Slavic Soul Party! needs no introduction – and in fact, when they played Tuesday, February 19th at Barbès, they had none. “So, uh, in conclusion, this is Slavic Soul Party” Matt Moran, the band’s composer and percussionist, a wiry, gregarious figure, stated. And they were off.
What else is there to say about the band that has played at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn almost every Tuesday for almost 15 years? They have established themselves as an institution in the neighborhood and the number of veteran audience members often vastly outnumbers the first-timers. Musicians are added throughout the night (and the band’s lineup has been subject to rotations and adjustments over the years), but the group is primarily comprised of trumpets, drums, an accordion, a tuba, and a saxophone.
Even those fairly unfamiliar with the general genre of Balkan brass will recognize and appreciate the dance-worthy elements that have been sampled in Billboard-topping dance anthems like Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” and Fifth Harmony’s “Worth It.” Though the comparison is doubtless rather insulting to fans of Balkan brass and Slavic Soul Party! specifically, the overarching idea is simple – their music generates movement.
It is remarkably impressive to witness the endurance of these musicians, particularly those on wind instruments (though Moran danced around and playfully engaged the audience while seemingly effortlessly balancing the weight and enormity of his bass drum). Slavic Soul Party! serves up music that is infectious and energetic – all the more so due to the band’s lively stage presence, despite the fact that Barbès barely offers a stage. However, the lack of a physical separation between the audience and the band allows the band to mix and dance right along with those in the audience.
Slavic Soul Party! can be seen playing at Barbès nearly every Tuesday night from 9 PM to around midnight for a small cover charge (10 dollars). Select merchandise is also available for purchase, including CDs, t-shirts, and occasionally vinyl records. To find out more about other, less regularly scheduled events, or for a somewhat more reliable venue for purchasing the band’s various merchandise, visit their homepage at http://slavicsoulparty.com. Their music can be streamed on Spotify or purchased on iTunes, but nothing beats the experience of dancing to the collaborative art created by these passionate and skilled musicians.
