Show Review

It gets a little chilly in Colorado in the winter. And while this winter has been unseasonably mild with only a sliver of bitterness and precipitation, it was still February in the Front Range. Lucky enough for music fans in Boulder, Ft. Collins and Breckenridge, The Pnuma Trio came through town again for a stellar three-night run that would heat-up just about anything they touched.

While the high-octane electronic trio from Memphis has only been around for a touch over a year, The Pnuma Trio (Alex Botwin - bass, Ben Hazlegrove - keys and Lane Shaw - drums) has virtually bombarded the live scene. Their explosive, non-stop drum n’ bass trance has infected audiences all over the country, but especially here in Colorado. Considering they’re three young players - none older than 21 - and the band has been in existence for such a short time, The Pnuma Trio performs at a level much greater than the numbers would lead you to believe. Proficient, ambitious, intelligent and gifted, the trio has all the makings to ascend from the up-and-coming label and into the national spotlight.

Making their second three-night stop in Colorado on their first full cross-country tour, The Pnuma Trio got the festivities off to a fast start with an eye-opening performance at Boulder’s famed Fox Theatre. Playing for an eager crowd of 400-plus, they immediately accelerated the nergy left from opener DJ Harry and blew the doors of the Fox with two and a half hours of continuous dance music that left few standing. As the room filled throughout the set, the band became noticeably more enthused and the music thrived. The setlist was filled with tasty new gems, providing an eclectic assortment of jazzy textures, jaw-dropping drum n’ bass and slow-down funk.

Ft. Collins the following night was more of the same. After Boulder’s, The Tao Jones, opened with a solid set of instrumental jazz, rock and funk, The Pnuma Trio hit the Aggie’s stage with vigor and youthful energy. Immediately, it was clear these guys came to play. For those who had yet to see the band perform, they were witness to Lane Shaw’s fiery drumming. Each night he drives the kit with some of the quickest, tightest drum n’ bass licks I’ve ever seen, providing a great foundation for The Pnuma Trio’s extended electronic adventures. Coupled with bassist Botwin’s knack for holding a groove with his thick, almost voluptuous pulsations, the band’s rhythm section holds it all down for Hazlegrove to come in with his swooping synthesized keys. When all three click, there’s not much that stop them.

Two nights down, one to go. Now it was on to Sherpa and Yeti’s in beautiful Breckenridge. Not my favorite venue in Colorado - Sherpa’s is a tiny, stuffy basement bar in downtown Breckenridge that could barely house a banquet - but for The Pnuma Trio, it was ample opportunity to bring their craft to the mountains and drop some heat on unsuspecting mountain folk. And drop some heat they did. Again playing two full sets of originals speckled with a tease of Salt N Peppa’s “Push It,” Breckenridge left the show knowing exactly who this band from Memphis was.

Photos by Dave Cohen

For more info see: pnumamusic.com