Concert Review: John The Martyr Shake Up Brooklyn Bowl
John The Martyr might be one of the few bands that aim for the heart of Motown Soul. They live and breathe in the Marvin Gaye and Al Green days of the 1960’s. If anything they display Soul as the grandfather of R&B, and, at Brooklyn Bowl, they had people dancing to the classic genres as if they were new.
As people danced, jived, and boogied to John The Martyr’s originals, I was floored at how their new music felt like classic radio. From “Feeling Good“ to “Cross The Line,“ John The Martyr’s brought back the retro heart and glam of Motown’s odes to love. You, literally, thought you were dancing with for crush by a jukebox on lover’s lane. This visionary effect is stirred by William Hudson’s voice. He is so raw and emotional, you could not avoid feeling his verses. The man could literally sing “I love you!” In with a thousand different sentiments, and you would feel them all for their weight and realness. Hudson exemplifies why “Soul” is called soul; it appeals to your spirit and its natural yearning for love.
It was no surprise that couples kissed and rows of gal-friends swayed to violin rhythms and saxophone hooks; love makes you move. Hence, watching a big band play to romance was enthralling. From trumpets to keyboards, they are like a traveling mini-orchestra; adding richness to fun. Immediately, you feel their dedication and determination to assure the party gets started. To do this, they rely on a meticulously, funkadelic sound and the natural flirtations of William Hudson. From humorously asking for the time to shouting out persons that catch his eye in the crowd, Hudson treats the night like a tv host of a telethon. He leads into tracks with little tales, quips, and planned audience interactions as if to say no song should go without an introduction. Frankly, it works!
William Hudson is an incredibly charming frontman, and not every artist can chat up a crowd and make them dance as if they are all choreographers. It takes a certain charisma and confidence to extend your energy, and make it the life-force of a roomful of people. For their hour set, that is exactly what John The Martyr and William Hudson did. For More Information On John The Martyr Click Here.
