Live in Portland
Crystal Ballroom • Portland, OR
Jason Charme Photography
Two years ago The Motet set out on a goal of expanding their territory out of Colorado and specifically into Portland, Oregon with a goal of moving from smaller venues to a sell out crowd at the Crystal Ballroom with in two years. December 31st 2014 they reached that goal right on schedule and as a result turned Portland into Funklandia for the night. As doors got ready to open on a cold and beautiful New Years Eve night you could feel the anticipation building as a line formed up the block with people waiting to get in. Seattle’s Polyrhythmics opened the show and warmed people up and Portland’s DJ Weather keep the music going during set breaks. As the clock stuck 10:20 the band took stage in front of 1,500 people eagerly ready to dance away 2014 and welcome in 2015.
From the moment the first note of “Just Around The Corner” was played every body part in the venue was moving, hands were flying through the air and you could feel the dance floor which is on springs moving. “123 > 1+1+1” were up next with the first of many songs off the new album “The Motet” and showed everyone the amazing and original sound the band has been creating over the past few years. You could see and feel the reaction of minds being blown by people who are familiar with the bands music and those who were hearing the songs for the first time. Garrett Sayers was making bodies hit the ground with his electrifying bass lines while the rest of the band Ryan Jalbert (guitar), Joey Porter (keys), Dave Watts (drums), Matt Pitts (tenor sax), Gabe Mervine (trumpet) and Jans Ingber (vocal / percussions) had hands and bodies moving in every direction. “The Fountain” was up next than special guest the incredible Jen Hartswick entered the stage along side of Jans Ingber and blow people away with her amazing voice with “Burn This Disco”. Reaching back into their newest album with “Like We Own It” launched the venue to new heights. You could feel the temperature rising in the venue and the dancing becoming more intense as bodies and music were becoming one. Wrapping up the set was “Canned Heat” and gave people a taste of what was about to happen at the midnight hour. The intensity of the music left people hungry for more and wishing the music did not stop. Walking around during set break and over listening to conversations I kept hearing people saying things along the lines of “I have found a new favorite band” and people talking about the individual members of the band like “Garrett Sayers is the most underrated bassist in music today” to “How dose the guitarist shred his guitar that way” and “I knew the keys can get funky but how dose he make it sound that funky” or “this horn section is incredible”
At 11:45 The band took the stage to send off 2014 in style and welcome in 2015. The energy everyone was holding onto during the break was let lose in an electrifying way as the music didn’t stop for a little over a half hour as the band took us on a music journey mixed with originals and coves. “Funny Bone > Keep on Don’t Stoppin” ended 2014 and with every note of the songs building up the crowd more and more to the point of explosion. Just as the clock was ready to strike midnight to welcome the new year Jans and the band popped the lid off the built up energy with the countdown and into the first song of 2015 “ Get Down On It”. Lights Up Loud who provided lighting for the show lit up the Crystal Ballroom with disco balls and the energy blew the place apart. Hands flying in the air bodies moving all over, friends hugging, couples kissing and The Motet doing what they do best. Bringing the funkiest dance party where ever they go. With no stoping between songs the party kept moving along with “Jungle Jazz > Extraordinary > Rich People. From the moment the set started we saw each band member shine and show their individual strengths, talent and why they sound so incredible as one unit. The solos everyone took and the jamming that went on between the band showed how tight of a unit they have become. You could feel a deep connection within the band but also the way they were connecting with each of the 1,500 people at the show.
After a brief stop to let everyone collect them selves the second half of the set set the tone for whats ahead in 2015 for the band. After the next two songs “Rich In People” and “Rynodub” the show hit new heights and would only continue to climb higher and higher as Jen Hartswick once again left the horn section to join Jans on vocals with “Bad Mama Jama”. The highlight for many people came next with and electrifying version of “Fight The Power” which lead directly into frequent Motet guest vocalist Paul Creighton come on stage and blow everyone away with a cover of “Kashmir”. The band than wrapped up the second set with “Closed Mouth”. Once the band left the stage you saw the look of amazement on everyones faces and hungry for one more song for the encore. With everyone knowing this was the last change to dance ”Shake Your Body” with Jen on vocals once again you could see and feel everybody moving in the venue and the band once again showing what makes them so good and sets them apart. As people thought the show was over we were treated to one more song to warp up a magical night with “Mighty Mighty” which was a very fitting song to send everyone home. Once the show was over and the band looked out across the venue and thanked the crowd you could tell everyone was wondering when and where will they get to see The Motet again as they cheered loud and thanked the band for a magical night. As most people left the Crystal Ballroom those in the VIP were treated to a chocolate fondue set up and got to meet and hangout with member of the band and reflect on the night.
In the end Funklandia was everything we were expecting and so much more than we ever could have asked for. 2015 started off as a monumental night for the band in what is sure to be a year that sets The Motet apart from other funk band and takes them to new heights.
