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Get ready to dance to Soul Track Mind
Cody Duty FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
- Photos: Soul Track Mind at TC’s Lounge
Every Wednesday night a relatively quiet part of East Austin gets to rockin’. The dance floor at TC’s Lounge on 1413 Webberville Road is packed with young and old who come to see and dance with the funk soul band Soul Track Mind.
The six-piece band’s set starts at 10 p.m. and continues until 1 a.m., with fans dancing the entire time to upbeat covers and originals.
The group’s musical influences include Clarence Carter, Joe Tex, Bobby Womack and other soul and funk artists from the 1960s and 1970s. Among the band’s best covers are “A Woman’s Got to Have It” by Bobby Womack and “That’s Where It’s At” by Sam Cooke.
But the original songs really get the crowd on its feet.
The swinging original “Backdoor Love” is reminiscent of Little Richard, complete with racing horns and stop time. Without fail the audience breaks into a modern form of the “twist” when this song is played.
Singer and frontman Donovan Keith outdances the audience, and his combination of showmanship and vocal range sustains the energy of TC’s intimate stage. But the band can move as well. During the original song “Rainbow,” the band does a side-step shuffle without missing a beat. Meanwhile, a usually embarrassed woman is called to a chair in the center of the dance floor, with Keith falling to his knees in a dramatic serenade.
The band originally came together over Craigslist, and after going through a few deadbeat musicians found an ensemble that works. The members’ ages range from the 20s to the 50s. Besides Keith, the members are Joe Krohn on trumpet, Raymond Johnson on saxophone, Gregory J. Amani Smith on bass guitar, Doug Leveton on drums and Jonathon Zemek on electric guitar.
The band’s guitar lines and riffs are full of energy, well-mastered by Smith and Zemek. Leveton brings an excitement to the drums that can be read on his face as he keeps the tempos fast enough for the dancers. Finally, Krohn and Johnson play a solid horn section, completing the classic sound required of all good soul music.
There is a $5 cover to see Soul Track Mind, but this laid-back joint is Bring Your Own Booze. Patrons can carry in any alcoholic beverages except for beer.
Most nights the owners provide large batches of free chili and corn bread or red beans to patrons.
A note to newcomers: The venue is not air-conditioned, which makes the dancing extra hot. Wear something light.
The band will compete in Antone’s upcoming Battle of the Bands on Sunday.
Comments
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By Dawn
July 29, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this
Congrats to my sweet Donovan!!!! I am so proud!!! Keep the dream going… Love from the north…Katies mom…
By Lisa
July 31, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this
Don’s let the heat scare everyone away…TC’s IS air-conditioned…it just doesn’t work very well…but who really cares when you’re having a good time!!!