The Revivalists

City of Sound (Wind-Up)

Originally self-released in 2012, City of Sound gets a spiffed-up reissue with an extra disc of eight live tracks. The Revivalists are New Orleans’ latest groove monsters, combining all types of American music into a whole that’s unlike anything that’s come before it. City of Sound finds the septet getting creative with horns, pedal steel, and keyboard, evoking the swamp with the spooky “Upright” and getting smooth yet funky on “Chase’s House.” The hour-long live set, some of which was recorded at New Orleans hot spot Tipitina’s, uncorks all the band can do. They come across as a Galactic/Widespread Panic hybrid: exotic rhythms punctuated by horn blasts, the occasional soaring guitar solo, and David Shaw’s lead vocals a buttery rasp. A towering guitar and saxophone duel on “Concrete (Fish Out of Water)” demonstrates the Revivalists ability to take a jam some place unexpected and sublime. (1am, Blackheart)

***.5

This article appears in March 14 • 2014.

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