CONCERT REVIEW
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VAN HUNT @ SMITH’S OLDE BAR 7/29/06

I’m branching out a bit here! i would like to go on record as saying that this is probably THE BEST live show I’ve ever been to! Van and his band are an incredibly well oiled machine in the tradition of James Brown and Prince. In addition to being the frontman, Van’s also taking on the role of “conductor” if you will
The band started out with a tune I wasn’t familiar with and then fell seamlessly into “If I Take You Home,” the first track on his new record. After that, they started up “Seconds Of Pleasure” with a slightly different intro than what was on the record, but once it fell in, he took the audience deep into the sexy groove of that tune. A little later on, they played some of the more rock numbers of the set with fantastic versions of “After A Slow Dance,” and “Ride Ride Ride,” that were (at least in the case of the latter) better than their recorded counterparts! Again, the band was driven by Hunt’s expert showmanship, definitely a marked improvement from the already great show they played at 10 High in March.
As great as Van Hunt’s albums are, you only get a TRUE sense of who he is as a person and as a musician thru his live show. Not only is the show great, but it’s FUN!!! I danced, sang, snapped, clapped, jumped, etc. with the rest of the very enthusiastic audience at Smith’s. Catch him soon cuz you won’t be able to get $15 tickets to his shows for long!