SkyHi whipped up a funky fresh mess of music at Wallstreet on Friday, May 19.
“I’d have to say this was my favorite show I’ve ever played,” says lead singer DeRobert Adams (known affectionately to fans, friends and band mates as Dee) and SkyHi’s lord of the alto sax, Aaron “Funkanaut” Heffron, agrees.
“It was all about the jam,” Heffron adds.
A few months ago SkyHi played a gig and in their haste forgot to plan a set list. The resulting show was more fun for all of them, and there hasn’t been a set list in sight since. Friday’s show included original tunes like “Do It,” “Press,” and two versions of “NuFunk,” as well as some funktastic covers of Jimi Hendrix, Al Green, James Brown and Prince.
Who would have imagined six skinny white guys could emit so much funk backing the big man, Dee? Even on the tunes they do without the group’s crown jewel, the Godiva-style hunk of soul, Dee, these fellas groove so smoothly you’d think Funkadelics’ innovative brass section had invaded the close-knit funk backdrop of Sharon Jones’ Dap-Kings.
Being a SkyHi fan is not a casual sort of thing. It’s an awfully personal gig. The guys announce birthdays, graduations, or just plain shout out to their fans at every show, since SkyHi is on a first name basis with about half of Murfreesboro. By the end of the set SkiHi’s stage is covered with other funky souls, usually highly attractive women dancing their asses off and singing along with the band.
This show is no exception. For the grand finale an extended dance version of “Hot Potato” reenergizes a crowd that’s been dancing to SkyHi since 11 p.m. “She’s a one in a million, she make you wanna go and cut some ceiling,” Dee croons, and loyal fans at least four rows thick cut anything they can get their feet on.
“By the end of the night there were 20 beautiful ladies on stage dancing,” says Dee with a wide and mischievous smile. “We’re not addicted to drugs, we’re addicted to ladies. Watch out, we’re addicted to you too.”
It’s hard to watch SkyHi live and avoid falling in love with them all. Dee comes down to dance with the crowd during songs he doesn’t sing, he pops his cowboy hat on a fan’s head and the whole group takes turns winking and smiling at the ecstatic faces of their indomitable fans.
This show is one big give and take session of funky good times, punctuated with lots of love, the interpretive percussion of Captain Fantabulous, thick bass grooves of Tim “Hot Tub” Hawkins, the guitar stylings of Ron Cook (who happens to be eerily reminiscent of Trey Anastasio, in look and mannerism), Heffron and Nicoli Voltron’s perfect mix of alto and tenor sax, Nic and Dee’s rap/soul tradeoff vocals and Ryan Sowder’s keys and backup vocals.
A quintet of Birmingham, Ala. locals, Looney Mill, opened the May 19 show, warming up the crowd at Wallstreet with their gritty, southern styled funk. Looney Mill performs in Murfreesboro a few times a year, and, returning the favor, SkyHi occasionally pays a funk-filled visit to Birmingham.
Watch for SkyHi’s new CD, due out by the end of summer, and their forthcoming DVD, a compilation of shows and fans. And whatever you do, don’t miss their next show. Your dancing shoes will thank you.
