By Aaron Davis (for JHWeekly.com)
Jackson Hole, Wyo. - A band’s evolution is often thought of in a timeline of years together. For Orgone (pronounced with a long second “o”), it’s a key consideration that the eight-piece tours nearly nonstop. In 2011 alone, the L.A.-based band played 288 shows – a tough equation for an indie band that is not riding in a grand tour bus and sleeping in posh hotels.Orgone has become a staple on the festival circuit – Bonnaroo, All Good, New Orleans JazzFest, High Sierra, Bear Creek, SXSW, and moe.down top the list – while humble beginnings date back to early 1999 when the band formed as an instrumental quintet.“We pretty much grew up together since we were teenagers and were in and out of various projects together before we finally decided to form our own band,” guitarist Sergio Rios told itsthefreshmen.com in August. “As a five-piece, we were covering our heroes … The Meters, Booker T, JBs, Parliament and Funkadelic. It’s been a nice arc of evolution as we’ve kept amassing different influences. Every time someone gets really inundated with a certain style – like Afrobeat – everyone has dedicated themselves to owning it.”Borrowing its name from what is scientifically referred to as “a universal life force” or “the creative force in nature,” the band now features a powerful three-piece horn section and a fiery soul singer in Louisiana native Niki J. Crawford. Crawford has infused attitude and smoke into an already tight collaborative, drawing comparisons to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
Orgone has also studied classic rhythm sections like the Funk Brothers, world groups like Fela Kuti and Cymande, as well as Al Green, War and Grant Green. The ensemble has released five albums since 2002, with number six scripted for this fall, New You. A video featuring the new single, “Say Goodbye,” can be viewed exclusively on Relix.com.“New You is 85 percent lyrical tunes, and we brought in some great songwriters to help with that,” Rios said. “We are big fans of analog recording and old school production and vintage equipment. Not necessarily to sound old, but to hone in on a sound that honors our heroes with legitimacy and reverence, and yet still has something new and fresh for people.”Orgone has also developed into a go-to backing band. Cee Lo Green enlisted the band for his multiple Grammy-winning track, “Fool For Love,” as well as major label recordings for Alicia Keys (“Teenage Love Affair,” “Wreckless Love”), Estelle (“Pretty Please”), Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Anthony Hamilton. Collectively and individually, band members have also toured and played with Booker T Jones, The Pharcyde, Breakestra, Keb Mo, Plantlife, Macy Grey, Pharoahe Monch, Too Short, Brett Dennan and Slick Rick.It’s these collaborations combined with incessant touring that make Orgone a super tight group with serious chops. A pulsing groove interspersed with heavy percussion and horn-driven instrumentals, the under-appreciated elements of close friendship and self-taught musicianship puts icing on the cake. This is a rhythm-focused ship with a welcoming vibe that groove-based dancers will revel in, with enough improvisation for you jamband lovers, and plenty of worldly jaunts to culture us all.This is the forefront of the soul-funk revival, so get on board. It’s not off-season, yet.Orgone, 10 p.m., Monday, at the Pink Garter Theatre. $10 advance, $12 day-of-show at PinkGarterTheatre.com or at The Rose.