Even though it hit 95 degrees yesterday and there’s no chance of rain until next week, the dog days of summer haven’t hit yet. You can tell by the fact that there are still some good shows going on before the weekend.
This evening at Tipitina’s, two funk powerhouses that may not be on your radar are playing a double bill at the world famous venue on the corner of Napoleon and Tchopitoulas.
Gravity A has been gradually building up a fan base through steady gigging and stalwart musicianship led by guitarist about town, Danny Abel (he also plays with Khris Royal in Dark Matter among other bands). But what has changed the band in my opinion is the addition of bassist Bru Bruser. I saw their set at the French Quarter Fest and thought that they had improved exponentially.
Bruser is also the musical maniac behind Gov’t Majik (pictured)—the headliner tonight. This group mines the fertile territory of the late, great king of Afrobeat Fela Kuti. To say that Fela’s music is unique is an understatement. Merging American soul a la James Brown with Nigerian beats and producing many dozens of albums (most featuring only two long, winding songs that preceded the advent of jam bands by decades), Fela is an icon.
The thing about Gov’t Majik is that they are faithful to the sound of Fela’s bands like Africa 80 without becoming a tribute act like the recent Broadway production that featured Antibalas—another band indebted to Fela. Gov’t Majik does it their own way with original music inspired by the legend as well as stirring covers of some of his songs.
