Fat Night Live Review

Fat Boxing Night | Fat Night Live Review | Will’s Pub | December 26, 2015

by • January 1, 2016

Boxing Day is an English holiday where people dress in boxes and throw fists. Don’t Google that statement. The internet is prone to lies, and you may get unfairly confused. Will’s Pub celebrated Boxing Day properly this year, with Dumberbunnies, Zap Dragon and The Attack, Fat Night, and a “fight” between two grown men dressed as Christmas presents.

The vibe is celebratory. Folks trickling in after 10:00, bellies full of holiday leftovers, sporting new shoes. It is the kind of night where nothing promises to stand out above anything else.

Fat Night comes highly recommended by respected local musicians. They stand there looking like Ivy League cliches, four white guys, one in a short sleeve button-down, another in a baggy sweatshirt, all with beautiful teeth.

We know better than to limit ourselves by making judgments based on appearances. Still, judgment creeps in. A soul band full of young white dudes? This can go well, but will not be legendary. Then Daniel Hanson’s guitar comes in, driven by Ted Issen’s bass groove, kept in time by Nik Ritchie’s drums, and punctuated by Gabriel Gundacker’s monumental personality on the keys. Prejudice floats away into the steam of the room.

Sweaty, sexy music ensues. Nasty, filthy funk going down smooth as Cabernet. One minute we hear the sound of Stevie Wonder, the next, the influence of D’Angelo. Strangers rubbing sweaty elbows with comic grins.

Latin influence rears its head. Now we are moving our hips in some kind of salsa interpretation. Dance partners begin to blur. Lines of connection cross. No one dares move to the bar for a refill. All voids are filled, overflowed by Fat Night’s sweet soul.

Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, salsa, how do we categorize this band? “When I wake up in the morning, love,” comes the first line of the first cover of the night. Covering Bill Withers is a bold move — a statement of self-aware confidence. Fat Night is taking “Lovely Day” and making it their own.

Fortunately for Orlando, Fat Night hails from here and will no doubt be quick to return to adoring hometown fans when the schedule allows. Unfortunately, the band is relocating to Chicago. If the universe entertains justice for quality, major festivals and high-profile opening gigs will abound for Fat Night in the coming years.

Boxing night felt like the kickoff to something special. Sure, two grown men dressed as presents boxed for our enjoyment. But Fat Night is the real deal. We expect big things from them nationally. If Chicago does not work out, Orlando will welcome them back with open arms. For now, cheers to Will’s Pub and Boxing Day 2015 for bringing us a Fat Boxing Night.        

Fat Night Live Review by Jason Earle, edited by Matthew Weller


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