Eminence Ensemble Premiers New LP And More To Denver's Cervantes Last Friday!
Ad
Eminence -- meaning fame, notability, or prestige -- may seem like quite the prediction to set as a band, in the name of the group no less. But it doesn’t feel like that was the intention with Eminence Ensemble. Wouldn’t a band chasing nothing but fame and popularity, be making much more generic music? It appears that they’re after the embodiment of a different definition of the word: a projection, an outcrop, something bursting from the scene. Now that seems to fit, especially after Friday’s performance at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom. The six-piece outfit emitted unstoppable energy throughout the whole night and left us buzzing.
Dog City Disco warmed up the stage and the ballroom for those trickling in. A little light funk-rock with a touch of psychedelia set the mood for the extravaganza to come.
Jack Cloonan Band had me stompin’ and hollerin’ with their unique brand of blues-rock. They’ve got just enough of all the musical flavors for a damn delicious recipe, no matter your tastes. If you’re savvy to surf rock, bluegrass, country, psyche-rock, disco, you name it, Jack Cloonan and company have what you crave. Their frontman and eponymous singer, Mr. Cloonan himself, kept things fun and breezy. The crowd especially loved a little ditty about “Cocaine Country Dancing” but plenty of original songs hit the spot too.
After sitting in for a couple of numbers with Jack Cloonan, Eminence members Taylor and Johnny were joined by their other bandmates and an odyssey of improvisational fusion ensued. This ensemble truly does play as one, allowing all members to explore their musical reaches and reel the energy back in. It’s so synchronous that you might miss it if you’re not watching closely.
The guitar solos are endlessly enrapturing, ranging from shredding to whimsical to purely melting. Eminence Ensemble played a handful of tracks off of their new full-length album, Real News, but leaned heavily into their exploratory nature. The shimmering, cascading lights in every color on the spectrum melded with the groove and forged a complete spectacle. It was mesmerizing, palpitating, and most of all, inescapable. Their sound draws you in and entices you to follow where it leads, which could be anywhere. Since every EE journey is different, be sure to be a part of the next one.
Ad