Before Denver musician ’s show at the Bluebird Theater last month, he had to tell a fan that, no, he would not be playing her favorite song that night, “but I hope you have a good time,” he finished.
Known best for his band and his Rounder Records-released solo work that had him touring with Mumford & Sons, Rateliff was about to debut his latest project, . He was feeling something unusual — nerves.
The Night Sweats, a product of sudden inspiration and a weekend of songwriting, is a soul and R&B band. Itap upbeat music, lighthearted and something to dance to — all descriptors that would never be used about much of Rateliff’s work. (Fans will see this again when Rateliff and the Night Sweats headline the Hi-Dive on Saturday.)
The singer-songwriter has made a name for himself in Denver, nationally and internationally with his own approach to indie folk. Now he’s a soul singer channeling a full gospel choir and fronting a small crowd of horns, piano, bass, drums and guitar. But on top of debuting this throwback sound, the Night Sweats had rehearsed only seven times (with rotating lineups) before its debut at the Bluebird.
So the eight-piece band took the stage without any idea of what fans would think, or if they’d even be able to sound good or play a full set. But after the band made its way through about 30 minutes of material, the result was surprising.
“People were dancing, screaming and hollering along. It seemed like everyone got involved,” Rateliff said. “We were kind of all like, ‘Holy (expletive).’ ”
YouTubes immediately surfaced. Bloggers fawned. The Fray caught the show, tweeting, “Hot damn!!!!” New fans asked where they could buy an album.
And on the strength of a few grainy videos with questionable audio, many fans made the two-hour trek from Denver, up through the winding mountain roads of the Poudre Canyon, to see Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ third show at the secluded last weekend. A large group had arrived early to see the Night Sweats open for Dawes at the riverside venue outside of Fort Collins. Sunset danced across the rushing water as the six-piece Night Sweats took the stage on the shore.
Looking dapper in a sport coat with his hair combed to the side, Rateliff was some sort of soul preacher overcome with the religion of music. Sweat flying, his drink splashing from his hand, Rateliff had the entire audience hanging on the pause before the chorus of the band’s flagship song “Son of a Bitch.”
Video of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats at Mishawaka Amphitheatre
“I wasn’t really thinking about it,” he said of his stage presence, which is normally subdued. “I just started dancing because I love to dance, and I got carried away.”
“People couldn’t believe thatap what we were doing,” Rateliff said.
And thatap where the conversation has gone since the Night Sweats’ debut: “Why this?”
Rateliff grew up listening to early James Brown, Otis Redding and the soul and R&B sounds he’s suddenly imitating. In fact those were the artists he was listening to when he taught himself to sing, and this style stuck with him, though the inspiration to make soul music never struck.
“I never did this stuff before, because it never really came to me,” Rateliff said. “It just so happened that it came together for me. You have to be open to whatever comes to you.”
Now with three total shows under its belt, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats have another show on Saturday at the Hi-Dive. This show, their first headlining spot, celebrates the release of a self-titled 7-inch vinyl: two rough sketches of songs.
From there, Rateliff plans on recording a Night Sweats album — maybe as early as June — and using his connections in the industry to work a national or international tour.
“The nice thing about pursuing music for a long time is that it becomes easier,” Rateliff said. “If I had come up with this band 10 years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
And though these two personae of Rateliff’s — the exuberant soul singer and the introspective songwriter — seem to work well independent of each other, things aren’t that simple for the artist. While Rateliff said he’s taking this project as seriously as everything else, he doesn’t want Night Sweats to overshadow his upcoming second solo album.
“I don’t expect Night Sweats to define me,” Rateliff said. “Itap not my goal to be an R&B and soul singer.”
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