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Photos by: Molly Buckiewicz (https://www.mojophotography.org/)
Writing by: Greg Powell
Hailing from Colorado, The Motet has gathered a cult following over the last few years and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. I remember seeing them for the first time at their annual, Halloween mountain show and having it be the highlight of my year. I felt like I was in a time warp back to the funk era. It was refreshing to hear such a passionate tribute to old school funk, performed with such energy and raw musicianship. It was obvious at the time that they were in a league of their own, demanding a larger stage and much-deserved recognition. Since then they have released several albums, built a devoted fan base and worked their way up to be Red Rocks headliners.
Sunday’s show at the Midtown Ballroom in Bend, OR was one for the books. The venue was packed early with excited fans ready for a night of shameless dancing. The opener, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, got things warmed up quickly with their jazz-influenced jams. Medeski was a master on the keyboards and the use of a Sousaphone as their bass instrument really added another element to the performance.
By the time The Motet took the stage the whole crowd was ready to move. They eased into their set with the lights turned low and an instrumental jam. Lead singer Lyle Divinsky jumped on stage and the band dropped into a hard-hitting single from their new album. People of all ages and backgrounds crowded the front, ready to let loose. The band built more energy the longer they played and were able to streamline their set, with minimal downtime between songs. There are not many groups that can start a party with the opening song and keep the crowd dancing hard through their encore.
Their latest release, Death or Devotion, is a 10-track studio album, released via their own music label. It is a well-rounded compilation of catchy singles and badass funk tunes. Make sure to give it a listen and stay up to date on The Motet’s upcoming tour dates, most notably July 12th when they will be back at Red Rocks with Galactic for another rowdy night of music and good times.
For more check out our podcast episode with Dave Watts, the founder of the Motet.
