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a review on P-Bass Expressway submitted by Shade.
 Saturday 24 April, Winnie Bagoes
Reviewed by Kate McNally
P-Bass Expressway, one of the best up-and-coming live acts in New Zealand, reunited in Christchurch for a one-off gig, showcasing old and new material to a small crowd in Winnie Bagoes. Because of Anzac Day the following day, the bar had to shut at midnight, so the night kicked off reasonably early.
Magnetic Funk, a recently formed 3-piece band, got the crowd moving with four upbeat jazz/funk tunes before P-Bass took to the stage. The band have a wealth of musical talent between them, with members including Nava Thomas (aka Confucius/Soul Providah), and well known local funk DJ Partido; from the first song, this talent was apparent. P-Bass opened with a couple of tracks from Express Funk, their debut recording released late in 2003. They then mixed in some newer material, prepared for their next album (not due until late 2005). Inspired by late 70s and early 80s disco funk and hip-hop grooves, the tracks from Express Funk are more jazz-based funk, with the newer material being more rhythmic and groove-focused, focusing less on jazz and more on slick, no-nonsense funk. The addition of vocalist Matiu Tehuki to several tracks boosted the crowd’s already soaring enthusiasm for the band’s performance, and his low, smooth vocals provided the edge required to keep the audience interested in an instrumental band. Although band members reside in different cities and rarely rehearse together, their cohesiveness on stage produced an extraordinarily powerful performance. Seeing this band live for the first time, I was blown away by the energy they radiated, the vivacity of which would be impossible to capture in a recording.
The venue was cosy, the people friendly and the atmosphere extremely inviting; everyone was there simply to listen to amazing music in a fantastic setting. For those of us who arrived early enough to make it into the bar, the only low point of the night was that it had to end at midnight. This gig confirmed that no matter what your musical tastes, P-Bass can deliver a generous serving of funk that is sure to satisfy all. The fact that around 200 people had to be turned away at the door because of the size of the venue, demonstrates the swiftly rising popularity of this band and genre in Christchurch. Due for a nationwide tour in August, be sure to catch P-Bass the next time around
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