Show Review - ElephantProof, Talkpeck Soundsystem, and Residual Groove 3/21/24 Brooklyn, NY
To kick off an amazing weekend of shows, I had my first experience at the hallowed Brooklyn Bowl last night for a triple bill of Residual Groove, Talkpeck Soundsystem, and ElephantProof.
The crowd included a ton of familiar faces from across the scene, coming together to see three great Connecticut bands tear it up at the bowl. The night had a special and intimate vibe and felt more like friends hanging out than a concert.
Residual Groove took the stage at 8:00 sharp and dove right into their set of tight material. Led by the sibling duo of Kiran and Previn Edwards, the quintet’s mix of original music and covers was expertly performed. The highlight of their set came toward the end with a combo of Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” and Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein,” both of which got taken out for extended jams with amazing interplay between the band members.
Next up was Talkpeck Soundsystem, each member decked out in all white and sunglasses. Led by guitarist and CT mainstay Matt McNulty, their set was a great mix of Talking Heads, Vulfpeck, and LCD Soundsystem covers - all played with the energy and passion of longtime friends and fans of the music. Vocalist Sammi Garett shone during this set, especially nailing the difficult parts of “Back Pocket” and more.
Finally, it was time for the main event of the night - ElephantProof. Led by drummer Ben Atkind, the quartet is rounded out by keyboardist Chris “Doc” Enright, guitarist Sean Cronin, and bassist Shon Gordon. Displaying their amazing musical chops as well as the kind of tightness that can only result in years of playing together, it was hard to tell whether the band or audience was having more fun during their set.
While we may not have gotten the “Home Depot Theme” cover I had been hoping for, it was a treat to finally experience the band I had been hearing great things about for almost three years. Atkind sported a massive smile through the set as he deftly navigated some of the tricky compositional aspects of EP original songs like “Hurbadurb,” while Cronin’s fretboard fireworks were accompanied nicely by his dry sense of humour and banter between songs.
While this was the only ElephantProof date on the books for 2024 so far, the band left the stage with a promise of more to come. If you have the opportunity to see this band play - do it. You’re guaranteed to walk away with a smile on your face after experiencing the infectious energy and grooves that they put out to their audience!
On to Eggy in Ardmore tonight!