It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been to a show like Jojo Green at Gluek’s on Friday night. The band is the center of a community or a party. It doesn’t feel like a show, it feels like a night out. They break through the fourth wall of performance art. They are us and we are them. It’s not that the dance floor was full the whole night (although it was plenty full) it’s the everyone was in on the fun.
Part of the reason is because the musicians are so good. The band includes Sharisse “Jermaine” Germain (Lead Vox/Keyboards/Backing Vox), Scott Yonke (Bass, Vox), Nancy Long (Drums, Percussion, Vox), Conner Allen (Guitar, Vox) and Zach Miller (Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Vox). On stage they each get their time to shine. Those supported solos bring the crowd to their knees. It’s so much fun to be a part of a show where everyone gets to rock and you can see the rest of the band basks in the glory of the star of the moment.
Then you bring that all together and it’s a power punch of original and classic music done with a twist. Fire Escape, one of the songs off the newest EP, The Summer Tree, is refreshing, yet familiar. It has that bounce that make you want to get up and dance. It showcases their pop-fusion sound, which is jazzy and smooth punctuates with some stellar high notes! Couple with some sultry version of Led Zeppelin and I’m in!
Mostly Minnesota 