Better live than even on live recordings,Philadelphia's Swift Techniques funk conglomeration of brass and bass opening slot for Metermen, must be seen to believed. They did themselves nothing but favors with an, ahem, hurricane wind of a set that blew our concerns away at BB Kings on Halloween.
In honor of the day (I'm guessing) two members of the brass section were dressed as the Von Trapp Family and one like a WW2 Bomber pilot. Meanwhile , the bass player looked as thought he had just stepped out of 1974 and the band was at its best when they sounded the same way. Built around the brass and the bass, with the keyboards unobtrusive in a way Page wouldn't be, they swung and funked their way through nonstop swaggering funk .
Swift Technique really put on a show, they dance, they talk, they lay on the floor with their feet in the air, and they take it all the way . Jake Leschinsky slaps his bass like he's Larry Graham and channels his inner Flea in a bravado performance that jumps out of you with a sorta arrogant smartiness pantsness!
Guest Vocalist Russell Tate adds some soulfulness here and there but the night belongs to Matt Fischer's Trombone which is at the center of all the action and the lanky guy in shorts and long socks draws the eye as well.
But by the time they end the evening with a fun filled "Ghostbuster" there is enough credit to go round and Swift Technique left the stage conquering heroes of all they funk.
I am sitting with a German couple, who sound so Aryan it was kinda fun, "This must be how you do so extreme good"", the man notes at the end. Couldn't put it better myself.
Grade: B+