Anyone who’s seen drummer Russ Lawton and keyboardist Ray Paczkowski participate in any of their various and sundry projects (TAB, Strangefolk, Vorcza, Grippo Funk Band, Dave Matthews & Friends) knows what stylish musicians they are. Now, however, formally united as the duo Soule Monde, Ray and Russ are bringing their skills to a whole other level and they made this small club seem like it was situated on Bourbon Street instead of just off the main street of Vergennes, who bills itself as America’s smallest city.
It was perhaps only the one tune where Lawton most obviously dug into the second line rhythm born in NOLA, but that doesn’t mean the mood was increasingly celebratory as the night went on. Pity that so many of the early evening diners departed before the duo began to play (and continued on their way as the evening progressed).
But that didn’t mean the joyous atmosphere dissipated. Far from it, as the genuine music lovers stayed while Soule Monde themselves shared plenty of smiles as they improvised their way through a set list largely determined between tunes. Wisely, and in keeping with their experience,
Lawton and Paczkowski toned down the volume for Club Antidote, preferring to insinuate rather than unleash the torrents of rhythm and melody they might at Nectar’s in Burlington (or on their splendid eponymous studio album). The comparatively restrained, economical approach the twosome took didn’t render the music any less infectious though. Attendees watched in rapt attention and more than a couple gentle boogies popped into motion, while Ray and Russ themselves did their own form of dancing, the former in an increasingly agile bob-and weave at his Hammond organ and clavinet, the latter just shy of popping to his feet a la Stanton Moore (the one gesture the drummer does not share with his New Orleans peer).
Two sets of approximately one hour each passed fast enough to conjure the wish Soule Monde might play till the usual closing hour of 2am. But given the 8pm start time, that’d be a marathon the likes of which would rival their famed quartet of Vermont contemporaries. Still, during informal conversation prior to playing, Russ Lawton did disclose that each show he and Paczkowski play leads to something bigger so there may soon come a day when Soule Monde adds significant cache of their own to their roots in the Green Mountain State.
