TicketMOMster review: Five Alarm Funk @ The Pyramid
The nine piece Five Alarm Funk knows how to funk up the place. /DOUG KRETCHMER
For the past six months or so, I’ve felt like life has dumped a bit too much on my plate. Lately, I’ve felt like I’m drowning. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, and I’m basically crying all the time. I know this will eventually pass and I’ll be fine, but when I’m in the thick of this crap, it helps to remind myself that self-care is important.
I mean this is hard, exhausting work and when life is staring you down, sometimes you just need to close your eyes and escape. As you know, drinking and drugs aren’t my thing. Music, on the other hand…
If you’re feeling this way too, my recommendation is to pick yourself up off your kitchen floor, and get yourself to a Five Alarm Funk show.
Don’t even bother showering if it’s too much effort. Once that band hits the stage with their energy and infectious grooves, it won’t matter what you smell like because EVERYONE will be sweaty in about an hour.
In that hour, you’ll be completely transported away from all your troubles and you’ll feel normal again. The energy you receive from the show will carry you…until you finish writing your review and go to bed; and that’s money well spent.
Opening band Two Socks plays for appreciative crowd. /DOUG KRETCHMER
Winnipeg band Two Socks opened the show and in a nutshell, they’re a young band for a young audience. They sang songs about “being a drunk prick” which started with the words “When I was 17…”. That was a LONG time ago for me. I remember identifying with that kind of music when I was that age, but I can’t identify with it now.
Skylar Bouchard has an interesting voice, at one point he sang with a growly Southern twang. His voice seemed versatile but maybe needed to be harnessed and refined a bit.
Young bands have a way of morphing and changing over time and with experience. If this band stays together, I’d love to see them again in five to 10 years. Keep working guys, I’m curious where more experience, growth and maturity will take you.
Five Alarm Funk’s horn and drum section packs an energetic punch. /DOUG KRETCHMER
Five Alarm Funk played The Pyramid last month, however it wasn’t The Pyramid’s 22nd birthday until this month, so they came back. I got the impression they’ve played The Pyramid numerous times and honestly, it’s probably the best venue to see them at. The small stage and huge dance floor is absolutely perfect for them.
They got the crowd going almost immediately with their funky rhythms and beats. I wouldn’t say The Pyramid was packed tonight, but you could tell many of these people had seen this band before and knew they were in for a good time.
Two horns, two drums create powerhouse of rhythm and funk. /DOUG KRETCHMER
At one point the band was jumping around, the brass section was dancing and I wrote “Now THERE’S a band having a killer time on stage.” With energy like that, it’s almost a guarantee a Five Alarm Funk show is going to be fun.
They ended their first set with a new song called Widow Maker which is coming out on their new album in August. This band should only put out live albums. Actually, they should only put out live DVD’s, because you really have to see them.
Saskatoon and Edmonton, they’re coming for you next. If you want to escape for a few hours and you enjoy high energy shows that make you want to move, this is the one.
Conga and string section complete the full bodied sound of Five Alarm Funk. /DOUG KRETCHMER
TicketMOMster is a Rock and Jazz-loving Mom; single-handedly keeping Ticketmaster alive in Winnipeg. Follow her musical journey here: www.facebook.com/TicketMOMsters
