I roped True Groove Record’s Tomas Doncker into joining me at Le Poisson Rouge for West Coast band King’s New York debut and Tomas, who knows a thing or two about music, was bowled over: “Hardcore neo-soul with a very nice vibe” he claims early in the 30 minute set. And then after the show, he turns all fan boy on me, congratulating the sisters and vocalists Paris and Amber Strother and synth player one woman band Anita Bias. Like Alyson Camus in her June 3rd review, he references Stevie Wonder, but unlike Alyson, he is discussing the keyboard sound and not the songs themselves.
During the set proper Tomas is enthralled by the lovely two part harmonies jazzing after themselves with melody, counter melody, and yes, there is another melody in there. “The melody isn’t strong enough”, I claim.
“Ypu’re wrong, there is too much melody, too many melody lines”.
Still, I can’t think of an opening band who has received a more heartfelt and rapturous welcome than King received in their opening slot for Laura Mvula. The sold out room was already filled, those who knew the EP The Story, roared for favorites like, King’s best song, “Hey” and those who didn’t were mesmerized by a sound that was intricate without being bewildering. “A little too loud?” I asked Tomas. “No, it is fine. Anita is a bad ass, she is killing it”.
From very early, from the second song “Supernatural” the band seemed sweetly surprised by the approval of the audience , sharing secret smiles between themselves. And the audience is more knowledgeable than your average fans, asked to clap along to “The Story” they are holding the rhythm on the third beat, not the second.
The twins voices are not identical, Amber has a touch more undertow and Paris is a little sweeter, but they play them like two arms on a body and when one takes the lead in a song it is only to give the other the chance to catch up. It feels like a jazz type play but that is because they are scanning through the songs and laying on the melody. The problem is exactly what you would think it is with neo-soul, the songs aren’t there. Or maybe I am being unfair. The songs aren’t where I want them to be. Tomas told me a story about how when asked at the Grammy if he thought Timberlake was bringing sexy back, replied that it never went away. Doncker claims the truth is we don’t need neo-soul because soul never went away. To compare neo-soul, even really great musicians like Robert Glasper, the songs are too complexx, they don’t set up the construction strong enough to withstand the heat.
If you listen to Wonder, or Doncker for that matter, it is always about the song first last, and inbetween. Once you have a great song you can tweak it however you want.
But that isn’t Neo-Soul, neo soul turns like jazz and not like soul and KING play out complex melody lines till they reach a sort of nirvana of sound and my only wish is that they nailed every song as well as they did “Hey”. “Hey”, both on the The Story EP and live, is breathtaking. “I’m all for it,” Tomas adds, “I am all about the music”. But “Hey” is their best song and jazz? Jazz began its life with Armstrong remixing Irving Berlin and even Coltrane hit heights playing Rodgers And hammersteins. You need structure, you need a fall back position.
The half hour set flies by and from the opening “Stay All Night” through “The Story”, KING have perfect control of their performance; they are purposeful and smart. It is enticing and clever and the songs fold into each other with vocal hooks running on top of and behind other vocal hooks. The three women present themselves with a sharp self awareness and dignity, they look like the Supremes and sing like Badu -or a Badu feel type thing. The songs are the usual love on a stick, but there is a sincerity to the girls (I thought at first they were a Christian band) and an intensity belied by nothing but good vibes.
The band don’t speak much but they are friendly and easygoing. I guess after playing the Felt Forum you aren’t gonna be nervous about LPR, though they had reason to be. You slip it up here and people will talk but there is a cheerful, smartness about the band; a calm dignity, The band don’t charter in rhythm though the sound has a slinky movement and, as Tomas notes, “They are playing lots of loops and stuff”. On their Facebook Page the bio reads: “At the first show of the unofficial and then-unnamed band, they, along with the audience, were said to have seen fireworks in the air. The unique blend of voices, engaging harmony, and detailed songwriting the group exhibited came completely naturally to them. ”
The songwriting is maybe too detailed.
Having made my caveats clear, let’s trust to Tomas: “They’ve got it”.
Grade: B+