Smokedaddies

In many ways, music has replaced religion in modern youth culture. It's the idea that you are part of something bigger, a connection with others on a scale not normally achieved in everyday life, let's say a moment of unity. I would imagine these are some of the things people look for when they look to the church, but I believe can be found through live music.

The Smokedaddies achieved this last Saturday night at the Boomerang. It was that rare experience of a group mind coming together, when the audience is so jacked up by the band, and the band is right in tune with that energy. It was like a communion, as they walked on stage and proceeded to keep us dancing for the duration of their nearly two-hour set. It was strangely appropriate to be on upper Haight for this show as it proved that a real hippie mentality still exists, and it goes far beyond Volkswagons and hemp jewelry. It's so cliched to even say it, but the spirit of kindness, the feeling that it might actually be all good was present throughout the evening.

I've seen the Smokedaddies play a few times before at this very same spot, and though they are always good, Saturdays show particularly proved their talent as musicians. Part of it certainly comes from their relationship outside the band, they are presently roommates which indicates that they certainly know how to balance each other out. Lead vocalist and sometimes-guitarist, sometimes-drummer, sometimes-bongo player, Chris DiGiovanni switched from one instrument to another with an ease that seemed nearly surreal from where I was standing (OK, I admit, a number of things looked surreal that evening, but it was remarkable). He and drummer/bongo player J.J. Willard could trade places and instruments and return to the groove without missing a beat. Lead guitarist, Byron, played as if the great guitar lord was speaking to him personally, his solos filling the room, while the audience was struck with a sense of awe. This was evident by the shouts that came out from all around me as their jam filled the room. And Roger Noyes, towering over the rest of the band in a red boa wig and wrap around amber glasses (really, I do love those glasses) laid the foundation with bass lines that turned what was Latin-influenced-Phish-influenced rock into full on Funk.

Perhaps even more remarkable was the way the Smokedaddies could share their space, happy throughout to be supported by other musicians, while never missing a beat in incorporating them into the sound. I remember Byron saying at some point that he was basically happy playing music with anyone who is passionate about it, regardless of ability. This mentality, on the part of the whole band, came through so strongly. None of the prima donna rock star posturing, but the honest feeling that there should be as many people on the stage that could fit. They invited D.J. Ron, who had been keeping the music going between bands, up onto the stage to do some free-styling which was phenomenal, and then he invited any d.j. or diva in the audience to step up. One d.j. did, and kept the groove much better then expected. The saxophonist from Belly Love (the band that played before them), John Singer, came in and jazzed up the sound for a little while as well. Actually the only thing missing really was a little more female energy (though on the Smokedaddies classic, "Juanita" it was quite appropriate to have only testosterone represented-you can't have some little musician chick singing believably about a prostitute, or can you?), which was provided only by Freedom (did I mention the show was on Upper Haight?) the cute gal drummer from Belly Love who came in on the bongos. It's not like they were unaware, though, since no ladies got on stage to sing, even with the band's repeated invitation.

Unfortunately, the Smokedaddies were really the only band I experienced that night out of the three that played. I caught the last two songs of Belly Love's set, which were good, but it was at the usual have-to-get-a-beer-first-and-get-psyched period of the show when I wasn't listening as I should have. But what I heard sounded good and the musicians that stepped up to support the Smokedaddies were excellent.

The other bad news is that this was the last Smokedaddies show of the millennium, so I'm told. They're taking time off to pursue other things, though a reunion tour is sure to happen (possibly sooner then they say, I think I've been to the last Smokedaddies show a couple times now). This is really a shame since there needs to be more shows like this. The world would be a better place if more people looked to music done like this for guidance rather then to a regurgitated dogma. A spiritual experience like this was in not to be taken for granted.

Emily Fasten

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