The energy was electric on the sidewalk outside the UC Theatre on Wednesday night, the air buzzing with excitement as attendees thronged at the entrance to Vulfpeck’s late show. Inspired by the session musician groups of the 1960s (like the Wrecking Crew and the Swampers), the band released their first track (“Beastly”) in 2011 and hit the ground running. Vulfpeck emphasizes the importance of live, uncut and unmixed music that honors the unique beauty of each instrument. For this performance, the band recorded 11 tracks of their new album Clarity of Cal (2024), taking the audience through a musical journey that was dynamic, passionate, and funky. Drummer and founding member Jack Stratton welcomed Charles Jones on the B3 organ as well as vocalists Antwaun Stanley and Jacob Jeffries in addition to the core group of four. The band channels a highly improvisational, fun and loose style, one that was in full swing and kept the crowd grooving all night.
The night began with a bang as Stratton introduced “Big Dipper,” a track that began with an insistent, driving beat that gave way into a pre chorus boasting highly layered vocals, an almost gospel sound that displayed masterful control over harmonies. Those soaring notes gave way to the funky, syncopated beat of the chorus, the kind of sound that makes you involuntarily sway and shimmy. Moving right along, Stratton clicked his drumsticks to cue in “In Real Life,” a song with a catchy chant of “I, R, L” in the chorus that was quickly adopted and chanted by the crowd. Every head bopped in time, and the musicians almost seemed unable to contain their smiles and energy, hopping around stage and goofing around with each other, energy that was directly transmitted to a crowd that was matching every jump and shout.
Founding member Jack Stratton
“This might be… the one that’s the record,” warned Stratton as he soaked in the energetic ending of the previous track. He gazed out at the crowd in appreciation as Theo Katzman set himself up behind the keyboard, preparing for the next track, “Tender Defender.” Taking the explosive energy down a notch, Joey Dosik’s sultry saxophone solo and Katzman’s rippling melodic vocals recalled a funkier, more bass-heavy version of Curtis Mayfield’s “So In Love.” It was a sweet, earnest, and heartfelt declaration of loyalty and commitment, a beautiful message whose groovy musical backdrop prevented it from being corny or overly saccharine. The crowd seemed to be falling in love with every note, and everywhere you turned people were grinning to (literally) beat the band. However, in true Vulfpeck fashion, this slower energy didn’t last long and the band launched into a song that Stratton couldn’t even tell us the name of before bassist Joe Dart started thumbing out the infectious rhythm of its baseline. Here, the band seemed to return to its improvisational roots, holding eye contact with each other as they repeated bars and Dart riffed along with the keyboard and drums. The crowd ate it up, chanting out “Joe! Joe! Joe!” as he grinned from behind his classic shades.
Bassist Joe Dart
The fun continued as they played “The Heist,” giggling as they explained it was about the 1911 heist of the Mona Lisa painting. “We’re not a one-man band / This plan requires two / And I can only pull this off next to you,” sang Stanley and Jeffries, hands on each other’s shoulders as they grinned through the silly lyrics. The crowd was similarly tickled, laughing alongside the performers and letting out whoops and hollers. It was a snapshot of the energy throughout the night; it almost felt like the band was a group of virtuoso middle school boys who got the keys to the music room and snuck in to tool around after hours. Finishing out their live recording part of the show, the band slipped easily into the last track, an untitled tune penned by Woody Goss boasting the classic Vulfpeck sound with smooth sax solos by Dosik.
It seemed the crowd and the band alike just couldn’t get enough; the musicians rocked right into their last section of the night, where they played a couple of their hits including a unique addition of “Christmas in L.A.” off their 2015 album Thrill of the Arts. “Back Pocket,” which they started off by performing a capella before bringing in the whole band, was a highlight of the night. The whole crowd sang along and the joyous energy rose as the band bowed and jogged offstage afterward. The crowd continued to roar, excited enough that the band re-emerged for another Joe Dart track titled “Dean Town.” And with that, the night closed out – but the energy remained, almost sparkling in the air, misting over the late-night streets of the city.
Article and photos by Roxy Bostian