Infectious grooves Flow into the Pig

By Chris Kula

Daily Arts Editor

With the exception of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and a slew of couch-burning jokes, the farmlands of East Lansing haven't produced anything especially noteworthy for some time now.

That is, until The Flow started jamming out.

A six-piece group comprised of former and current MSU students, The Flow has, in a matter of mere months, climbed to the upper plateau of gigging bands in Michigan. Playing what they call "bayou-friendly island soul rock," the members of The Flow bring a variety of musical styles - including energetic Latin/African rhythms, dance-oriented funk grooves and jazz-like improvisation - to the stage.

And, according to bassist Brett Bielski, the band's onstage appearances have become more and more frequent over a short period of time.

"We really only started playing out six months ago, but it's really taken off since then," Bielski said. "We'd been playing together in different lineups just for fun, but when we decided to start something for real, it all just fell into place."

Considering the rich sounds present on the band's seven track demo, that might even be something of an understatement. From the Earth, Wind and Fire-esque jazz-pop of "Kahlia" to the spirited covers of the Meters' "Cabbage Alley" and Dr. John's "Goin' Back to New Orleans," The Flow sounds remarkably mature and well-textured for a relatively young band.

The rhythm section of Bielski and former Jawas drummer John Cassidy is consistently solid and is complemented nicely by the underlying Hammond organ of Derek Young, the tasteful guitar work of Zack Pearce and the smooth saxophone stylings of Diego Rivera. The band benefits from strong group harmonies, lead primarily by vocalist/percussionist Ted Moss.

"We added our saxophone player around Christmas break, and he sounds awesome," Bielski. "Also, our friend Colin, who's a great guitarist at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, has played with us in the past and he'll be coming in for the Blind Pig show."

Saturday night's headlining slot at the Pig marks both the first Ann Arbor appearance for The Flow, as well an important date on the band's calendar.

"I mean, the Blind Pig is it as far as Michigan clubs go," Bielski said. "We're really doing our best to promote this show, to get people out there, because it's really a big night for us. Ann Arbor's such a cool town, and we really want to do well there."

In terms of drawing a sizable crowd to the Pig, The Flow will have some great help courtesy of opening band Smokestack. A five man blues-rock jamband, Smokestack has been steadily earning more and more gigs throughout the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area and, in terms of dance-inspiring grooves, its past two headlining shows at the Pig have been worth far more than the $5 cover. With its growing momentum, keyboardist and LSA sophomore James Sibley IV feels that the band is on the cusp of a new musical direction.

"Chuck (Newsome, guitarist) is in Wayne State's jazz studies program, and I'm taking a jazz improv class at the School of Music, and we definitely want to bring that influence into our music," Sibley said. "We're starting to write more complicated things than your straight-ahead blues stuff, starting to branch out, and it's all pretty cool."

band Smokestack. A five man blues-rock jamband, Smokestack has been steadily earning more and more gigs throughout the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area and, in terms of dance-inspiring grooves, its past two headlining shows at the Pig have been worth far more than the $5 cover. With its growing momentum, keyboardist and LSA sophomore James Sibley IV feels that the band is on the cusp of a new musical direction.

"Chuck (Newsome, guitarist) is in Wayne State's jazz studies program, and I'm taking a jazz improv class at the School of Music, and we definitely want to bring that influence into our music," Sibley said. "We're starting to write more complicated things than your straight-ahead blues stuff, starting to branch out, and it's all pretty cool."

Photo courtesy of The Flow

The six members of The Flow describe their sound as "island-friendly soul rock."