Concert

The Humming

The Burren

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September 23

What you missed: disco-folk fusion, sweet trombone playing, a funked-out "In the Mood" and good Irish beer. The Humming rocked The Burren, a traditional pub in Davis Square, last Thursday night, outgrooving the Irish band in the next room and sending fans crowding into the street for an acappella encore of "Happy Trails." If this band's name doesn't sound familiar to you now, it will be in the very near future. Playing over 80 shows a year and expecting to put out their own album this spring, The Humming is poised to hit the big time.

Self-described American disco-folk, The Humming is also jazz-influenced, with a twist of reggae. This versatile and harmonious band has taken American rock-and-roll where it should be, away from whiny bands to musicianship and joy. Each band member is a real artist in his own right, and together Ian Steams, Reggie Martell, Ty Gibbons '00 and Frisbay create a unique sound. It is hard to succinctly describe a song set that included jazz breakdowns, a slide didgeridoo, the drummer on vocals and a jig. Some lounge, some first wave ska and some B.B. King slipped through, but most palpable was the band's cohesion and experience. Hailing from Brattleboro, Vt., the four began playing together in high school and have been performing professionally (in various forms) since 1993 throughout New England and at many festivals. This long history has made The Humming so tight musically with such a signature flow.

The Burren was maybe not the ideal venue for the band, since space was tight, but folks were definitely moving to old favorites like "Hurts So Bad," a jumping reggae romp with a mercilessly catchy beat. Ty Gibbons' six-string fretless bass moved beautifully in some of their slower songs like "Sweet May Hill", while Ian Steams' precise guitar-work was more delta blues than plain ol' rock-and-roll. Refreshingly, there was no one lead singer or star to this show--the guitar and bass were mic-ed equally, the drums and Frisbay's scat were given their due. In fact all of Frisbay's many instruments, including trombone, keyboards, flute and his crooning voice, punched up the intensity of this outstanding band. The jams on "Little Boy" and "Sunday," driven by Reggie Martell's sharp drumming, proved that MTV hasn't killed all live music. Not only do these kids actually play their instruments, their original, folksy funk defies the status quo of bland pop music.

Maybe you've been lucky enough to see The Humming at a Dudley Co-op party. Maybe you had no idea that a new rock-and-roll sensation was growing right under your nose in fair Cambridge. Either way, now you know, and there's no excuse for missing them next time. Rumor has it that they might be back at The Burren in the near future. Definitely scheduled events are Tammany Hall in Worcester on Thursday, September 30 and a gig at Amherst College this Saturday. Check them out sometime and be able to say, "I knew them when"--I won't say I told you so.