Live Music: The Greeting Committee Base Camp Concert Series
Jersey City, New Jersey
By Carly Tagen-Dye
There are few bands that I would drop everything for, and hop on a train to New Jersey on a school night to see; the Greeting Committee is one of them. In the midst of their busy touring schedule with Canadian rock band Arkells, the foursome brought a bit of Kansas City soul to the Journal Squared Apartment Complex in Jersey City, as part of the Base Camp Concert Series. The Greeting Committee played a stripped down set of five songs from their debut album, This Is It. As per usual, they did not disappoint.
A concert for twenty people on a Wednesday evening might seem a bit strange; lead singer Addie Sartino even joked that this was not their usual gig. She is much more used to hyping up sold-out venues and crowd surfing on top of their audience. However, the Greeting Committee had no problem engaging their crowd. As Sartino bounced around the room, jumping on top of a table during “Don’t Go,” I felt the energy I always do during a Greeting Committee show. On songs like “Run For Your Money”, guitarist Brandon Yangmi played his frenetic licks with ease, while drummer Austin Fraser kept the band steady throughout. Pierce Turcotte provided grooving bass lines that got the room bobbing their heads. Though a small, impromptu show, that’s what made this intimate performance all the more special to attend. It made me fall in love with the band all over again.
In any setting, the Greeting Committee are a group you don’t want to miss. Be sure to catch them on their remaining tour dates with Arkells if you get the chance!
