The Nth Power continued its tradition of paying homage to iconic artists during New Orleans’ Jazz Fest with a tribute to The Gap Band on Friday at Toulouse Theatre.
The Nth Power’s Nick Cassarino (guitar, vocals), Nikki Glaspie (drums), and Nate Edgar (bass) were joined by Dumpstaphunk members Ivan Neville (keys, vocals), Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), Alex Wasily (trombone), and Ashlin Parker (trumpet), as well as trumpeter Aurelién Barnes of The Rumble, keyboardist Amy Bellamy (Sam Kinninger Band, Super Sonic Shorties), Ghost-Note/Toto keyboardist Dominique Xavier Taplin, drummer/vocalist Cliff Porter, and Ghost-Note drummer/leader Robert “Sput” Searight. Dave Matthews Band‘s Rashawn Ross and Jeff Coffin also brought their horns and joined the band for the entire show.
The Nth Power’s tribute to The Gap Band is the latest in a series of tribute sets from the three-piece funk outfit. For years, the group has used Jazz Fest as a testing ground for homages to their varied influences, from Earth, Wind & Fire (Earth, Wind & Power) to Nirvana (Nth Utero). The band’s 2018 Bob Marley & The Wailers tribute during Jazz Fest—which took place in the same room as this year’s Gap Band show, then known as One Eyed Jacks—was later released as a live album, Rebel Music. In 2019, The Nth Power convened its original lineup (featuring Nigel Hall and Weedie Braimah) and more at the French Quarter venue for a star-studded Jazz Fest tribute to Marvin Gaye (Time To Get It Together).
The setlist featured a rundown of Gap Band hits including “Outstanding”, “Oops Upside Your Head”, “Early in the Morning”, “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”, and a set-closing “You Dropped A Bomb On Me”. The all-star band capped off the night with a two-song encore, “Party Lights” and “Yearning”. View the full setlist below, and scroll down to view a gallery of photos from photographer Jason Steger.
The Nth Power Tribute To The Gap Band – Toulouse Theatre – New Orleans, LA – 4/28/23 – Full Show
[Video: FunkItBlog]
Setlist: The Nth Power Tribute To The Gap Band | Toulouse Theatre | New Orleans, LA | 4/28/23
Set: Intro, Stepping Out > Shake > Outstanding > Not Guilty, Who Do You Call? > Wide > Oops Upside Your Head > Humpin’, Early in the Morning > Party Train > Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) > You Dropped a Bomb On Me
Encore: Party Lights, Yearning
