Booty Vortex rolled into Lowell last night and the disco-funk-dance band from Boston had the entire room at Village Smokehouse dancing to, bobbing their heads to, or talking about their music. It wasn’t just the crowded dance floor that was getting into this disco dance band. You could see the people all the way at the far end of the bar following them and singing along. Booty Vortex is a ten piece band that plays very danceable music from the 1970s, especially disco. With a three piece horn section, two girl singers, and a percussionist, you can imagine the wall of sound these people create. The horns are bari saxophonist “Funky Freddie” (Fred DeBoe) tenor saxophonist “Huggy Bear”(Jeremy Valadez) and trumpeter “Money Shot(Mark Mullins). The percussionist is “Pixie Stix”(Maureen Mederious).
It is difficult to pick a highlight from last night’s show because Booty Vortex kept the beat thumping all night. They also played so many the of popular tunes from the 1970s that it is very likely that they covered everyone’s favorites. The Michael Jackson song “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” drew an extra throng onto the dance floor. The tune and marked by how well their keyboard player who calls himself “Goldfingers”( recreated that synthesized percolation of notes right before the chorus. The horn section also kept it real, giving it an extra depth of oomph with all their sound power.
The late 1970s disco hit “Ring My Bell” was marked by how well the two singers harmonized on the memorable chorus. Honey Child(Julia Tizzano Cruz) and Ginger Snap(Kit Holliday) served up their sweet voices in a sustained coo that tickled the ears. “Stayin’ Alive” came to life on the strength of bass player “Minty Fresh”(Dave Burnett) bumpy low end ride of notes that rolled out the song like a pied piper, calling the rest of the band along. “It’s Your Thing” was another heavy groove oriented piece that got its power from the keyboards and the backbeat supplied by the drummer who calls himself Black Magic(Luke Bellamy).
Booty Vortex handled the Earth, Wind, and Fire classic “Shining Star” with an easy going grace within that familiar rhythm they were laying down. The vocals were on the money with each singer locked into their three part harmony. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” sailed by with its pushy beat and “Play That Funky Music” was blessed by an edgy guitar phrase from guitarist “Ebop”(Erik Barnes).
There were some crowd pleasers thrown in for good measure. “Bustin’ Loose” jived and shimmied its way forward with its tight, hard-funk groove and then Booty Vortex went into a medley of 1970s TV show theme songs. The funky instrumental portion from “Barney Miller” and the rushing grooves and harmonies of “Good Times” stood out the most.
Booty Vortex went into a medley of K.C. And The Sunshine Band songs, including “Get Down Tonight” and “That’s The Way”, and the crowd went into some serious dancing. Frenetic patrons were pulled into Goldfinger’s cool lead vocal delivery and the swirling wall of sound whipped up by the three horns. The entire band shined as one because the K.C. material simply was written to pull maximum groove out of each instrument and singer. Judging by the crowd response, Booty Vortex passed the test.
“Got To Be Real” and “ABC/I Want You Back” was a fantastic juxtaposition of slow groove and peppy, speedy performance of the early Jackson Five material. Booty Vortex is one band that knows how to boogie. They proved it through the night with songs that have the word “boogie” in the title: “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” “Boogie Fever,” and “Jungle Boogie.” “Jungle Boogie” gave that driving horn section another chance to move the crowd with its urgent horn shots.
Booty Vortex closed out the night with the sexy lead singers serving up their girl power on “Lady Marmalade.” It helped that the rhythm section knew how to fire up the engine of this number and that the horns knew how to make it swing.
Booty Vortex packed the dance floor all night and many people, at the end, wished that they could keep on playing. The band also gained the attention of the people at the far end of the large room who likely went out intending just to enjoy drinks and conversation. Nobody in the crowd could ignore this act.
