Busty and the Bass
@ MTELUS, Montreal
July 3, 2018
Closing out a day of Montreal Jazz International Festival as the ‘after party’ act was as good an opportunity as any for Montreal natives Busty and the Bass to reconnect with their musical roots, especially when Daniel Caesar set the stage as the day’s headlining act. Add to that the fact that the show was a free set starting at midnight on a Tuesday, an unremarkable performance from the electro-soul/hip hop craftsmen was certainly not what was expected (nor was it what was delivered).
Originally meant to be a double set with a half hour intermission, vocalist and saxophonist Nick Ferraro quickly quashed that idea by announcing that they would “play all night long” before stopping. A tough ask for an act featuring three wind instruments. Even more so with the ongoing heatwave that ensured a ‘boiler room’ ambiance, even if the crowd wasn’t quite packed like sardines.
Busty and the Bass tore through a diverse set of tracks spanning their career, from songs off their recent debut LP Uncommon Good to unreleased tracks from their days performing house parties as a small time university band, hardly leaving a moment to catch their breath between songs.
Despite the heat, the crowd was more than up for it as well. By the third song of the set most people in the room were dancing, and very few of them managed to take a break before the band themselves were walking off stage. Propelled by this energy, Busty and the Bass was at the mercy of their own momentum, obliged to keep the show rolling without pause. They didn’t even have the chance to leave the stage before the encore.
By the time 2 am rolled around, there wasn’t a face in the venue that wasn’t smiling and covered in sweat. Busty and the Bass’ music may not groove with everyone, but their clout as live performers is undeniable. With everything to play for in their Montreal return, they delivered a well-polished, energetic and vibrant performance with very little to speak negatively about. Though the bassist might consider a new haircut…
Artist Links
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BUSTY AND THE BASS SHARE “STARSTRUCK” VIDEO FROM THE BREAKGLASS SERIES | FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES BEGIN THIS WEEK
SPILL NEWS: BUSTY AND THE BASS NEW LP ‘FOREVER NEVER CARES’ OUT NOVEMBER 10 VIA ARTS & CRAFTS | CANADIAN TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HÖHN – “SCARP”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BUSTY AND THE BASS SHARES NEW SINGLE + ANNOUNCE TORONTO AND MONTREAL RESIDENCIES
