On Feb. 17, the Theatre of Living Arts hosted the eight-member New Orleans brass ensemble, the Soul Rebels, who put on a killer show that had the whole crowd rocking back and forth with ear to ear grins.
With no openers or dull moments waiting in between sets, the show included several of the group’s great original pieces as well as an eclectic mix of covers including Queen’s beloved “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” and Eurythmics’ hit synth-pop song, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” All band members seemed to contribute to the vocals at some point with harmonies proving their talent went beyond their instruments.
Their energy was more than enough to keep everyone on their toes during a hump-day show. On more than one occasion, the entire crowd was asked to perform synchronized dance moves, swaying side to side, and even dropping it low, without bringing it back up until the entire crowd participated.
Halfway through the show, world-renowned Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli came out and performed some of his classic hits with the rich sounds of live brass adding an unforgettable twist. Songs such as “Get By,” “I Try” and others had more energy than ever before. The fluidity of this collaboration, however, came as no surprise.
The Soul Rebels are known for their tour collaborations with groups and artists ranging from Metallica, Slick Rick, Styles P, The String Cheese Incident and many more. They will continue their tour on the east coast before heading to California, and then finishing it off in their birthplace, New Orleans, Louisiana.