The year was 1975. Gerald Ford was president, Muhamad Ali was the world champion in boxing and rock ‘n’ roll, disco, R & B and funk were all on the radio together. That was the year The Motet, a local funk band, chose to bring to life this Halloween.
The Boulder Theater was packed on Friday night with costume-clad funk enthusiasts who came to get their groove on. As soon as The Motet walked on stage, the entire building erupted. They kicked the show off with classic funk jams from Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire and Joe Simon. There wasn’t a passive head bobbing in the house; from the balcony to the stage, everyone in the theater was grooving.
As if the annual Halloween show wasn’t special enough, The Motet had three vocalists adding to the group’s range and creativity, allowing lead vocalist Jans Ingber more time to jam out on percussion.
Toward the end of the show, Ingber let the news slip that The Motet will be co-headlining Red Rocks this summer with legendary jam band Lettuce. Both bands performed last summer at Red Rocks, but this will be the first time either band has headlined. They are scheduled to play Friday, June 5.
The Motet has been playing Halloween shows for 11 years for the Front Range, and they show no signs of stopping. Planning their legendary Halloween extravaganza months ahead of time, their four-hour shows showcase that effort. They didn’t just cover songs; they made them their own, breaking out 30-year-old tracks and injecting the funk and soul that has made them a must-see attraction since 1998.
The Motet played into the early morning hours and the sold-out crowd was still surging with energy at the end of the show. They played until 1:45 a.m., and after their last song, the crowd refused to believe the set was over, stomping and cheering even after the lights came up and the roadies started picking up gear.
The group’s latest album, “The Motet,” was released in February 2014. A full compilation of tracks is available on YouTube.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Matthew Dubois at matthew.dubois@colorado.edu
