Lake Street Dive are a Brooklyn based, Boston formed band that’s difficult to categorise. Its pop, rock, funk, soul, R n B, a bit of everything. They take to stage looking like a cross between the ‘Bash Street Kids’ and the ‘Kids from Fame.’ There’s the geeky one on guitar, the Vicky Pollardesque one on double bass, the cool guy with bandana on drums and the posh one in the middle with the pretty dress on vocals.
Touring in support of their new album ‘Side Pony’ which I have had a bit of trouble getting into after the excellent ‘Bad Self Portraits’ of a couple of years ago I am unsure what to expect tonight.
I needn’t have worried. Once they started and Racheal Price opens her mouth and that beautiful voice cascades into us we are rapt. It is a joy to behold, its Mariah, its Christina, its Ella and at the low end of the scale Bonnie Raitt. It has a raw soul blues feel that kicks you in the stomach, grabs your insides and never lets go.
She is ably supported both musically and vocally by Mike Olson, Bridget Kearney and Mike Calabrese who provide sublime harmonies throughout.
The new songs sound amazing and are really brought to life as well as some of my favourites from the back catalogue. There’s a great version of Lola half way through and the set closer ‘Rich Girl’ has the whole crowd singing and dancing long after they finish performing. The albums do not do their live set any justice at all. A fantastic night of live music and the absolute contrast to the subdued atmosphere of Calexico the night before.
Keep on rockin y’all