If you forced yourself to stand still and look around for just a moment at the JAM last week, you found yourself surrounded by grungy free spirits, roaring frat stars and plain-Janes alike, all getting the funk down and chanting three little words: Chicken. Pot. Pie.
Zach Deputy pressed the pause button on all things non-funk related during his two exceptional performances Friday night at the JAM. The line to get into the venue was longer than usual, formed by a wide-range of music lovers, each being lured in by the beautiful sounds radiating from the backyard.
Via: Tyler Hunt
By 9:30 Zach D’s first set had transformed the outside area of the JAM into a full-blown groovefest. His performance of “Put It in the Boogie” sent surges of funk swelling through the crowd, with a swift calypso-style backbeat, seamless plucking of nylon strings and Deputy’s layered vocal beatboxing overhead. Layers of clothing were being stripped off left and right as the non-stop boogie of the crowd began to form a cloud of body heat around the outdoor dance floor.
Andrew Fagin and Billy Schmucker drew incentive to remain standing in the cold with an acoustic performance in between Deputy’s sets. The duo took over the stage and generated a vibe that strayed far from the boring norm of a concert recess. Their set featured acoustic covers of classic bangers along with original raps to the quick rhythms of their guitars.
As the temperature continued to drop during Zach D’s second set, the best plan of action was to alternate positions between the easily-accessible front row of the crowd and the huge bonfire located behind the sound stage. Deputy’s live looping technique allowed for a full-band effect that made it impossible for every able human body not to move in some way or another. Whether in the midst of the crowd or cuddled up next to the huge ass fire, the vibes were inconceivable.
Via: Tyler Hunt
I had the pleasure of experiencing both viewing areas: At one point, I found myself cuddling up next to the flames while watching a good friend work a light-up hula hoop in sync to Deputy’s sweet serenade of “Sweet Renee.” In the next moment I was up front, gyrating in the middle of a united crowd repeatedly belting out the only three words that I could make of the lyrics of “chicken pot pie.”
Other silly lyrics that encompassed the crowd in a state of appetizing funk included those of a song named “Tube Steak,” in which Deputy’s octave range soared up and down while he sang “You only want me for my tube steak and my collard greens.”
The word to describe the night, however, has nothing to do with dinner entrées. That word is talent. Remarkable, unprecedented talent. Talent that inspires a large crowd of fairly unrelated people to jump around, hold hands and sing “chicken pot pie’” together. Zach Deputy shared not one, but two sets of his extraordinary talent with us.
Via: Tyler Hunt
Local talent wrapped up the night with an indoor performance by Gainesville’s own soulful pop funk quartet Flat Land. The group kept the crowd on their seemingly frostbitten toes through a journey of dreamy melodies garnished with funk and soul-drenched rock n’ roll.
Zach D could be found mingling with the crowd after the end of his second set and giving out his famous bear hugs to all who asked—yet another distinct quality that sets him apart from other musicians. The evening, put together by Organic Vision Presents, ended on a note that successfully rejuvenated any and all who had forgotten the sheer power of raw, musical talent—and the strange appeal of chicken pot pie.
Feature photo courtesy of: Grateful Music Publications
