WERS 88.9 fm Artist Interview: Zap Mama

Upon watching “Soul” and “R&B” programming on MTV, one needn’t look much further to see that hardly any worthwhile artists who purport to be a part of these genre have made themselves eminent in the mainstream. This downplay of good R&B in the media might lead us to believe that there simply will never be another Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin. And while this may very well be true, I cannot resist the lure of a great group of musicians who know their roots. A wildly talented (and completely gorgeous) female lead singer certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

The ability to get a crowd moving, and to temporarily distract the audience from the main event is the true mark of a great opening band. Based on these criteria, The Platinum Pied Pipers and company pass with flying colors. The duo rocked the Paradise Rock Club with a very solid set, brimful of heavy grooves and sexy melodies. Singer Georgia lit up the stage with her strong presence and phenomenal vocal style.

Stunning voices proved thematic at the Paradise on Monday as the prolific Zap Mama took the stage for a performance bordering on theatrical. Onomatopoeic harmonies flooded the room as the rhythm section locked in. The chorus of leading ladies set the stage aflame with wild melodic chants that kept the audience yearning for more. The musicianship was only rivaled by the unique mystique of Zap Mama.

It should be mentioned that initially Zap Mama performed strictly a cappella music. Having a full band only served to heighten the intensity of the Zap Mama live experience. Soulful bass lines, blistering guitar licks and airtight drums complimented the globally influenced songs that bore touches of everything from African to Latin American music. The choice to tour with a band essentially made the show, while allowing the singers to shine their brightest.

After seeing the show, these two bands touring together seems like a perfect fit. Both groups vibrate with soul, and know exactly how to captivate a crowd (which, due to a massive pole in front of the stage at the Paradise, can prove to be rather difficult.) I am always the last person to start dancing at shows, so nothing elates this reviewer quite so much as seeing a concert that can actually get him dancing from start to finish. Granted, I’m probably the worst dancer you’ll ever see, but nobody around me seemed to mind.