Omega Love @ the Thunderbird Café, Pittsburgh, 11.22.08

November 26th, 2008 - by Niles Rockwell

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It’s not often that I’m pleasantly surprised checking out new music.  But in this town, it’s easy to be let down.

Not so this time.  Saturday night found me at the Thunderbird Café in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh’s up-and-coming hipster stopping grounds.  Omega Love were already into their set when I showed up.  Decent crowd, too, for such a bitter cold night in Western PA.

It had been some time since I last saw this local group.  They are a female-fronted funky, spacey, groovy, jazzy kind of outfit with a chunk of soul in there, too.  Not usually the type of music that gets me juices flowing, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t dig the sounds.

Musicianship alone was enough to turn me around.  These cats are tight.  It’s been a while since I heard a group lock in to a groove and keep it right there without going over the top and screwing up a good thing.  That kind of playing is rare for a band on this level.

Drummer Jon Rent kept it in the pocket the whole time, rarely getting flashy back there or deviating from the kick pattern, the plague of so many drummers…although, the disco wig was A LOT tacky.  He and bassist Joe Rusnak were inseparable all night, as the rhythm section should be.  The grooves were fat and the drum patterns were kickin’.  I was feeling it.  Kudos guys.  A lot of you other players should take note:  Less is more.  More is messy.

Occasionally, guitarist Luke Williams would lock in with the others, thickening up their riffs.  And his tone was one of the best I’ve heard around here in a long time-warm and clean with great feel.  Their stuff was definitely original and very well written, although it’s easy to liken them to Jamiroquai.  Still, it felt pretty darn fresh.

What keeps them sounding fresh is smoky-voiced singer Jocelyn Geisler.  She really brings it all together and gives the group their signature sound.  Her vocals float above the rest of the band and are soulful and well executed without trying to be over-zealous in her runs.  She kept it where it should be and everything gelled well around her.

I can see their sound being the perfect backdrop for a Vegas lounge, conjuring up a “Swingers” moment for me.  They bring good danceable grooves without demanding your full attention or drowning out everything around you.  I was impressed.  Keyboardist Jim Barr added some synth elements to the mix, sometimes getting a little too blippy for me.  I liked it better when he kept it classic with piano and Rhodes sounds, but I think some nice organ would boost it up a bit.

On shear musicianship, this band has it down.  Throw in some tight and funky jazz grooves with some female swagger and you got yourself a soul machine.  These guys would be the perfect ticket for swanky gigs around town where rock bands may be a bit much.  But with a little tweaking in the aesthetics department (let’s lose the hoodies and jeans and get some suits on fellas), I see them going a helluva lot further.  Check them out if they are coming your way.  I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised, too.