly a force to be reckoned with.
Dan says Jutebox are a hybrid of funk,ska, indie and blues, and this was evident throughout their set paying homage to their ska roots with some classic Madness covers. Jutebox never failed to keep the crowd engaged and moving – I was an over achiever with my FitBit steps for the night. The crowd was in the palm of front man Dan’s hand as he encouraged everyone into a fun call and response singalong during the set.
This band was so locked in, creating strong grooves and showcasing new material along with the Jutebox numbers fan have grown to love. Jutebox closed their set in truly unique fashion: a cover of Guy Lombardo’s, Enjoy yourself (It’s later than you think), each band member introduce themself as they jam around the song – it was fun, unique and grabbed the audiences attention and had everyone dancing.
Jutebox are originally from Dundee but now Dan has emigrated west, it appears he has found his new band fam in Glasgow! I’m really pleased Jutebox has a new lease of life with gifted musicians. A band to watch, for sure.
