The Greyboy Allstars Shine at Richard's

As The Greyboy Allstars started into their first song, the crowd at Richard's on Richards knew they were in for a treat. GBA is often defined by a dance style called boogaloo; after witnessing this all-star cast of musicians lay down, I understand why. All it took was Karl Densons's James-Brown-inspired yawp into What Happened to Television?, and the audience was thrown into a funky dancing frenzy. The band's energy was even more impressive, and its members seem to have more fun with each passing song.

Karl Denson was a powerful presence on the stage. It seems that everything he does, he does with soul, and his vocals and multi-instrumental work carried a raw force that made the audience yearn for more. Denson had a way of playfully interacting with the crowd that made you feel very much a part of the music.

While Karl Denson's gregarious stage presence and audience interaction portrayed him as the front man of GBA, each of his band-mates boasted near-parallel musical talents&emdash;and that is saying a lot. Aaron Redfield's contagious rhythms fused with Chris Stillwell's cool bass lines to forge a strong funk core for Denson, Elgin Park and Robert Walter to magnify.

Park seemed consumed by every note he played. His face strained dramatically in an effort to keep up with his incredible fretwork. While the chemistry between Park and Denson was most obvious, communication seemed a priority to every member of the band. It was via constant interaction that the band remained in perfect sync, a fact that would periodically inspire its members to let out a soulful scream in ecstasy.

Though Robert Walter spent the show hidden behind an array of organs, his abilities on the keys seemed to bring him upfront-and-center. Walter is a musician who knows how to blend with the band and when to stir the crowd with mind-blowing solos.

The audience was a muddled representation of Vancouver's over-thirty population, though it did include a handful of funky folks in their twenties. The overall atmosphere held a sociable vibe akin to a festival on Commercial Drive. It was clear that many audience members were hard-core fans of GBA or a member's independent work. The show was split into two sets, and the dance floor was packed from start to finish. While Still Waiting, Cramp Your Style, and an awesome cover of Walk On By were crowd favourites; it was the thunderous chant for Tenor Man that brought The Greyboy Allstars back to the stage for an encore.

The Greyboy Allstars played a brilliant fusion of funk and jazz that simply sparked life into every music-loving creature within earshot. The band's energy and joy flowed from the stage and was soaked up by the audience. This act was the most dynamic group I have had the pleasure of watching, and I would highly recommend catching their show next time they're in town.

The Greyboy Allstars played at Richard's on Richards March 26, 2008. Their album "What Happened to Television?" was released in 2007.

Photos are © Ami Sanyal. Please contact me at ami [at] beyondrobson [dot] com before using images for any purpose.