Show Review

The latest SKB incarnation seems to be rolling into shape just in time for the upcoming four-night run at the Great American Music Hall for New Year’s Eve. Other than Kimock, the great Rodney Holmes has been the only constant member of SKB over the last few years but the lack of a consistent group never seems to affect the intent of the songs, presumably due to their improvisational nature. Currently in the rhythmic mix is the always fun to watch bassist Reed Mathis (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey) and on keys these days is the jam-funk veteran, Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars, 20th Congress) who rounds out the quartet. After a scorching show at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland the previous night, many fans made it down through the nasty weather conditions to the W.O.W. Hall in Eugene for a much more intimate, personable show.

Things kicked off with a rollicking run through the long time Kimock gem, “Bad Hair,” with Walter adding color on the Rhodes. The hypnotizing “Electric Wildlife” came next and was performed well, but served merely as an appetizer for the monstrous “Long Form Part 1” which followed it. This adventurous number can explore the outer reaches of the universe on a good night and to the delight of those in attendance, this was a good night. The various tempos of the song are always meticulously provided by Holmes, the jam wandering wherever his arms and legs want it to go. Halfway through this rendition, the jam broke down to a friendly interplay between Holmes and Mathis before exploding back into the theme where Kimock then went on to provide one of the night’s best solos, menacing and dark. Things got fun and playful again on the Meters’ “Funky Miracle, “ which naturally featured Walter’s excellent Hammond B-3 playing. The next tune was a very island-y “While We Wait,” which gave us the chance to witness the beauty of Kimock’s lap steel playing. Malichi is a song with split personalities; it moves back and forth between moments of mystery and deception to joyous moments of delightful repetition and comes complete—naturally--with the wide-open middle section that this lineup handles so much more admirably then most improvisational bands around today. This particular “Malichi” was fierce, although it was the first time in two nights I really noticed the missing presence of Mitch Stein who would play a double lead with Kimock on the theme, which really adds to the celebratory nature of the part. Set break.

The second set began in rare fashion as the band broke into “Green,” a seldom-played nugget that served here as a spacey introduction to what was to become a very spacey set overall. “:Ice Cream” was up next and was played extremely well and was highlighted by the interplay between all of the members, most notably Kimock and Walter. “Thing One”was funkier than I remember it, thanks to the nasty low end by Mathis and Walter’s driving force on keys. The brand new “Medicine Music” made it’s third appearance in an SKB setlist on this night and pushed the experimental nature of the band and particularly this set to its farthest limits. The only song played at both Oregon shows on this run was up next; “Dr. Zaius” has slowly become a favorite in all its schizophrenic glory. The set closer was the slowly becoming classic Kimock masterpiece, “Tongue N’ Groove,” which sealed the deal and instantly made this show a classic in my mind. The beautifully melancholic ballad serenaded the crowd and sent them back out into the winter freeze feeling, well, warm and fuzzy. We can only hope that the next time SKB crashes Oregon that this lineup is still in order, as the sky is too low of a limit for this group.