PICK OF THE WEEK: The New Mastersounds - Thursday, Friday & Saturday, May 31, June 1 & 2, Various Front Range Venues, CO

Why You Should Go: The New Mastersounds are a world-class, world renowned, instrumental funk band with 7 years of live performing, 5 full-length album releases and 21 seven-inch single releases under their belt. The line-up: Eddie Roberts (guitar & tambourine), Pete Shand (bass), Simon Allen (drums), Joe Tatton (Hammond & Rhodes) and Rob Lavers (sax & flute).

All five of them met in Leeds, UK, and, as a BBC reviewer says, "NMS may cause some confusion: how can a collection of (mostly) pasty-faced Northerners produce with such authority the dusty funk grooves of the early 70s? It doesn't matter - they just do."

Though the NMS sound is very much their own, there are strong influences from the late-sixties soul-jazz of artists such as Jimmy McGriff, Lonnie Smith and Grant Green, as well as New Orleans funk pioneers the Meters. As a band, and as individuals, they have since clocked up collaborations with an impressive array of musicians DJs and producers, including: Lou Donaldson (Blue Note), Corinne Bailey Rae (EMI), Carleen Anderson (Young Disciples / Brand New Heavies), Keb Darge & Kenny Dope (Kay Dee Records), Andy Smith (Portishead), James Taylor (JTQ), LSK (Faithless), and Karl Denson (Lenny Kravitz / Greyboy AllStars).

The New Mastersounds are at the very top of an elite selection of acts that bring the true soul out of funk.

Venues:
Thursday - Hodi's Half Note, 167 N. College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524 - (970) 472-2034
Friday - Quixotes, 2637 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205 - (303) 297-1772
Saturday - Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302 - (303) 443-3399

Doors:
Thursday - 8:00 PM
Friday - 9:00 PM
Saturday - 8:30 PM

*Approximate Set Times:
Thursday:
The Center Fit 3 - 9:00 PM
New Mastersounds - 10:00 PM

Friday:
New Mastersounds - 11:00 PM

Saturday:
Special Guest - 9:00 PM
New Mastersounds - 10:00 PM

*Price:
Thursday:
$6.00 (DOS)
Tickets At The Door Only

Friday:
$10.00 (ADV)
$12.00 (DOS)
PURCHASE FRIDAY

Saturday:
$10.00 (ADV)
$12.00 (DOS)
PURCHASE SATURDAY

*All times and prices are gathered from other sources and I am not responsible for mistakes or inconsistencies. They are intended only as guidelines. Please, always call the venue if you desire the most accurate information possible.