Night Beats Live at the Chapel Nov 6th 2021
Night Beats is a pure rock and roll with psyched out R&B. The band is led by Danny Lee Blackwell on guitar and voice. This live concert was packed with energy the audience was hungry for entertainment. Skyway Man opened along with an out of this world live liquid light show that had to be seen to be believed.
Night Beats has had many line-ups over the years and has relocated to various cities starting in Seattle, then Austin, Texas and now in Los Angeles, California. On this night they were a three piece with Danny Lee Blackwell on guitar and voice performing at a high level. His break neck off-beat rhythms and captivating songs were backed by a tight and steady bass lines that danced between rock and motorik drive. Night Beats released its first self-titled album in 2011 and its latest release was Outlaw R&B in 2021 released in the US and abroad through Reverberation Appreciation, Green Way Records and Fuzz Club.
The night of live music began with Skyway Man of West Oakland, California. Skyway Man is A two man folk rock band with guitar and voice backed with unique and beautiful percussion. The songs were down to Earth and magical against the liquid light back drop which seemed to take on a coral reef effect to match the bands fluid and clear toned music. The strummed acoustic guitar set the foundation for the songs while the vocals focused on lyrical folk style with indie rock sounds. Skyway Man had a few songs which went into droning psychedelic territory showing off their ability to experiment. These two elements of songwriting and artful experimentation combined beautifully to bring these songs to life. The percussionist was excellent and added a new dimension to the songs that took the music to a higher level of sophistication.
Night Beats quickly set-up and took the stage ready to blow the audience away. Looking around the venue was packed with people ready for a good time. The Mad Alchemy Liquid Light show covered every surface of the space with nine projectors and several liquid light artists dripping ink and bending light. There were an abundance of photographers and videographers at the show, the whole night was being filmed. It felt like a special night and the band played the best I had ever seen and I have seen them many times over the years.
Blackwell was armed with a black telecaster and impeccable skill. He stole the show playing music from their latest album Outlaw R&B, Who Stole My Generation, and Sonic Boom along with one long improvisational psyched out jam that dissolved inhibitions. The tight rhythm section allowed the guitar to explore the off beats. Blackwell plays with restraint combined with fuzzed out rock that causes the crowd to beg for more.
The set included Night Beats heaviest song to-date titled ‘Ticket’ which has a heavy fuzz tone with stoner krautrock grooves. Blackwell’s guitar leads are a sight to behold. The sharp staccato attack of the pick, unpredictable and precise rhythms combine with reverb and blazing drive. The break neck leads had head whipping rockers in the crowd were jumping out of their skin. The whole venue was grooving and enjoying the show. At the end the crowd stomped on the old wooden church floors and screamed for more. The band reemerged and played the first single off Who Stole My Generation ‘No Cops’.
Thank you so much and yes we do all need psychedelic rock acid folk music in 2021 we need more hippies in our world. Peace n love brother.
Very informative!!! Thanks my friend, can’t wait wait until the next one!!! Much love from dmtworld.net!!!