Bubonik Funk’s third release “Zabooki” begins with a typicalblues lick, but the direction and scope grows from there. When the fourthtrack “Mung Beans” bursts from the speakers with vocalist Dylan Ellettdeclaring “Life isn’t fair!” like the extroverted offspring of Anthony Keidisand David Lee Roth, the group really hits its stride. Ellett approaches thehalf rapped vocals like a blues singer while guitarist Stefan Kallandarprovides playful notes that are just as engaging as the lyrics about origamibirds and a cane-playing bum that fancies himself a member of ZZ Top. Itescalates into a fun guitar workout even adding some bouncy, subtle horns tothe track's close.
Since the Charlotte jam-funk quartet’s first EP, “OTB,” in2008 the band’s arrangements and vocals have become more refined. Ellett’s low raspyvocals and interplay with Kallandar is more seamless. The directionisn’t always obvious. Take “Organized Crime.” It swells into a soulful funkwith a nice layer of backing vocals, while “Mystic Feeney” grows from ahypnotic intro that’s fairly serious and sympathetic to its subject into a wildblues-funk romp about mental instability and hallucination. The dynamics driveit back and forth between those two extremes. That approach works well considering its subject matter.
“Baby Equipment,” which closes the album, is another highlight.With its synthed-up bop-bop-bop-bop verses it’s easy to imagine it on classicrock radio (although it varies between `70s and `80s in feel). But it wouldalso fit on modern rock radio today. And while guitar solos can often soundstuck-on last minute and extravagant (more for the player than the song), “Baby Equipment” includesone of the most fitting solos in recent memory. It begins with an irresistiblyclassic feel then swerves into a psychedelic funk frenzy of wah wah anddistortion aided noodling.
As usual the lyrics are quirky and interesting. I can’t tellif the vocals are a more prominent part of the mix on this record, but thelyrics certainly draw listeners in. Some are direct such as “This’llBe the Day” - a hopeful tale of romantic chase - and “Mystic Feeney,” whichriffs on mental illness. Others, like “Organized Crime,” are moremysterious (“My trophy wife bites”, huh?).
The songs sound less improvisational and more intentional,possibly because some of them were written through email exchanges while itsmembers were off at college. Bubonik Funk didn't seem absent from theCharlotte music scene because it’s gigged fairly regularly, but in actualitytonight’s show at Evening Muse marks its first in four years as a trulyCharlotte-based band. In that time Kallander has studied music at Berklee inBoston while Ellett (who also plays keys) was at Eastern Carolina Universitystudying film. Meanwhile the rhythm section of Daniel Allison (drums) and NickMcOwen (bass) remained in town.
The band celebrates the release of “Zabooki” tonight, June29, at Evening Muse at 10:30 p.m. with Vagabond Swing. Admission is $5 to $7.704-376-3737; www.eveningmuse.com
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