REVIEW: Mama Kettle (Deko)

- Marni Rosenblatt

As we sat in interview-mode at their Mercury Lounge show soundcheck I began to wonder if the profuse usage of the word "groove" by Mama Kettle's Steven Broderick had any place in what I would write about them. After the show, it all came together. "Groove" and the "integrity of the song" took on new meaning on this freezing Wednesday night.

They might be compared to The Black Crowes on first listen; maybe they *are* kind of like The Red Hot Chili Peppers on stage. But upon closer inspection, Alan Stuart, Jordan West, Michael Felix, Marc Meisel and Steven Broderick take influence from these bands (and,less obviously, everything else from the Jackson 5 to Black Sabbath) but bring something unique to their surging, funky meld of musical styles.

Mama Kettle's angle is their obvious passion for their music. About 10 months ago, they shook off their day-jobs and dedicated themselves to creating and developing their genre-busting rock-funk-soul music. The band now makes business of travelling the Northeast college circuit to get their music to the people. On this once a month trip to the city, they played an early show to a riveted industry audience at the Mercury Lounge.

The small venue could barely contain the crowded party atmosphere. Their translation to performance shed new light and new energy on the songs from their debut CD, Mama Kettle and the Exploited Freaks Travelling Sideshow Band. Alan Stuart's music and Steven Broderick's lyrics with collaborative adjustment by Meisel, West and Felix comprise a "groove" that commands attention. Songs like "(Thank God We're) Not The Next Band" and "Love Is Wasted On Me" moved the crowd with the most memorable of melodic hooks. If only passion for your art and undeniable talent made one a success...groove is a really important lesson to learn, and with Mama Kettle on stage, school is most certainly in.