Vintage Trouble: Bringin' the Soul to DC, one Pelvis thrust at a time - September 18th, 2014 - The Hamilton Live, DC

(written last night - September 18th)

Minutes ago, I returned home from another successful father-daughter evening at the Hamilton with Dan the Man. Usually I wait a few days (weeks, months, what have you) to write my posts because it gives me time to reflect on what talent I've had the opportunity to witness. But whatever - I'm feeling motivated this eve.

Don't get me wrong - Vintage Trouble could bring the FUNK. But this band is full of special talent, with each of the four musicians dedicated to preserving true American soul music, and bringing their audiences a memorable performance with face melting guitar riffs, mind blowing vocals, killer grooves and of course - pelvis pushing.



I had seen Vintage Trouble at Bonnaroo several months ago and wanted to experience them in a smaller club setting. They were a blast at 'Roo but the big atmosphere took a bit away from their energy. It wasn't until I saw them last night that I realized just what energy they had. Dan and I started at MXDC, an upscale Mexican restaurant right around the corner from the Hamilton. They had a BANGIN' happy hour so we hung there and discussed family and work matters, fightin' the man, etc. until we needed to go to the Hamilton to boogie down.

The band looked like extras from Boardwalk Empire meets Almost Famous. To keep their 'vintage' persona alive, they all wear three piece suits to match their three-piece band of a drummer, guitarist and bassist. Then there is the powerful voice of of lead singer Ty that brings it all together. 

VINTAGE TROUBLE

Lead singer Ty looks like a miniature version of James Brown on uppers - in the best way possible. He jumped around stage like Mick Jagger and twirled around like a ballerina. It was exhausting to watch. They started with some tunes to get the crowd going, even a what-would-have-been love song from his father to his mother 'Nancy Lee'. Throughout the show he would describe their sound as being that which you would find in a 1950s barn dance - um...can I attend a barn dance? That sounds phenomenal. The Hamilton Live dance floor will suffice I suppose. They followed up these up-tempo tunes with some acoustic songs off their new EP like "Not Alright By Me" and "Nobody Told Me" (my personal favorite) - followed appropriately by the ever-so-conservative 'Pelvis Pusher'. They finished up the show with the slide-guitar power hour that was 'Run like the River' - one of the best guitar solos I've seen in a long time. At one point I stopped moving all together and I'm fairly sure I was just staring with my mouth open. MAD RESPECT SIR. Ty ran around stage a bit more before jumping off stage and running around The Hamilton Live - a 6'8" bouncer attempting to follow him around and failing miserably. The show closed with the band exiting the stage except for the drummer and a slow solo. It was a perfect ending to a great night of soul music.

I appreciate any band that brings soul music back to its home - 'MERICA. We can all revere the fairly recent new wave British soul invasion - Adele, Amy Winehouse (RIP), Joss Stone, Sam Smith - with their powerful and soulful voices anyone could have swore came out of 1950s motown. Now I'm not saying I don't like the British - I love me some football and blood sausage. BUT soul music is and of America and it needed to come home. In addition, I would argue that these British soul singers are so tied to their heros of Motown that they become very cover-heavy. I love a good cover, but it is refreshing to hear bands like Vintage Trouble, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Allen Stone play all original music at their shows (or in Allen Stone's case, new arrangements of songs) and really make them their own, creating new classics for my generation.

Vintage Trouble played not one cover, with a nicely arranged set of party starters, acoustic ballads, call-and-responses, and -- more pelvis pushing.




(Sorry guys, these GIFs are just too good)