I liked Taft before Thursday night, but the group’s performance at Cheer Up Cahrlie’s last week exhibited new levels of vitality. From the first time I saw Taft, I always felt the band, guided by central creative force Taft Mashburn, offered fresh perspectives on indie rock by incorporating smooth grooves and glam-leaning 70s sensibilities. Still, I saw them as a band figuring out their disparate points of reference, figuring out, perhaps like Queen before them, how to make busy, spacey pop feel simultaneously grounded and powerful. Well, they figured it out.
Performing their new album Groove Redundant in its entirety, the band sounded like a superhero version of itself, completely dialed-in as they delivered tight, lush renditions of their songs. Featuring Andrew Stevens (Jess Williamson, Alex Napping) and Ryan McGill (Little Lo) on guitar, Max Colonna (Marmalakes) on bass, Josh Halpern (Marmalakes) on drums, and Taft Mashburn commanding center stage with guitar, shaker, and vocals, the five-piece’s arrangements captured the same depth of texture as on record. The audience packed Cheer Up Charlie’s to the brim and cheered relentlessly between songs, fueling the band’s fervent energy. Although five separate individuals comprised the band, they operated as a singular, unified, music-making machine, bent on rocking. Band members grinned as they made eye contact from across the stage, completely immersed in their songs. Taft offered everything a live show should.
After Taft, Sweet Spirit took the small indoor Cheer Up Charlie’s stage as a nine piece band; led by Sabrina Ellis, the outfit also includes a brass section, keys, a backup singer, two (additional) guitarists, bass, and drums. It seems the group adds a member or two with each new show. The group’s name has always rolled off the tongue with the same easy soulfulness of the band’s sounds, but the moniker seemed even more ripe on Thursday night. I saw the group more clearly than ever as torchbearers occupying the same musical haunts as rock ‘n’ roll greats like The Rolling Stones or Early Bruce Springsteen with an added kick of girl-power punk. These grooves are deep, and Ellis has the sweet spirit to dominate the stage and enrapture the crowd. They’re the talk of the town for good reason. See ’em.
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