We Went There: Cymande at the Varsity Theater
Cymande, a once forgotten but now legendary British soul/funk group who were dug, literally, from the crates of obscurity by early hip hop legends who mined their beats, are getting a late career resurgence from a recent documentary and a late but well-deserve recognition for their timeless grooves.
Like many “discovered” bands I’ve seen, there was a crowd that was a few standard deviations above normal concert crowd appreciation on a winter Thursday in Minneapolis when Cymande hit the Varsity Theater stage. It wasn’t a totally packed venue, but it was plenty full and the people in the crowd ate up both the classic material and the handful of songs from their new LP Renascence. The songs blended funky afro beat, classic funk and soul, and a gritty rock and roll vibe that the nine-piece band showcased in a muscular fashion over the 85+ minute set.
The horns were sharp, the bass was galloping and had heads nodding, and drum breakdowns got the crowd moving. The band’s sound mixed complex with profane, a mix that allowed the diehards to freak out and the guests they brought, who may not have known a ton about the band, to get into the mood throughout the set. The group showcased their mix of tight musicianship on classic songs like the bombastic “Bra,” Crawshay” and “Brothers on the Slide” and the more simmering, methodical “Getting it Back” and “Dove.” The new songs held their own, wrapping funky grooves and rich melodies in a way that allowed them to stand their own beside the classic material. I haven’t jumped into the new LP yet, but these songs make me excited to check it out. At least live, the songs weren’t just bloated retreads of a band cashing in.
Opening the night was guitar/synth duo Bathe, who brought a futurist R&B, with a sound that was a bit like Frank Ocean if he was trying to make a 90’s radio hit. At one point I thought that they sounded like if a band tried to make a living off recreating Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” which you can take however you want. It was a more chill, thoughtful brand of the music of Cymande, and their set helped open the night and get folks warmed up for the headliner.
Writer / co-founder
