Horns, soul and a summer sendoff | Column
YellowHouse Blues Band is performing at Waterfront Park in Bath at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. (Courtesy of YellowHouse Blues Band)
The dog days of summer are upon us, but don’t tell the Bath waterfront. With two concerts still to go, there’s plenty of life left in the season — not to mention horns, soul, funk, blues and some serious dancing. YellowHouse Blues Band rolls into town Saturday, Aug. 22, followed by Dylan Chambers and his band, Aug. 29, for a high-energy finale to the summer concert series. Both shows kick off at 5 p.m.
First up is YellowHouse Blues Band, a nine-piece ensemble featuring a horn section and two vocalists. The Seacoast-based group delivers a dazzling array of familiar favorites spanning R&B, soul, funk, rock and blues, putting its own energetic stamp on music audiences know and love. The band’s repertoire has included songs associated with artists ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire and Aretha Franklin to Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads and Tedeschi Trucks Band. One past concert description offered perhaps the simplest advice for audiences: “Bring your dancing shoes and expect a party!”
Dylan Chambers wraps up the Bath Waterfront Music Series at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. (Courtesy of Dylan Chambers)
The series then wraps up Aug. 29 with Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Dylan Chambers, whose music draws on the sounds and showmanship of classic soul, funk, R&B and rock while bringing a decidedly contemporary energy to the mix. Chambers has built an impressive résumé. His debut EP, “For Your Listening Pleasure!,” includes collaborations with Cory Wong, LunchMoney Lewis, Dave Koz and G. Love, and his breakout single “You Gotta Respect Yourself!” spent 10 weeks in the Top 5. He has also shared stages with artists including Allen Stone, Fitz and The Tantrums, and John Oates.
His music has attracted national attention, being featured in Grammy.com and Glide Magazine who described him as a “powerhouse vocalist.” Chambers’ influences run deep. He told American Songwriter that his listening moves between the Temptations, Prince, Parliament and James Brown — influences that help explain the mix of old-school soul and modern energy in his music.
Together, the final two concerts offer a fitting finish to the summer series: the big, brassy, dance-ready sound of YellowHouse Blues Band followed by Chambers’ fresh take on soul and funk. So don’t pack away the lawn chairs just yet. Summer may be heading for the exits, but we’ve still got two Saturday nights and a whole lot of music left to enjoy. Come down to the waterfront, find your spot, say hello to your neighbors and let YellowHouse Blues Band and Dylan Chambers send summer out on a high note.
Matthew Glassman is executive and artistic director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath.
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