“Thank you for making this a special experience – my hometown show.” – Brian J

On a windy April 10th evening in New York City, Brooklyn’s The Pimps of Joytime brought plentiful blistering beats and the heat to The Bowery Ballroom.

Never underestimate how style and the exultation of ‘cool’ can make even the most talented band better when performing live. Brian J (lead vocals/guitar), Mayteana Morales (vocals/percussion), Cole Williams (vocals/percussion), David Bailis (bass/sampler) and John Staten (drums) personified ‘cool’ for a set of intensely satisfying originals. Brian J is the enigmatic leader who is consistently compared to Prince for good reason. With sunglasses, a long dark jacket, black high top sneakers and a full beard, Brian J impeccably positioned himself as the consummate front man. One fan joked that Brian J could lure in ten girls at once by peering out onto the crowd with his shades on. Energy was the dish for the evening and it was served in droves.

The night started in incendiary fashion with, “Dark Janky.” The song possessed a plethora of catchy sly hooks, intricate melodies and impressive guitar soloing from Brian J. With multi-colored lights flashing about the stage, glimpses of each band member could be seen frenetically dancing. Brian J traded licks with Bailis and knew just when to pick his spots. Although the masterful guitar work provided adequate fills, it effectively never left the funk sphere and rhythms. Other bands may claim to bring the funk like Lettuce and Galactic, but the relentless raw emotion shared by the band on this night would be tough to match. The background vocals were angelic when buoyed over the slick and quick percussion.

“Long Ride”s groove was reminiscent in tone to ZZ Top’s “LaGrange” but “Keep That Music Playin’” (off the 2011 Jaxta Funk record) contained a long mesmerizing lead-in which gave participants just enough time to get their swerve on before the song commenced full-swing. The room was digging down and dirty to the groove. The crowd followed the band through a breakdown before airlifting into a solo, with J’s hands straight up in the air and monumental crescendo with “all I want to do is move you so keep that music playin”. Bailis effectively kept the low end intact even when he was doing bass lines on the keyboards rather than his axe – not an easy feat. The band’s complex arrangements could be juxtaposed to Steely Dan in ambition.

The highlight of the show was the single, “Booty Text” from their forthcoming album, “Juketown Paradise” to be released this fall. With the right marketing, like “Get Lucky”, “Booty Text” is poised to be as successful as any song of the summer. It is currently only available on vinyl 45s at concert merchandise table. It is a danceathon propelled by energy that rivals Earth, Wind and Fire, without the horns. The contagious chorus is silky smooth and flowing – a hit single – with an extended joyous jam, “Sending a booty text like an S.O.S.” The music was so relentlessly satisfying and entertaining that one was pressed to find an opportune time to take a bathroom break. The band tied a grip on you and wouldn’t let go.

When asked what mood he is trying to evoke when he creates a composition, Brian J stated, “Mood is a good word because whatever the vibe of the tune I want it to have a mood so that can vary, but sometimes a mood is not what notes you are playing. A note doesn’t have to determine the mood but rather the essence.” The blues numbers were almost as effective as the stream-lined funk ones, especially when used as a vehicle to showcase J’s clear falsetto musings. The blues numbers had a tough of flair and depth with up-tempo and bouncy rhymes always in the forefront. Cole Williams exclaimed, “The last time The Pimps played Bowery, I was watching it from the stands, so I am very happy.” She demonstrated her gratitude by playing her heart out. Morales commandeered every song she was a part of with intense showmanship and varied talent including passionate drumming. The party music, with extensive crowd participation, fury on guitar and non-stop dancing proved that even those they are cool and have style can also have substance.