Youngblood Brass Band - Killing Me Softly with a Sousaphone

I have always had a soft spot for brass bands ever since Tara Fitzgerald picked up her trumpet and played 'Orange Juice' with on-screen ex Ewan McGregor in 'Brassed Off'. I had a bit of a wobbly when the Hanwell Band teamed up with Terry Wogan for that infamous version of 'The Floral Dance', but got over it and added CD's to my collection from the excellent Canadian Brass and our very own Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Them were the days. Men down pit, showering at end of shift, then playing brass in spare time. Margaret Thatcher soon sorted that one out.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a brass band could combine my guilty pleasure of brass arrangements with a contemporary twist on punk, jazz and hip-hop. Enter 'The Youngblood Brass Band', self-styled masters of 'Riot Jazz' from Oregon, USA.

Apparently they played here at the Norwich Arts Centre eight years ago in 2007, twleve years after getting it together as a group of students at Oregon High School. Amazingly, as they take the stage tonight, the vast majority are still from that original lineup.

After six album releases ( seven if you include 'Better Recognize' which was released under their original moniker of 'One Lard Biskit Brass Band'), and twenty years of their touring as a band, tonight is my night to become 'Youngblooded'.

It is an imposing lineup that amasses on the modest stage at Norwich Art Centre - trumpets (x2), saxophones (x2), trombones (x2), sousaphone (x1) and percussion/drums (x3) One of the drummers, David Henzie-Skogen doubles up as vocalist / rapper, and introduces all the songs. That's ten in total. In a tour bus. On tour. From the US of A. Playing to a sold out venue capacity of 260. Do the maths.

Not my problem. I'm a music lover, not an economist. But it does explain why the merchandise was mentioned so many times during the set. We were all encouraged just to buy a poster to help prevent the band from starving. On a more positive note, it was unusual, yet pleasing, to see sheet music arrangements on sale amongst the CD's and T-shirts. The Youngbloods have always encouraged participation in school bands, and will often perform workshops and masterclasses for young musicians. Even tonight's support act, local favourites Killamonjambo, were quick to acknowledge the influence that the group had on them after seeing them perform in Norwich in 2007.

Starting with a cover of Chaka Khan's 'Ain't Nobody', The Youngblood Brass Band go on to rip their way through an incredible set of numbers, each sounding better than the last. The playing, the arrangements and the sound balance is all superb, and we are dancing from the off. It is hard to give justice in words to the atmosphere of a Youngbloods gig. Yes, it was a hot night and a packed stage in the Norwich Arts Centre, and the packed auditorium were rammed right up against the monitors, grooving, clapping and waving arms in the air, and that type of ambience always guarantees a good night. But when you add such a high level of musicality and passion, then you have all the ingredients for something quite special. During instrumental numbers the band sweated and we danced. When Henzie-Skogen comes forward to deliver lead vocals the vibe changes towards a  fusion that can be reverentially described as James Last meets The Beastie Boys, or Sergio Mendes meets Eminem. This is certainly not a novelty clash of musical genres à la Floral Dance, but a full-on authentic mix of hip-hop, punk, rap and jazz - a brazen masterpiece of  how to 'get-on-down' with a sousophone and a trombone.

By the time the encore came around we had all danced ourselves silly and experienced one of the best nights out in ages. It was left to the band to play out an encore of their version of Roberta Flack's 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' before checking out the merch stand. My God, these guys deserve to eat!

And if you ever get a chance to see Youngblood Brass Band live, go! I promise, you will not be 'Brassed Off'.

Check out the Youngblood Brass Band's website at http://www.youngbloodbrassband.com/ to find out details of upcoming gigs, and details of all music releases, including the latest CD 'Pax Volumi'.

Bavaria, Brass and Beer with 'LaBrassBanda' in Norwich

'A night of brass and beer' is how the Norwich Arts Centre programme described Friday night's musical event, with two of my favourite local bands, Feral Mouth and Killamonjambo, heating up the stage in preparation for special guests LaBrassBanda. 

Now I have to proffer an apology for being woefully unfamiliar with LaBrassBanda before turning up on Friday night, although that has never previously stopped me from having a good time. Sometimes it is the band of whom I know least that ends up impressing me the most. But the more I found out about LaBrassBanda, the more I felt that I should have been more aware of them.

Originally formed by five friends in Bavaria in 2007, LaBrassBanda has evolved into a 'Volksmusik' phenomenon that has played to tens of thousands of music lovers at festivals all over Europe. They have released five albums, the last two, 'Europa' and 'Kiah Royal', both making the top four in the German album charts. Although two of the founder members have since moved on, the band has now swelled to eight, creating an impressive wall of brass on a festival stage in front of thousands. Tonight they are squeezing themselves onto the more modest stage of the Norwich Arts Centre.

But before the excitement of witnessing genuine Lederhosen on a Norfolk stage, we have the pleasure of 'Feral Mouth', a legend of more local proportion.

Feral Mouth

Formed in Norwich five years ago, Feral Mouth bring together a group of six musicians with a knack of adding a contemporary edge to the traditions of old time country and bluegrass. Using banjo and steel guitar alongside cello, drum and double bass, they never fail to impress with their commitment to keeping the 'folk' in 'Norfolk'. A 'band's band', they seem to know everyone on the local music scene, and were last seen at NAC bringing the Addison's Uncle album launch to a stomping climax back in January. 

Killamonjambo need no introduction to anyone 'au fait' with the Norwich music scene. Seven lively characters with a love of reggae and ska that exude endless energy on stage, as well as a knack of losing their shirts before the end of the opening number. Real showmen as well as displaying an authentic love for the music, it was great to hear news of their new recording deal that now links them to a major label. In the meantime, their album debut 'Fiesta Moon Landin' remains available for recreating that sweaty ska-funk atmosphere within your own sitting room.

Killamonjambo

In fact, it is partly as a result of the Killamonjambo boys that LaBrassBanda are here tonight, the two bands having bonded over a few steins at a previous reggae festival across the water, and the Bavarians are already on stage for the KJ's final number, swelling the number of musicians onstage to Barclay-busting proportions.

But it's time to change into those Lederhosen and T-shirts for the climax of the evening as Stefan Dettl, looking uncannily like a Bavarian Keith Lemon, leads his band onstage for an hour of unrivalled fun, oom-pah, techno, reggae, funk, folk and punk, and any other genre of music that it is humanly possible to play with brass band instruments accompanied by bass guitar and two percussionists.

Dettl is quick to ingratiate himself to his Norfolk audience, initially claiming to speak only Bavarian, but soon having the whole floor choreographed into an eight-step 'Soul Train' dance move, re-creating his childhood wish to be the 'white kid' from KC and The Sunshine Band. The reggae number 'I Love The Batty Man' is the LBB secret weapon against homophobia with the wonderful hook-line, 'Batter my banana' A tongue-in-cheek brass medley of German Top 40 hits spins from 'Rock Me Amadeus' to '99 Red Balloons', but has the audience joining in and giving it large.

A final treat for the Norwich Arts Centre crowd is a mingled finale with all eight members of the band down on the floor performing as one with the audience. A wonderful end to a wonderful evening, and grateful thanks to the promoter Paul Wilson from WRR for pulling off such a coup for Norfolk music lovers.

That's 'V for Volksmusic' from LaBrassBanda's Stefan Dettl

Batter My Banana! - LaBrassBanda loves the Batty Man