What?  You weren’t there?  Where were you?  Don’t you know what you missed?

*listens*

*scoffs*

No, seriously.  That’s not really an excuse.  You’re going to have to do better next time.  I mean, do what you wanna do, it’s not like we’re going to judge you or anything, but it’s your funeral, really…’Cuz the rest of us were treated to something that was pretty much awesome.  Yup, put another W in the column, because Analogue Transit’s show last night at Southpaw was, you know, for the win. True, those of us here at ATR headquarters may be just the teeny-tiniest bit biased (myself included), but I have a roomful of people I’m sure would back us up.  The crowd was large and all-around fantastic, giving good energy for the band to feed off of and give something back.

As for highlights?  Where oh where should I begin?

• One word:  live.  The show was live, the guys were live, the crowd was live.  And I mean that in all variations of the word’s meaning. If you weren’t there, then… well, I guess you weren’t live.
• Another word:  Sam.  The newest addition to the band brought a new element to the live show, giving the band a nice full surround-sound like presence in the venue and proving to be a certified crowd pleaser.  Not to mention being sickly talented.  And this was only his third show?  Get outta here.  There was some good old-fashioned, seasoned professional calm and cool going on behind the drum kit last night.
• Jeff flexing the golden pipes.  That’s right, boy wonder got a chance to strut his vocal stuff last night, singing solo on the bridge during “Breathe.”  There were handclaps and wolf whistles and I might have even seen a lady or two swoon.  It was powerful stuff people…
• “Breathe.”  The crowd last night was among the first to hear an alternate version of this favorite single from the band’s first album.  Not only did it feature the aforementioned Jeff on the breakdown, but there was a killer drum solo in the middle and Kwaku’s vocals have been treated to a new arrangement that really sends the song soaring.
• Kwaku covering Chaka Demus and Pliers with a “Murder She Wrote” breakdown in the middle of what was perhaps the most amped up performance of Blackout Artist I’ve ever seen/heard. You know he’s got the chops, but have you ever heard him break it down ragga-stylee?

So, if you missed it, we’ll just put a big ol’ L in that column for you.  But fret not, because there are other opportunities for you to redeem yourselves in the near future as ATR continue to rock their way through the summer.  Check the Tour Schedule for show dates, locations, and times, and come out to support.

Also:  there’s a little bit of great big news cresting over the horizon.  Stay tuned here for more information so you’ll be the first to know.  And so you won’t be a L…. well, you know.