This month Perpetual Groove has two shows in Virginia, one at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville on March 5, and the other in Richmond at the National on the 26.  If you are already planning on coming, then I look forward to see you at both shows; however, if you have not yet made up your mind yet, you may want to consider the following:

Based out of Athens, Georgia, P-Groove has been one of the premiere jam bands for over a decade.  In that time they have dominated the festival scene, playing Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Jamcruise, Langerado, Bear Creek and the infamous Jam in the Dam.  The band tours exhaustively from coast to coast, often playing four or more shows a week for months at a time.  That they are able to do this and have received such notoriety for a number of reasons speaks to their incredible pedigree.

Their songs comprise elements of driven arena rock with subtle electronic overtones.  Bassist Adam Perry knocks you back as he thumps away, rattling your chest and shaking the ground itself.  Albert Suttle appears stoic behind his drum kit, his rhythmic sense so precise it seems inhuman, behind his eyes the mechanical tick of both madman and drumming machine.  On piano, John Hruby is the band’s newest member.  He turns black and white keys into a variety of funk, jazz, and pure disco, and he also sings harmonies that raise the hairs on your neck and arms as if struck by a cattle prod.  Frontman and guitarist Brock Buttler is part musician and part mad scientist.  His rig comprises of many varieties of guitars, including a lap steel and a recently added synthesizer to complement Hruby and add his own rich textural tones.

Without a doubt Perpetual Groove captures the indescribable element that discerns good bands from the best.  The fact that their fans, lovingly known as “Perps,” travel miles across the country, through inclement weather and in an abysmal economy to catch show after show, simply for the moment when the song crescendos and the rush of adrenaline spikes, is evidence of their clout.  With each opportunity to see P-Groove comes the chance to connect with each other and the raw richness of their musical performance.  I will be tapping into this sensation on the 6^th and 26^th of March, and I hope to see you there.

PGroove.com

By Photojournalist: James Young

James has been an avid music enthusiast and photographer since childhood.  At age nine, he attended his first concert with his parents, seeing Phil Collins at the Sky Dome in Toronto.  He would consistently be found playing in his father's darkroom, but has received little formal training in his art.  For James, the fusion of photography and music occurred after leaving college to tour extensively across the country.  James has returned to Richmond to finish his degree in Political Science and is an active force in the music scene.  The beginnings of his comprehensive library of local and national acts can be found on his website: RichmondImage.com.