Written by: Shay Coulson | Photo(s) by: Miguel Mendoza
The Motet Debut Multiple New Songs During Two-Night SLC Tour Kickoff
The Motet kicked off their winter Keep On Don’t Stoppin’ Tour over the weekend with a double header at Salt Lake City, UT’s The Commonwealth Room.
With the tour named after the six-piece’s 2022 mantra, the band definitely layed down a continuous flow of funk over the weekend. Joined by Denver-based four-piece Magic Beans, the two-night run fed a hearty dose of jam and bass-filled grooves to the disco ball-lit venue.
Joining on tour for the first time included special guest guitarist and vocalist Collin Miller, who respectively took the place of The Motet’s former frontman, Lyle Divinsky. With a new member and fresh start to the winter tour, the band played through several new song debuts throughout the weekend, including the “sit back and relax” new-age funk synth arrangement, “Backseat.” The song saw each member highlight their own respective offering, as guitarists Miller and Ryan Jalbert, bassist Garrett Sayers, keyboardist and saxophonist Drew Sayers, keyboardist and vocalist Joey Porter, and drummer Dave Watts each took turns laying down accompanying melodies and solos across the eight-minute breakdown.
Another song debut included extended jam “All Day,” which featured back-and-forth electro-key flares and sultry guitar breakdowns by Porter, Miller, and Jalbert. What is sure to be a new Motet-classic saw a third debut of the weekend “Shade,” an upbeat and syncopated rhythm jazzy composition. Quick, bouncy guitar licks opened up the song before more, a long formed psychedelic guitar solo took reign. Porter took the lead over the latter half of the song, throwing in surges of echoing funky electronica.
Along with treating fans with a number of new songs throughout each night’s two-hour set, The Motet played through classics “Get It Right,” “Nemesis,” “Rynodub,” and their fan-favorite cover of The Whispers’ “And The Beat Goes On.”
The Motet will continue their Keep On Don’t Stoppin’ Tour with Magic Beans this week with a three-night Oregon run through Bend (1/19); Ashland (1/20); and Portland (1/21). Mike Dillon will join both groups in Portland. After a quick stop in Seattle, WA on January 22nd, The Motet will headline a two-night Colorado run on February 11th and 12th before joining up with Eminence Ensemble for a three-night Texas run through Houston (2/24); Austin (2/25); and Dallas (2/26). The Motet will finish their winter tour with two headlining shows back in Colorado on March 18th and 19th.
Scroll down to see a gallery of photos from Magic Beans and The Motet’s Salt Lake City run below, courtesy of photographer Miguel Mendoza. Visit the band’s website for a full list of upcoming tour dates and tickets.