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Review Sat Feb 11 2012
Review: Dance Floor Plans @ Martyrs'
One of my favorite things about writing for Gapers Block is that I'm often introduced to bands that I otherwise might never ever known about. As was the case this week. It took about 20 seconds of listening to "Already Mine" (see below) for me to jump at the chance to check out Dance Floor Plans' show at Martyrs' last night.
Already Mine MASTER by Dance Floor Plans
Lately it seems like there's been a resurgance of funk and soul music in Chicago. Bands like JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound and The Right Now are gaining some national attention and other talented local gems like Dance Floor Plans keep popping up on the scene.
Despite the fact that DFP are a fairly new act, last night they sounded like they've been grooving for years. That's probably because in many of the band members' cases, they have. Guitarist/vocalist James Johnston spent years in Chicago's similar sounding Bumpus. Singer Tina Howell claims in her lyrics that shes a "simple woman," but her voice is anything but simple. Her velvety croon and Johnston's rich tenor created a unique harmony that drove the band's robust instrumental department.
Dance Floor Plans finds the balance between funk and soul, giving members a chance to showcase their talents--shout out to trumpet player Ethan Bulak for whipping out an electric clarinet mid-set. Was that a Whammy pedal you were playing it through?--and keep the flow of the songs moving. Yes, dancing is obviously their end game and I was amazed to see so many folks cutting loose so early in the night.
Sadly, a previous engagement forced me to leave towards the end of Dance Floor Plans' set, but I literally stopped half-way to the exit, turned around and rushed back to the front of the stage when I heard the opening notes of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" blast through the sound system. An excellent rendition further proved that Dance Floor Plans deserve some attention.
