A packed house anxiously awaited the experimental funk rock sounds of Dopapod at (appropriately) Boca's Funky Buddha Lounge this past Friday night. The Brooklyn-based act has spent ample time in Florida, having played at Bear Creek and Aura Music Festivals and numerous other venues in our strange state over the past several years.
The band's following was out in full force to enjoy an opening session by local act Fusik and Dopapod, of course, whose set lasted an overwhelming two plus hours. The show was produced by Brotherly Love Productions, who heavily influence the South Florida jam scene by booking diverse national acts year-round.
The Funky Buddha's daytime table arrangements had been completely cleared out to make room for the crowd. In one corner, a Dopapod merch table was flanked by an exhibition of St. Pete-based artist Dean Arscott's work. He was on-hand with some live painting during Dopapod's set. Arscott already has a working relationship with the group, having provided the cover art for Dopapod's latest album, 2011's Drawn Onward.
Fort Lauderdale's five-piece Fusik, led by an extremely soulful Antonio "Sanchez" Rivera on guitar and vocals, hit the growing crowd with an hour-long set of rootsy funk. After their performance, the keyboardist, Chip Gardner, commended local scene makers, Brotherly Love Productions, for booking Fusik with like-minded acts such as Dopapod. Gardner credited the production team for its work around these parts.
"I've been playing in this area for over eight years, and the feeling of truly being part of a well-connected, thriving scene arrived when we began working with BLP," he said.
