Ripe was a completely new experience for me, having not known anything about them until a week prior to the show. It was a welcome change to have an open mind and no expectations walking through the theatre doors.
Ripe is an indie funk band that met at Berklee College of Music in 2011, and subsequently has a large following in the Boston area. Ripe played to large crowds at festivals like Peach this summer, although they may have benefitted from a slightly smaller venue last night. The upside was there was plenty of room for the dancers - of which there were many. Not helpful for me, having been born with three left feet.
The set was incredibly high energy, and you wondered how lead singer Robbie Wulfsohn kept up the vocal pace while dancing around wildly throughout the set. Ripe has a fun horn section that gives the band a funky New Orleans sound.
The band released a live album the week prior to the show "Live from MGM Music Hall" that give you an idea of their live set if you're considering going. Check out "Passerby" which was one of the best of the evening.
I will not be a Passerby
There's far too much love in life
For simply a quick goodbye
And I don't mind if you keep your pride
Or if you run and hide
Just watch as I pass you by
Another highlight of last night's show was a wild cover of Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping" that began with a tease of Ray LaMontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" and then wove in verses of the Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime". They also covered Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" - covering a lot of musical appreciation territory.
If you are going to the Cap, try Sonora - just out of walking distance, but a short ride. It's got a tapas menu, a chill vibe, and live music. It seemed like we had ordered enough, but they insisted we try one more entree, which was delicious.
Any night out for live music is one worth attending. The day after this concert, I found an increased my connection to my loved ones, my surroundings, and myself. Knowing that my need has been met, I was more patience. More content.
A gift of the music muses.
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