The Right Now Are Right On

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 19, 2010 6:20PM

We'll forgive you if you cringe as we preface this review by saying we'll be discussing a local funk / soul band, but please stick with us. While the majority of bands under that label play uninspired mimeographs there are a handful that are truly talented and reaching out for something honest and new. The Right Now is one of the groups looking to save the soul from the Bro-town ghetto.

The group's debut is a mix of Memphis and Motown driven by combo members that understand how to stay tight and swing at the same time. The guitars are tight and sparse, the horns punctuate at the exact right times, the organ knows when to wail, and the drummer nails the beat. That is impressive in itself, but what really helps bring The Right Now over the top and into success are the vocals of Stefanie Berecz. Se doesn't quite have the pipes of the gospel tinged divas of years past, but she does a fine job of balancing her delivery between enthusiastic and sultry without lapsing into caricature. Actually, the same could be said of the band as a whole as they weave music of a very particular genre without resorting to mimicry.

The Right Now is celebrating the release of their debut, Carry Me Home, at Lincoln Hall tonight, and they're kicking off the party early by letting us offer you this advance sample from their album.

MP3: The Right Now "You Will Know"

The Right Now play tonight, March 19, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln, 9 p.m., $10, 18+