Emily Johnson; leader of Emily’s Garage Band
Emily’s Garage Band drew a large, lively crowd to Amphora Restaurant in Derry, New Hampshire last night. With band leader Emily Johnson at the helm, this outfit showcased how well it understood the need to keep motion inside each part of a song. Johnson clearly has enough musical knowledge under her hood to school people in this. Her work on her baritone saxophone as well as her band mates’ performances indicates high caliber ability to make each instrument and vocal fit into where it’s exactly needed.
EGB went into “Whammer Jammer” with vocalist Bruce Smith’s sly, soulful voice oozing over thick, rich support from Johnson’s baritone saxophone. Here, it was the balance of emotive voice with the richness of the horns that made the song true to form.
Emily’s Garage Band; John “Jaco” Siakis, Matt Lavigne, Bruce Smith, Gret Mostovoy, Emily Johnson
Bass notes from Mike Ginsburg ushered the audience into a sweet rendition of “My Girl.” Ginsburg’s continuation of that low end feel served a very important purpose. The bass guitar is an anchor between the drums and every other instruments. Breezy, cool upper register instruments just above the knobby low end lines carried the audience through the timeless classic, Smith’s soothing vocal coos doing even more justice to the song.
EGB played the fiery Tower Of Power song “What Is Hip” with tight discipline, maintaining a fierce lead guitar and heavy horn chops. It was a furious run of notes that one could dance to because this band knew how to keep it within the framework of its groove.
Emily’s Garage Band; Mike Iodice
Emily’s Garage Band performed the classic “Under The Boardwalk” with solid call and response between the high lead vocals and the lower harmonies that shadowed. Drawling sax and pretty vocals made for a two prong approach to leading this song through its subtle changes, changes that filled it all with the emotive sense of purpose this music requires.
Emily’s Garage Band; Jessica Ripley, Matt Rivero
This band offered a surprise when it jumped into Curtis Mayfield’s film soundtrack song,, “Superfly,” delivering its cool vibe with a bass line that doubles back on itself before charging forward, cuing the guitar and keyboard to kick it further with their elastic, scratchy chords. Speaking of that guitar, had it singing its sweet highs, shiny notes that combined the 1960s psychedelic licks with an R&B playfulness.
Next, a thumping groove and a hearty lead vocal made strong impressions during the band’s presentation of Huey Lewis’s “Heart of Rock And Roll.” EGB’s horn section recreated that driving urgency that this song is known for while the rhythm section actually played the groove like a heartbeat. It’s brief pauses were played for all the cool they were worth.
EGB, again, brought the audience back to yesteryear with The Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around.” A thick wedge of horns, guitar, and keyboards made the song spin around Smith’s silky, tender delivery. It was impossible not to get caught up in the swaying motions of this number as EGB managed all of its motion-filled cThis outfit captured the funky fun of The Commodores’ “Brick House.” Freaky guitar effects pedals turned the piece into a colorful display of sound. The band loosened up a bit with Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana,” loose Latin rhythms and spirited horn work turned this lively piece into a moving tapestry of many moving parts, what a band can do when every player heaps a pile of festive fun and a pile of festive motion in their instrumentation.
Emily’s Garage Band
The band also managed to serve up huge chunks of funk-pop on Prince’s “Kiss” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” horns jumping, swinging as the upper registers spun around those mounds of quirky groove.
Rounding out the band are trumpet player Jessica Ripley, trumpeter Matt Rivero, drummer Matt Lavigne, tenor saxophonist Greg Mostovoy, guitarist John “Jaco” Siakis, and keyboardist Mike Iodice.
There are so many reasons to go see this band. The surprises they pull out of their hat is just one. You never know when they are going to play something you loved long ago and needed to be reacquainted with. The spirited atmosphere this band creates is another draw. Fans of good vocals and good musicianship, too, will be motivated to revisit this band. What is hip? Emily’s Garage Band.
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