On Friday, July 11, two bands renowned for their captivating live performances, MarSOUPial and PEAK filled Brooklyn’s Sultan Room with excitement.
MarSOUPial, an instrumental progressive jam quartet, opened the evening by preparing the audience with their complex and unique sound. They were followed by the awaited main act, the Brooklyn-based psychedelic indie funk group PEAK, celebrating the release of their most recent album, “Vanishing Skies.” Both bands created an unforgettable evening of genre-defying sounds and perfectly capturing the energy and spirit of collaboration in Brooklyn’s music scene.
Originally from Madison, New Jersey, marSOUPial is an instrumental progressive jam band that is flourishing in the center of Brooklyn, New York. Longtime friends Mark Spelker on drums and sampling, Connor Forde on bass and synth, Chris Ruzicka on guitar, and Neil Forde on guitar, keys, and synth make up the band’s lineup, formed in 2016.
Their style of music creates a unique sound mix by combining jazz, progressive rock, and jamtronica elements. Constantly pushing musical boundaries through their jams. Seamlessly transitioning between songs or developing into new genres, making each performance a unique experience.
Their dedication to improvisation and real-time creation is what sets marSOUPial apart. They have a reputation for performing on stages alongside well-known jam band artists. Their first full-length LP, More Soup Y’all, was released in January 2019; their debut EP, SOUP EP, was released in September 2017. The band’s spirit is on full display, as each member actively listens to and responds to the others. Effectively creating a continuous and changing musical narrative. Their performances are a genuine and captivating experience for any music lover due to their flawless and spontaneous improvisation.
In late 2016, guitarist and songwriter Jeremy Hilliard formed the psychedelic indie funk group PEAK. Kito Bovenschulte on drums, Josh T. Carter on bass and vocals, and Johnny Young on keys and vocals make up the band’s current, cohesive lineup. Hilliard contributes a lyrical, story-driven songwriting style to PEAK’s psychedelic sound, drawing on his touring experience as Turbine’s lead guitarist and bandleader.
Peak hosted an album release show for “Vanishing Skies” on July 11. With a setlist that focused on their new album. The audience loved the performance, which began with “Strange Language.” “Sunset in the City,” “People’s Poet,” “Summer,” and “When Your Dreams Start Dreaming You” came next. “Starlight Child,” “Run Me Down,” and “Little Miss Mary Merry-Go-Round” ended the night. These songs made for an immersive experience. PEAK’s ability to mix storytelling with grooves and psychedelics left a lasting impression on everyone who saw it.
You can hear the strong chemistry between the members of PEAK in their studio recordings. Shining through, especially in the raw energy of their live shows. Every musician adds their unique sound to the group. So, they make their music both bold and very well-tuned. They have firmly established themselves by always trying out new musical styles while still keeping a strong base of songwriting. Because of this, PEAK has become a well-known part of the lively music scene in Brooklyn and beyond. If you like improvised music that crosses genres, PEAK is a great place to go and have a good time.
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