Lemon City Trio: As Good As It Gets
[Many thanks to archivist Tim Mulaly for the great video of “Pups.”]
I have often expressed the notion that, when hearing live music, the band sometimes delivers a performance that is, in the moment, “as good as it gets.” Perhaps you have entertained similar thoughts.
Friday, January 23, Lemon City Trio were absolutely “as good as it gets.” This organ trio based in Miami have been on the scene since their first recording, Welcome to the Neighborhood, emerged in 2017. Since then, the group have played hundreds of shows and festivals. They deserve a wider audience; in fact, they were scheduled for Charlotte and Roanoke this week, but the likelihood is that the huge winter storm will erase thousands of shows and concerts, including theirs.
Also, screaming from the rafters, THEY BELONG ON JAM CRUISE.
Back to your regularly scheduled review.
The crowd was packed for a Friday night in the pub at Dunedin Brewery as the trio opened with a cover of a hip hop track by Freddie Gibbs, “Crime Pays.” From the first note it was clear that they were ON. Then they grabbed the first of four tunes they would play from Welcome to the Neighborhood, followed by drummer Aaron Glueckauf introducing the band and welcoming us to the show. Throughout the evening, Glueckauf demonstrated just how much you can create with a stripped-down kit.
Keyboard wizard Brian Robertson was surrounded by his toys: a Sequential Take 5, a NORD electro5, and a Moog, which he used all evening for its bass synth capabilities. Also in the mix were the refurbished Hammond B3 and Leslie cabinet donated to the brewery by Harv Majeski, who was in attendance. With apologies to The Grateful Dead, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE SOUND OF A HAMMOND B3. Time and again Robertson evoked magic from it, beginning with “Jawn.”
They dove into deep funk with “Flying Free,” with Nick Tannura wailing on guitar. Those three tunes were from Welcome to the Neighborhood; it was time to unveil a tune from new recording Boomerang: “Bubblecat.” This one slowed the tempo down a bit, with everybody heard to great advantage. Then Robertson poured over his clavinet and synths for the vibes of “Thundercat.” It was back to B3 and an earlier tune, the deeply grooved “16zz,” followed by “Clark ’N Wezzle” fusion.
Glueckauf announced an upcoming set break, saying we might recognize the next tune. What rolled out was a superb, heavy “Come Together,” worked over first by Robertson with plenty of Glueckauf flourishes before Tannura took the last round.
The second set opened with three tracks from Postcards (2023), first with “Dunes” and then “Marigold.” Somehow Robertson got great harpsichord effects on that one. “Prika” was more deep funk fusion. They returned to Boomerang for ballad-like “Glow” and then more fusion (!!) with “Ascent.” That in turn transitioned into a fine “Snake Dance.”
During “Road House,” another ballad, Harv and I continued to compare notes. They meshed so effortlessly, he noted. The other notable aspect, one you have certainly seen on the face of many musicians, is that ear-to-ear smile appreciating how deeply they are digging the groove and communication. New tune “Raindrops” allowed Robertson to splash keyboard colors all over the pub. “Moctar” began almost as a country tune before they settled into the jam.
Next they offered a John Scofield tune I had never heard before, “Al Green Song.” As the title suggests, it evoked memories of a number of great songs from the R&B legend’s catalog. “Lemoneapolis” is also from their debut album. It is a hard fusion piece, but this one was ridiculous! Robertson took a long solo on the Moog bass synth (think “Flashlight”). WOW!
Glueckauf again thanked the attentive audience for coming to the show, also heaping deserved praise on sound engineer Chris Fama and the entire staff. With that, synths abounded on new song “Pups,” so good. Gluechauf then read the room and asked, “Want to hear one more?” HELL, YEAH! They threw another great tune our way, “Prototype,” and everyone left sated.
THIS IS THE WAY.
[LC3: ONE: Crimes Pays, Welcome to the Neighborhood, Jawn, Flying Free, Bubblecat, Thundercat, 16zz, Clark ’N Wezzle, Come Together; TWO: Dunes, Marigold, Prika, Glow, Ascent, Snake Dance, Road Home, Raindrops, Moctar, Al Green Song, Lemoneapolis, Pups; E: Prototype]
