The Rozatones

Walking around listening to Speedometer in my earphones months ago, I really wished I could see them live, or at least see a band playing their type of music.  I must not have been playing close enough attention to the local music scene, because there is a band here in Ithaca, the Rozatones, who venture into Speedometer territory.  They opened for Freekbass at the Haunt on Thursday night; if the show had ended after the Rozatones I would already have gotten my money's worth.  The Rozatones are a seven-piece band of Ithaca College students, led by singer/guitarist Revi Roza.  I had high hopes for the set given that the lineup includes a two-man horn section, a keyboardist, and an extra percussionist, and my hopes were fulfilled.  They played a mix of rock, funk, soul, and blues that reminds me of great bands of the 70s (Rufus and Chaka Khan come to mind), the band was tight, the soloing was adept, and the keyboard had all the classic funk sounds in it--Rhodes, Hammond, Clavinet, Moog--what more could you want?  And they were all so into it!  It was an impressive set from a band who are all half my age!  Arrgh!  My preference is for the faster numbers, when everybody really gets down and lets rip, but the slower songs move along quite well too and give Revi room to showcase her powerful voice.  Here's one of the latter:

I scored some cool records at a record show today, I'll have some prime cuts coming up from them in the next week or so.  Tonight, there's Afrobeat right here in River City!  Finally!  I'm heading out to Castaways to catch The Afromotive.