Playing before a moderate crowd of collegiate concertgoers, Georgia-based jam veterans returned to the Thursday night. With a sit-in drummer and an abundance of odd cover choices, the band veered away from its melodic originals in favor of a sing-a-long dance party catered to the flat-brims and colorful retro sneakers in attendance. It was a tactic that was as successful as it was disappointing.
The show opened with an impromptu set by Greeley newcomers Bovine Green. The young band showed moments of promise, but appeared awestruck as they pushed through a cluttered, Sublime-inspired set before ceding the stage to local favorites, Hot Gazpacho.
The Fort Collins’ four-piece jamband was an appropriate opener, sounding much like a younger, less-polished version of the headliners. Led by bearded Glen Manna’s funk-ridden basslines and passionate capering, the band showed impressive chops throughout their set. Guitarist Sean Cohen’s prog-rock shredding and searing solos were timely and well-developed.
Just shy of midnight, Perpetual Groove took to the stage.
“On the setlist this is called ‘Jam #1,’ so we’ll see how it goes,” said guitarist and bandleader Brock Butler before keyboardist John Hruby (who joined the band in 2008) sprang into the recognizable organ riff of Beck’s “Where It’s At.” While the jam would start strong, the band’s sonic wanderings lacked much direction until ending with a choreographed bang. It would be a recurring theme throughout the set.
After playing a couple minutes of their catchy tune “Macumba,” bassist Adam Perry layered in an ’80s synth line and a house beat began a hip-hop medley that would define the evening. Butler, whose balding head and bland sweatshirt gave him a striking resemblance to coarse comedian Louis C.K., made a vocal stab at Jay Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” before transitioning into an equally cheesy take of the 2pac classic, “California Love.” Then it was Hruby’s turn. The unnatural rapping continued with Easy-E’s “Nobody Move” until returning to the walking bass and memorable chorus of “Macumba.”
The band did not completely abandon its roots, playing a nearly note-for-note rendition of the title-track off the 2003 breakout album,”Sweet Oblivious Antidote.” It was here that Butler’s trademark precision was showcased as he wailed on his strat and it finally felt like the band was hitting its stride.
They would then close the show with three more covers: Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” Steely Dan’s “Do It Again” and an unexpected encore of the Chemical Brother’s “Golden Path.”
There is only so much a band can do with a sit-in drummer and a young crowd that seems largely unaware of its catalog. It would have been nice to see Perpetual Groove win over the Aggie with composed originality rather than radio-friendly familiarity.
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Nate Etter is a Boulder-based musician and a new contributor to Reverb.
