The Motet

Last updated

The Motet
Origin Denver, Colorado
Genres Funk, rock, jazz, Afro-beat
Years active1998 (1998)–present
LabelsaNOnym reCOrds, Harmonized Records
Members
  • Dave Watts
  • Ryan Jalbert
  • Joey Porter
  • Garrett Sayers
  • Drew Sayers
  • Sarah Clarke
Past members
  • Dominic Lalli
  • Jans Ingber
  • Matt Pitts
  • Mike Tiernen
  • Kurt Reeber
  • Steve Vidiac
  • Scott Messersmith
  • Gregoire Raymond
  • Mark Donovan
  • Adam Revell
  • Matt Spencer
  • Gabe Mervine
  • Alex Tomaino
  • Lyle Divinsky
  • Parris Fleming
Website themotet.net

The Motet is an American funk, soul and jazz influenced group based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1998 by drummer and bandleader Dave Watts, The Motet is Watts, guitarist Ryan Jalbert, bassist Garrett Sayers, keyboardist Joey Porter, saxophonist Drew Sayers and singer Sarah Clarke. [1]

Contents

Known for energetic live shows including an annual Halloween concert, the band has released seven studio albums. Their 2014 self-titled album was co-written and produced by all the band members, and was cut on analog recording equipment to capture their instruments' live sounds. They continue to tour nationally and have performed at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, North Coast Music Festival, Wakarusa, [2] Rooster Walk, and Summer Camp Festival. [3]

History

1998–2004: Founding and first albums

The Motet was founded in Boulder, Colorado, in 1998 by drummer and arranger Dave Watts as a musical collective with a rotating cast of musicians. By 2000 the group had changed its name to The Motet and become a sextet consisting of Watts on drums, percussionist and vocalist Jans Ingber, percussionist Scott Messersmith, guitarist Mike Tiernen, bassist Kurt Reeber, and organist-keyboardist Steve Vidiac. [1] Watts, Ingber, and Messersmith had also traveled to Cuba twice to study bata drums of the Santeria religion, which at the time heavily influenced the band's sound, as can be heard on their first two albums. [4]

The Dave Watts Motet first performed together on Halloween 1998, and at that time were incorporating elements of funk, jazz, folk, and world music into their sound. [1] Watts wrote and arranged the majority of their early music for a rotating lineup of musicians, throwing energetic local dance parties. [5] Their debut release, Breathe, was self-released in 1999, and produced entirely by Watts. [1] [6]

The band released their second album, Play, on aNOnym reCOrds in 2001, which was followed in 2002 by the album Live, their first record on Harmonized Records. Music for Life, released in 2004, was also on Harmonized Records. [7] Also in 2004, the band self-released the DVD Shine, which was produced by James Marshello.

2006: Instrumental Dissent

On September 12, 2006, they released their studio album Instrumental Dissent. While the album is largely instrumental, the voices of activists such as Harry Belafonte, Alice Walker, and Noam Chomsky are woven into many of the songs. [8] Allmusic gave release 3.5/5 stars and largely positive review, writing "Motet gets off to an impressive start as the opening salvo of tunes darts between funk, Afro-beat, Latin and world sounds with a slight underpinning of electronic touches, all driven by a nimble yet fiery attack." Allmusic praised the production and audio quality as well, stating "Many of the tracks blend into each other, creating a near seamless whole." [8] Allmusic criticized the slower pace in the latter half of the disc, stating the album "loses some of the imagination, if not steam, of the early tunes, becoming a solid yet rather conventional work from a jazz-funk fusion outfit." However, "Scott Messersmith's bubbling percussion and drummer Dave Watts' elastic beats keep the heat turned up even when the tracks tend to extend longer than needed."

2009: Dig Deep

Around half of The Motet's self-released 2009 album Dig Deep features compositions written and arranged by Watts, [9] with the drummer turned producer utilizing Ableton Live to add an electronica sound to various tracks. [4] Allmusic gave Dig Deep 3/5 stars, stating "Covers of three Fela Kuti tunes show that this funk-world ensemble's heart lies in the tough, often horn-driven Afro-beat that dominates this set." The review acknowledges the new touches of techno, stating that Watts expands the band's sound, "in particular toward Kraftwerk-styled techno at times, also pushing into spacy areas that will likely be a bit alienating to some longtime fans." Much of the album also relies on "percussive Afro-funk" and Allmusic pointed out elements of prog rock on tracks such as "Guru." [10]

2014: The Motet

They released their seventh studio album, The Motet, in February 2014. Each member of the band contributed to the writing process, with hundreds of hours spent in the studio creating vintage funk sounds. [5] The group came up with the basic ideas for the album's original nine tracks in Watts's home studio, then recorded and mixed the album at Immersive Studios in Boulder, Colorado and Scanhope Sound in Littleton, Colorado. [11] About The Motet, Watts says "The album is really like a new era for us. Writing our own music as a band, a 100 percent collaborative effort, it’s a real stepping stone to a sound we’re going to be bringing consistently” [12] Writes Dave Kirby of the Boulder Weekly , “utterly flawless production...and not a throwaway in the bunch...ambitious, airtight and built to travel.” Upstate Live says that The Motet’s “55 glorious minutes showcase their growth as individuals and as an unstoppable funk machine.”

2016: Totem

The Motet's record was released on July 8, 2016. The album was recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio in New Orleans, Scanhope Sound, Colorado Sound, Notably Fine Audio, and Halo Studios. Eric Krasno of Soullive produced the record and contributed two songs "So High" and "Know It Too Well".

2019: Death or Devotion

This album was released in the beginning of 2019.

2023: All Day & New Singer

In 2023 The Motet released the instrumental album "All Day". On July, 24th they announced Sarah Clarke as their new singer. [13]

Live performances

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The Motet "Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed" Live (May 2, 2014)
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg "123" by The Motet, The Fillmore, Denver (April 20, 2013)
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg "Like We Own It" Red Rocks (July 5, 2015)
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg "The Truth" Jam in the Van (Summer 2016)

The band has toured annually since its founding, primarily performing in the United States with six or seven live members [12] and Dave Watts serving as bandleader. [5]

They periodically bring special guests on stage; in January 2014, for example, they were joined on stage by drummer Jason Hann of the String Cheese Incident, trumpeter Jen Hartswick, and vocalist and jazz trombonist Natalie Cressman. [14]

In 2013 they played in Chicago, [15] and performed at the now-defunct Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival. [2] The following year the band toured the United States in support of their album The Motet, [12] performing at festivals such as Summer Camp Festival. [3]

Halloween concerts

Since 2001 The Motet has performed a series of concerts on Halloween weekend, typically in Colorado, covering the music of one particular band and dressing the part. [16] Examples have included Earth, Wind, and Fire, [17] Parliament Funkadelic, Tower of Power, Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. [5]

The following is a list of their annual Halloween concerts:

Members

Current [5] [17]
Past

Discography

Albums

Albums by The Motet
YearAlbum titleRelease details
1999Breathe
  • Released: April 30, 2002
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
2001Play
  • Released: April 10, 2001
  • Label: aNOnym reCOrds
  • Format: CD
2004Music for Life
  • Released: July 21, 2004
  • Label: Harmonized Records
  • Format: CD, digital
2006Instrumental
Dissent
  • Released: September 12, 2006
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
2009Dig Deep
  • Released: August 25, 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
2014The Motet
  • Released: February 11, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
2016Totem
  • Released: July 8, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital, vinyl
2019Death Or Devotion
  • Released: January 25, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital, vinyl
2023All Day
  • Released: January 18, 2023
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital

Live albums

Albums by The Motet
YearAlbum titleRelease details
2005The Motet (Live)
  • Released: May 17, 2005
  • Label: Harmonized Records
  • Format: digital

DVDs

DVDs by The Motet
YearAlbum titleRelease details
2004Shine DVD
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Home Grown Music
  • Format: DVD

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipknot (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, former vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.

Funk metal is a subgenre of funk rock and alternative metal that infuses heavy metal music with elements of funk and punk rock. Funk metal was part of the alternative metal movement, and has been described as a "brief but extremely media-hyped stylistic fad".

The Rentals are an American rock band fronted by vocalist Matt Sharp. Sharp has been the only consistent member since the group's inception. The band's best selling single is "Friends of P." (1995). The Rentals released two albums, Return of the Rentals (1995) and Seven More Minutes (1999) on Maverick Records before quietly splitting in 1999 following a world tour. The group reformed in 2005 and have since released several EPs and two more full-length albums, Lost in Alphaville and Q36. Lost in Alphaville released August 26, 2014, on Polyvinyl Records. Q36 was released June 26, 2020. Numerous musicians have appeared with the group on recordings and in live shows. The group's most recent iteration consists of Sharp, Nick Zinner, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The String Cheese Incident</span> American jam band

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. The band is composed of Michael Kang, Michael Travis, Bill Nershi, Kyle Hollingsworth, and Keith Moseley, and, since 2004, Jason Hann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zebrahead</span> American rock band

Zebrahead is an American rock band from La Habra, California, formed in 1996. The group's current line-up comprises rapper Ali Tabatabaee, bassist Ben Osmundson, drummer Ed Udhus, lead guitarist Dan Palmer and lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adrian Estrella. Playing a style of music that merges elements of pop-punk and hip hop music, they have released thirteen studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machine Head (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Robb Flynn, who remains the only original member of the band. Machine Head's aggressive musicianship made it one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal. Its current lineup comprises Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Matt Alston. Bassist Adam Duce, lead guitarists Logan Mader, Ahrue Luster and Phil Demmel, and drummers Tony Costanza, Chris Kontos and Dave McClain are former members of the band; Mader and Kontos toured with the band in 2019 and 2020 as part of the 25th anniversary tour for its first album, Burn My Eyes (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gov't Mule</span> American southern rock jam band

Gov't Mule is an American Southern rock jam band, formed in 1994 as a side project of the Allman Brothers Band by guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody. Fans often refer to Gov't Mule simply as Mule.

Galactic is an American funk band from New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throwdown (band)</span> American metal band

Throwdown is an American hardcore and heavy metal band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1997, the band has endured numerous lineup changes to the point where no original members remain. Throwdown has toured as part of Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, Hellfest, and Warped Tour, as well as with bands such as In Flames, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Korn and Cavalera Conspiracy. The songs "Forever" and "Burn" were staples on MTV2's Headbangers Ball and Revolver Magazine called them part of "The Future of Metal" after hearing the album Vendetta. Initially branded a hardcore punk band, albums like Venom and Tears and Deathless took a sharp turn towards metal, with critics likening the band's sound to that of Pantera and Sepultura. The band are straight edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Taylor</span> Musical artist

Butch Taylor is a composer, writer, keyboardist and long time guest musician with Dave Matthews Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Jordison</span> American musician (1975–2021)

Nathan Jonas "Joey" Jordison was an American musician. He was the original drummer of the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he was designated #1, and the guitarist for the horror punk supergroup Murderdolls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muruga Booker</span> American musician (born 1942)

Steven Bookvich known as Muruga Booker is an American drummer, composer, inventor, artist, recording artist, and an autonomous Eastern Orthodox priest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Liberation Orchestra</span> American rock band

Animal Liberation Orchestra is a California rock band currently signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released four full-length albums for Brushfire, as well as a number of prior independent releases including a film soundtrack. ALO consists of Zach Gill (Keys/Vocals), Steve Adams (Bass/Vocals), Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz (Guitar/Vocals) and Ezra Lipp (Drums/Vocals).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onslaught (band)</span> British thrash metal band

Onslaught are a British thrash metal band from Bristol, England, active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2005. The band initially drew influences from US and British hardcore punk bands such as Discharge and the Exploited, as well as the new wave of British heavy metal, and eventually adopted a straightforward thrash metal sound. They have been recognised as pioneers of the British thrash metal scene, and have been referred to as one of the country's so-called "big four", along with Sabbat, Xentrix and Acid Reign. To date, Onslaught have released seven studio albums, one compilation, four singles and two live recordings: a live album and a live DVD.

Hovercraft was an American instrumental experimental rock group that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993. It was co-founded by its core duo of guitarist/samplist/tape-looper Ryan Shinn and bassist Beth Liebling. Shinn and Liebling would use the pseudonyms "Campbell 2000" and "Sadie 7", respectively, throughout the duration of the band's history. Hovercraft has been cited as one of the most abrasive, non-commercial sounding bands ever to receive major-label distribution for its albums. Though somewhat overlooked and sometimes heavily criticized because of the band's early association with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, the group was largely well respected and well received by critics and developed a cult following.

Roogalator was a pub rock band formed in London in 1972, by the US-born guitarist Danny Adler.

BoomBox is an American rock and electronic duo formed in 2004 by singer-songwriter Zion Godchaux and producer Russ Randolph, both of whom have backgrounds as DJs. Originating in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, BoomBox has released numerous studio albums, starting in 2005 with Visions of Backbeat. Their second album, Downriverelectric, was released in June 2010, followed by Filling in the Color (2014) and Bits & Pieces (2016). Their newest album, Western Voodoo, was released on October 19, 2018. Their newest single released in June 2017 is titled "Right Around Two ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus (American band)</span> American instrumental electronic jam band

Lotus is an instrumental electronic jam band formed in Goshen, Indiana in 1998 now based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty Lights</span> American electronic music producer (born 1981)

Derek Vincent Smith, known by his stage name Pretty Lights, is an American electronic music producer. Pretty Lights was originally a music project consisting of Smith and Michal Menert, who left after the release of their first album. Rick Rubin once described Pretty Lights as "the face and voice of the new American electronic music scene".

Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) is a seven- to 14-piece world music ensemble with influences including afrobeat, hip hop, funk, jazz, jùjú music, and rock. The members are well versed in afrobeat, the musical style of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, and use it as a jumping off point to explore other styles. Based in Chicago, the band began in 2002 in a loft at 657 West Lake Street. The group is sometimes accompanied by African dancers from Chicago's Muntu Dance Theatre as well as Ayodele Drum & Dance. The group has released five studio efforts between 2005-2017, all recorded at Fullerton Recording Studios. In the summers of 2013 and 2014, the band collaborated with Fela Kuti's original drummer, Tony Allen, for a series of performances and recording sessions at Fullerton Recording Studios with the resulting work featured on the album What Goes Up (2017).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Prato, Greg. "The Motet Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "The Motet". Wakarusa. 2013. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "The Motet". Summer Camp Festival. May 23–25, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Cohn, Allison (December 24, 2012). "Brain Pickin': The Motet's Dave Watts talks Beginning of Time Ball". 303 Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "About". TheMotet.com. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  6. "Breathe". CDuniverse. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  7. Mertz, Erick (2004). "Music For Life (Harmonized)". Cosmik.com. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (September 12, 2006). "Instrumental Dissent". Allmusic . Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  9. "Motet". Jambase. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  10. Horowitz, Hal (August 25, 2009). "Dig Deep". Allmusic . Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  11. Goldstein, A.H. (January 23, 2014). "The Motet keeps the party going on its latest release". Denver Westword . Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 Sutton, Larson (July 2, 2014). "Summer Stars: The Motet". Relix . Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  13. https://www.facebook.com/THEMOTET/posts/pfbid02PmLRQspvRhmc4hi71DgvmScLvE9QUWgrnPcZz1kz8P7u8W5AeNEzomTRhWhLtqiTl [ bare URL ]
  14. Cohn, Allison (January 27, 2014). "The Motet: "Has Arrived" in Style". 303 Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  15. Greene, Brent; Monaghan, Chris (April 15, 2013). "The Motet at Cubby Bear". Sound Fuse Magazine. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  16. "The Motet sells out Halloween! (Again) + New show added". Sweetwine Entertainment Group. 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Smith, Roger (April 4, 2014). "The Motet: the best live band right now?". Source Audio. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2014.