When I saw that Snarky Puppy was performing at the Howling Wolf in New Orleans last Sunday, I knew it was a show that I had to see. Sometimes, in a world where the music scene seems to be run by electronic djs, it is easy to forget how powerful a live music performance can be, especially one by the group of guys in this band. Though I am a fan of jazz, I only recently started listening to Snarky Puppy this summer and was instantly enthralled by their big, full sound. I knew that the show would likely be a good one by the sheer number of people who were there to see them, a crowd that I was sadly at the back of. That being said, the concert was amazing. 

As a music major and fan of music overall, I can usually follow a tune, tell where its going and identify what is going on in it most of the time. While watching the show, I found myself in a total trance at times as some of their solos seemed to go on and on to places that seemed so far from where they started. It soon became evident to me that these guys have spent so much time practicing these complex tunes and rhythmic changes. No one player in the band stuck out as being “the best” to me. Each of them was extremely talented and they all worked well together to give the band its unique feel. 

I felt quite lucky to be there when Michael League (bassist and composer of much of the bands music) said that they would soon be releasing and playing new music and thus not playing their current or old music. I would have died with a void if I would have never seen them perform many of the hits of off “We Like it Here” but instead I can live a better life having been moved and inspired by the overall grooviness of their set last Sunday. Overall it was a great experience and I would gladly pay to see them again.  -DJ Jacamo