I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 15, 2025] Ginger Root

Japanese Breakfast announced a show at The Met and it sold out instantly.  But then they announced another show (for the day before) and I grabbed us a ticket.

Ginger Root opened both shows.  I didn’t know them, but they seemed to have a good following.  And the band was full of charisma.  They are an indie band from California led by Cameron Lew.  He describes the music as “aggressive elevator soul.”

And Camerom Lew is a fantastic front man.  He is also the creative force behind the visual and audio components of Ginger Root.  Indeed video may be more important that audio for the band.

Ginger Root was without a doubt the best live band I have seen for music that I didn’t really like all that much.  Not that the music was bad, it just wasn’t quite my vibe.  But the live show was so good I would 100% see them again.

As they took the stage there were two video screens that announced We are your openers for this evening.  We’ll be done in ~40 minutes.

And as soon as the band started, their on-stage cameraman began filming them and projecting it on the screens.  He used all kinds of old-school effects, giving the video and almost 80’s feel.  Especially when the screens were bordered with a white line and the legend: You’re listening to Ginger Root.

The videographer took closeups of all kinds of things going on, like Cameron’s hands on the keys and drummer Matt Carney’s face.  Also in the band was bassist Dylan Hovis who was great–lots of funk in that guy.  Between songs, the cameraman turned the camera on the audience and everyone enjoyed seeing themselves on the screens.  For a few of the songs, the band had created music videos which they showed during the songs.

Some of the songs were funky, but aggressive elevator soul was pretty apt.

Later in the year (Sept), they played two nights at the First Unitarian Church.  I was happy for them to get two nights there, but I won’t be going to that venue.  I’ll bet they’re even more fun when they are the headliners.