Perpetual Groove at Martyrs | Photos

Last Thursday night was a great night for me to choose to head over to Martyrs to see Perpetual Groove (thanks Shimon Presents). Whit was down to go with me, and I was smart and planned for a day-off the next day — you can’t ask for better “show conditions” than that…

Perpetual Groove is a jamband with a stupid name. I’m sorry, but it’s true. And I think the turnout that night could be slightly indicative that others are in agreement with me there. Maybe David Cross is in agreement on this one, also?

There was only about 20 people there when we showed up and the band came right on for the first set soon after. About 50 or so were there by the time we left (partly through the second set). There were moments of greatness in there where the band got into a great jam (dare I say…groove), but all in all, the show just fell flat. I think these guys have a huge potential built up, but their stage presence just didn’t blow me away at all.

Jambands rely on their rabid fans, a packed room, and a debacherous crowd. Simply put, that was nowhere near in effect on Thursday night when we saw them. I’ll have to give these guys another chance soon enough, and I’ll admit that this weighed heavily on my opinion to go see them again the next night or not. I figured it best to catch them on their next run through town after the stuff from their new album, Livelovedie, has been thoroughly digested.

Speaking of their new album, JamBase just posted their review of the album. The review calls their new album’s crossover appeal risky, whereas I’d probably say that it’s “smart” first and foremost. And here’s a live cut of one of my favorites off the new one…