Anytime Brand New Groovement takes the stage it's a special occasion. If you've seen them, you get it. These guys are memorable, just like the Pope is Catholic and the sky is blue. Not only that, but there is a front man, a vocalist who plays rhythm guitar, a lead guitarist, a bass guitarist, a drummer, two auxiliary percussionists, a three part, sometimes four part horn section, and a partridge in a pear tree. If they're playing, it's more or less a given that I'm there because the music is quality and it's always a damn good time.

Percussionist Doug Spence said it best. "We are defined as neo-groove...it can be any genre but we do it in a groovy type of manner which is our own. We touch on everything."

The band has a collective goal to execute front man Percy Soul's vision, which is to be "funky and soulful," as saxophone player Roberto Curtis put it.

James Chalifoux laid it out for me this way. "We're a bunch of lighthearted guys having fun playing dirty, sexual R&B music."

In Percy's words, "Brand New Groovement is a group of good friends who love to get lost in the music. As people and as musicians, we all make unique and personal contributions to this movement that is different from anything else on this scene. Our individual styles come together in a way that is really marketable."

For the Thanksgiving weekend show at Emilio's, the band brought in DJ Stephen Burks of Hot Shot Entertainment. Not only did he absolutely nail his first attempt at running sound for a live band, he kept the crowd energized in between sets. Spence felt like this contribution solidified the show as an all around concert. "We were firing off all cylinders from all angles. It was a true party."

The party has yet to stop. Burks runs sound for the band as often as possible. But like Percy Soul says, "It always goes back to the music. Music is the love, the hate, the every emotion. It is the vibration that is all vibration."

These are some of the best musicians around. What's confounding is how well they work together. With at least nine people with this kind of talent, you would expect some sort of band drama or somebody trying to outshine somebody. Not the case with these guys. They want each other to do well. Aside from rehearsing as a group, the three percussion players might get together for their own, specific practice or sometimes they will get as many people as possible to come out so the horns can get a chance to play new material. Music plays a huge role in the lives of each and every one of these musicians.

You couldn't ask for a more solid rhythm section with Josh Santamaria on the drums and James Chalifoux "channeling his inner Bootsy Collins" playing bass guitar. Rahib Amin is easily one of the best guitarists on the local scene. I constantly say he plays the guitar like a hybrid of Slash and Vince Gill, and I think that may confuse people. In Chalifoux's words, "his guitar voicings add elements that might make listeners think there was a piano."

Showmanship is a big part of this band. As artists, they are talented beyond measure. Coincidentally, there is enough personality on stage to compete with their musical chops. Percy Soul is like a modern day Elvis onstage, making the ladies blush with his signature dance moves that incorporate plenty of pelvic thrusts. Joel Wright has the soul and charisma of a front man. Aside from playing rhythm guitar, he makes for a charming spokesman, lends his vocals to many songs even spitting original rhymes and rapping with exactness on covers. He is crucial to the song writing and rehearsing process, acting as a leader and unremitting source of positive energy. Brand New Groovement performances would be missing something without Joel on the mic.

Lucas Fritz (trumpet), Roberto Curtis (saxophone), and Alex Powers (trombone) make for a lively and charismatic horn section. All VCU Jazz students who have previously played together in bands like Southside Funk and Richmond Afrobeat Movement, these enrich the stage with their sound and add an element of excitement with their step design. The dance moves tend to get more elaborate and enjoyable to watch as the night progresses. Recently, these guys have been sharing the stage with saxophone player David Wise, a jazz major in the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College, who plays with the Groovement whenever he's home from school. Wise plays a mean solo on the band's cover of Outkast's "Spottieoppiedopaliscious."

Although, one of the best moments in Groovement history, for me, is Curtis soloing on "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" Thanksgiving weekend. I'm a sucker for a classy rendition of any R. Kelly song. I hope the future brings more of these. Another favorite moment from the same show: a couple my parents' age who stuck around from the dinner crowd shag dancing to the band original "Pole Control." I think Percy Soul deserves a Grammy or an invitation to MENSA for writing that song. It never, ever gets old.

Auxiliary percussionists Doug Spence and Raymond Jarvis definitely add to the band's sound playing various types of hand drums and other instruments onstage. Spence contributes invaluably as the mastermind behind the visual art and video used to promote the Groovement, who has recently played shows at Emilio's, Cary Street Café, and The Republic.

The band's Facebook and MySpace pages are bursting with eye candy that should be all the incentive a person needs to come out and see this band perform. Check it out for yourselves.

By Editing Department, Regional Editor and Author: Mary Catherine Gaulding

Mary Catherine Gaulding, a Richmond native, has been writing her whole life.  She lived in Knoxville from 2000-2005, an invaluable experience, where there was never a shortage of great music from all ends of the spectrum.  She transferred to VCU from The University of Tennessee, where she majored in English and wrote briefly for The Volunteer Voice.  She is currently on sabbatical until the fall and is grateful for the opportunity to write about music.  She dislikes confining her tastes to genres, and describes her favorite artists as anything from Rage Against The Machine to Dwight Yoakam to Tori Amos to singer-songwriter Neil Young.  She thinks 1993-1995 were great years for music.  Her favorite albums include Pink Floyd's Meddle, Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline, and Radiohead's The Bends.  She loves it when any band covers "Rocky Top."  She will cover phenomenal and unconventional acts from Richmond's sweeping Experimental/Fusion scene.

Comments(2):

1. I knew it!!

   I knew you would make it work!! Great Job on both articles MC!!! Its true Never a dull moment at a Brand New Groovement show!!!

   Monday, February 01, 2010 Nedra

2. I think that its pretty sad that two of the original members dont get even a mention in this article given the fact that they both helped in writing and perfecting quite a few of BNG's songs, but i guess i cant say i blame ya... you guys are trying to do your thing. Keep on killin it P.Soul!... you and joey are still my dogs for life yo... I definatly miss playin musak with you guys... Peace one love and all that son... G

   Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Gary