The mood was set. Reggae and Afro-beats blared through the speakers – including a reggae remix of Alicia Keys’ current smash hit “No One” – as the crowd slowly filled up at Southpaw in Park Slope, Brooklyn last night to see Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad open for John Brown’s Body. They took the stage twenty minutes after 9pm and did not disappoint. They won the crowd over with their tight jams and steady beats, setting a rare relaxed, yet pumped-up mood as they made their way through an hour long set of 11 songs.

 

Beginning with “One Source,” the band out of Rochester, New York, almost seemed to emulate a Dave Matthews Band quality, with laid back, chilled out jamming, and a powerful message sent out through vocals and lyrics.

 

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – or “Giant Panda” as I am so cleverly now calling them – is made up of Matthew O’Brian (guitar, vocals), Christopher O’Brian (drums), James Searl (bass, vocals), Rachel Orke (Rhodes piano, melodica), Dylan Savage (guitar, vocals), Buddy Honeycutt (percussion, vocals & best name EVER), and Aaron Lipp (Hammond B3 organ). For a band that large, they certainly know how to blend together perfectly. Often times, they swayed together while playing, indicating that each member was in the moment, feeling the music they were making.

 

“Work Very Hard” and “Good to You” followed after “One Source” with great results. “Work Very Hard” is one of those songs that is unique enough to fit multiple occasions, whether on the beach or chilling out at a party after a long work week. The guitar playing was particularly strong during “Work Very Hard.” “Good to You” filled the venue with good harmonies, upbeat music, and an introspective message. A more mainstream pop artist on the radio today might match such a poignant message with a mournful piano solo, but not Giant Panda. The band maintained their carefree attitude.

 

“Easy Way Out” was a highlight of the night. Giant Panda once again wowed the sold-out crowd, performing as a firm musical entity. Harmonies, vocals, guitars, bass, percussion, organ, etc., were all in fine showing during this song. It was a head-bopping good time. Another strong point of the evening was “In These Times,” which had a strong finish that added extra oomph to an already great showing.

 

Perhaps the best song of the night was “Missing You More.”  The harmonies were tight, and the music flowed seamlessly with lonely, on-the-road lyrics. “Sending the message of love to my people back home and I’m missing you more,” the song goes. “How long must depression build? Oh father, oh mother, oh sister, I’m missing you more.”  Compare this, for a moment, to the sappy lyrics of a more well-known song with the same intentions, such as Daughtry’s “Home,” or even Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page,” and you really understand what makes Giant Panda so special. Even in their more ‘angst-y’ songs, their music stays positive and upbeat. It’s okay to relate to that feeling of homesickness or frustration with love, or the events going on in the world, because their music reminds you that it’s all in passing. Giant Panda knows there’s a silver lining, and a happier soundtrack playing somewhere in the background of your problems.

 

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be on tour through June. You can see them tonight at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey, Saturday night at Revolution Hall in Troy, New York, and on New Year’s Eve at Smith Opera Hall in Geneva, New York. Be sure to look at  the BTR Calendar  to get a full list of their tour dates. Also, check out their performance on  BTR Live Studio!