Evolfo
The sound and the energy of these former Boston-based boys is truly awesome.
Whilst many of Norwich's musical milliards were beginning their annual migration south, travelling deep into Suffolk and the festival fields of Latitude, I opted to stay put in the city, and instead joined a group of Thursday night revellers in the subterranean lair of Voodoo Daddys, where Brooklyn-based psychedelic rock outfit Evolfo were headlining one of just three UK dates out of a 19-date European tour, to promote their brand new album, 'Of Love'.
Normally a seven piece but, for this tour, minus trumpet player Kai Sorensen, it still proved something of a squeeze to fit keyboard player Rafferty Swink, guitarists Matt Gibbs and Ben Adams, bassist Ronnie Lanzalotta, drummer Dave Palazola, and saxophonist Jared Yee altogether onto Voodoo Daddys' stage. But boy, was it worth it! The sound and the energy of these former Boston-based boys is truly awesome.
With a brand new album to promote, it was no surprise that new material was going to feature prominently in the setlist. And so it proved, with Evolfo kicking off with 'Of Love' album opener 'Am I The Butterfly?', a slice of existential psychedelic pondering of which even René Descartes would have been proud. The cosmic groove continued with 'Rest Your Head On The Stone', and then some more - with a further seven of the thirteen tracks off the new release. With all band members taking a collective approach in the songwriting, Evolfo's sound is a retro melting pot of influences. To my ageing brain there are definite shades of experimental 70's prog – think Yes, or Can, perhaps. And yet, the whole live experience remains very contemporary in its energy and feel.
As well as providing a showcase for the new album there is still a place in the setlist for an appearance of Strange Lights (taken from 2021's 'Site Out Of Mind' album), and a brand new song, 'Whale'. There is no encore as such, although the final two tracks are each taken from the band's 2017 showcase album debut, 'Last of The Acid Cowboys'.
Well done to Ben Street and the team at Voodoo Daddys for such an inspired booking, and a special chance to experience this innovative American psychedelic rock band, right here in the heart of li'l ole' Nozza.
Main support came from former Norwich (but now based in London) blues/art-rock favourites Viera & The Silvers, inspired by a 60s/70s retro aesthetic, and fronted by charismatic lead singer Diogo Vieira da Silva. This was a real bonus for fans of the band, coming hot on the heels of their recent headlining UK tour that had also included a homecoming gig at the Adrian Flux Waterfront.
And the evening started with a beautiful and delicate set of songs from young Norwich singer-songwriter Liv. Some of you may have heard Liv playing on the NNF 'bandstand' stage in Chapelfield Gardens earlier this year. Others might have seen her perform on the beach at First Light Festival in Lowestoft last month. For those still to become acquainted with this talented local artist, Liv will be opening for Flat Venus and Mama Oh No, at Norwich Arts Centre on August 27th.
