Hodi’s Half Note
Fort Collins, CO
Words & Photos By Nicholas Stock (Fat Guerilla Productions)

The night started early at 9PM sharp with the Hodi’s Funk House Band that included local drum star, Eric Imbrosciano. The Funk Jam has been a long tradition at Hodi’s occurring every Monday night. Eric and company lead the jam and invited local players to join in. They were set up at the back of the house stage. Their funky instrumental jams welcomed the audience as they made their way inside. The show would eventually sell out with lots of attendees decked out in full Halloween regalia. Speaking of which, Punch Drunk Munky Funk came to the main stage dressed as the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles. Drummer, Michelle Pietrafitta, dressed as April O’Neil to complete the ensemble. As they took to their instruments an eerie hush fell over the crowd. They began with a sinister sounding rendition of the theme from the Halloween films.
Set One: Halloween Theme> Marley's Mammories, Gristle7yy, 1998, Ninja Tuna> Cabrini Green, Jalopy> Twilight Zone> Back in Time

Euforquestra’s guests would enter and exit often, as this ten piece monstrosity found its footing on the snug Hodi’s stage. I’ll take a moment to point out that in all my years of Halloween concert attending I have never seen a wider array of costumes in a single group before. Costume choices ranged from spandex clad rock star to cowboy to Spock. They opened with a celebratory version of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” into their own barnstormer, “Instant Coffee.”

Encore: Price Is Right, She’s So Heavy
Despite the incongruence of their costumes, musically they came together beautifully. Austin Zalatel continued to channel Bowie on a horn infused “December 11.” They went into a spot on version of “Spooky” and the band just kept the funk flowing freely. Kim Dawson’s vocals stole the show, but what else is new. She has amazing timing and a huge vocal range. Her recent marriage to guitarist Mike Tallman implies that she will be a frequent guest in years to come. It was interesting to see so many musicians wailing away on a stage that is barely comfortable for five. Grundstad was all smiles as he synched up with Babineau on the kit. Euforquestra settled back into the groove with “Road Funk” which has become such a powerful jamming vehicle for this band. Their version of Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” shook the room. They closed the set with their ode to grandma’s broth “Soup” into “The Kids.” The Big Band returned for a two-song encore that ended with The Beatles’ “She’s So Heavy.” Euforquestra found their stride musically years ago. They are becoming an institution in Colorado much like The Motet. They grind it out and tour nationally. Their dedication is evident with every performance. They are so tight that they regularly invite guests to mix it up. This last year has seen a rotating cast of horn players and percussionists sitting in and mixing up the dynamic. The Big Band show was that approach taken to its farthest limits. This band continues to impress me after 12 years and well over a hundred shows. If you like the blending of funk, World, Reggae and Afrobeat let them impress you too.
www.euforquestra.com
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