In as we speak’s fast-moving world, the place doom scrolling is engineered by algorithms on each app, “slowing down” feels tougher than ever.
A dwell present, nonetheless, is designed to quiet your thoughts—even when just for an hour—and demand consideration to the performers on stage.
Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, neo-soul music and artwork challenge SHEBAD, comprised of Claire Voy (Vocals/Guitar), Ciccio Spagnolo (Bass/Keys/Flute), Emil White (Keys/Bass/Sax), Bridget Walsh (Violin/Trumpet/BG Vox), and Emmitt Leacock (Drums/MC) has been on tour for the previous few weeks and just lately delivered a standout efficiency at Brooklyn’s Sultan Room.
The venue itself is exclusive—a tall staircase leads as much as a patio-style rooftop, lined with basket-weave fencing that blocks views of the encompassing buildings.
On Wednesday, September third, it hosted this deeply creative, message-driven band for an hour-plus set that had the viewers clapping, oohing, and aahing.
It was a efficiency that held the viewers’s consideration each step of the way in which—making it practically unimaginable to succeed in on your telephone, except it was to seize a snippet of their dwell set.
Watching the five-piece swap devices and commerce locations all through the night time, it was clear they share a profound bond—one which’s amplified by their message, Music is the Reply which additionally occurs to be the title of their newest album.
It’s exhausting not to attract a comparability to Hiatus Kaiyote, with the altering rhythms and jazz-inspired top-line melodies that dance above jazzy chord progressions—however SHEBAD is fully their very own band.
Claire Voy may be singing to her coronary heart’s content material, however she makes it clear that she couldn’t be up there with out her 4 comrades. Voy leans gracefully into her function whereas everybody performs their solos and politely steps apart to let every member have their second to shine—highlighting the deep respect for everybody’s particular person artistry all through the set.
Their dwell present brings their music to life in a brand new means. With how sonically wealthy every tune is, it’s apparent the band cares deeply about their preparations.
Mixed with such a decent efficiency, it’s clear these musicians are underrated—hidden execs who deserve way more consideration from the general public.
With every band member juggling a number of devices and slipping between them with ease, the set felt like watching an old-world troupe—psychedelic textures colliding with the spirit of a Renaissance tavern, the place a bard’s fiddle sparks stomps and claps.
Picture Credit score: Ellie Gilbert Bair
Solely this time, the function of the fiddle was taken up by Bridget Walsh on electrical violin, and sure, the stomping actually did occur.
Voy even jumped into the viewers to bounce with particular person viewers members throughout one of many remaining songs of the night time.
There’s clearly magic of their music, as everybody was transported by listening and watching their vibe in actual time.
To me, their journey is simply starting, and it’s a promising one given how magnetic their power is the second they take the stage.
