Unofficial “darlings” of Brooklyn Bowl, The Royal Family, assembled last Thursday for another installment of high-energy funk and groove. This time, the bill consisted of Neal Evans (Keyboard), Eric Krasno (Guitar), Nigel Hall (Keys/Vocals), and Louis Cato (Drums). A Thursday night “Bowltrain” DJ Set by Q-Tip meant it would be an early show for the ensemble as they kicked off the evening’s rage shortly after 8pm. The room seemed quite empty just prior to the band taking the stage, but sure enough, there was quite a crowd behind me getting their dance on midway through the first song. They treated us to two sets of old school funk, soul, and Jazz that had a little bit of something for everyone. The set list contained a good selection of classic tunes and a few tracks from Neal Evan’s recent solo album Bang.
The guys played seamlessly as a unit, trading off solos like a well-oiled machine. However, as is with most Royal Family collective efforts, the real highlight of the night came in the form of the special guests invited to join the group on stage. A regular invitee at Royal family shows, Alecia Chakour, performed several songs throughout the evening. If you have not yet had the pleasure of hearing her sing, this up-and-coming R&B and soul singer has a set of pipes that I cannot do justice with mere words. Combined with killer looks and a powerful stage presence this All Star defines the word “sultry.” Unofficial Royal Family All Star Adam Deitch sat in with his colleagues for a track showcasing his impeccable drumming abilities and reminding us just how much chemistry this family of musicians truly have.
Another highlight of the evening was trumpet virtuoso Maurice Brown. Often referred to as “Mobetta”, Maurice has won a Grammy for his work with the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. His presence at Brooklyn Bowl was immediately realized in a scorching set of horn playing. The Royal Family (once again) delivered another evening of musical fire in Brooklyn.
-Andre Reddy
Be sure to check out Live For Live Music’s stunning photo gallery of this event below.