Vinyl • Show review:
Winston's - Ocean Beach
November 8th 2002

By Isaac Lassiter, SDAM.com Staff Writer
©Copyright 2024 SDAM.com/Isaac Lassiter

Vinyl made it back to San Diego for another round in what might be the best regular show that San DIego is currently hosting. If you don't know VInyl, the Bay Area 8-piece is some funk that your dancing feet have been missing. They play to a packed house at Winston's in Ocean Beach every three to four months, and I've been impressed at the depth and breadth of their music each of the three times I've seen them there. Vinyl is the type of band that you would hope for as a good music fan in California, 2002. They blend funk and trippy-jazz flawlessly, playfully moving back and forth from sexy-smooth licks to all out butt-shaking grooves. This past Friday, the people were out, and what is interesting is the broad appeal of Vinyl. Not simply drawing the OB freaks in, Vinyl has a nice spectrum of dancing, happy fans. Though it is almost impossible to charecterize a Southern California crowd on site, there seemed to be nicely dressed folks, some hipsters, a bunch of casual butt-shakers, and the requisite freaks. All were undoubtedly moving their feet and getting a rise out of Vinyl's flawless playing. They were joined onstage for much of the show by the Trombone player from the "Wise Monkey Orchestra", who looked like a close cousin that had jumped up for a shout, reviving a long-developed Vinylistic groove. 

What makes Vinyl so special is the sweet crisp way in which each song resonates a different, distinct, and oft-funky feeling. They easily bust out songs that you would see a couple creating friction during, and then smoothly they pull the couple apart for some two-step to the undeniable power-funk groove. Time and again, pace changes melt away, a la Greyboy Allstars, with the same masterful precision and confidence that what is happening right now, fair audience, is whats "really going on."

I would bestow not only my highest reccomendation that you catch Vinyl the next time they are in town, I would also reccomend not to miss it unless you have something really important going on. Like a free heli-ski trip to Whistler/Blackholmb.

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