Photos and Review by Emily Gringorten
@emgringo

Vulfpeck took over Berkeley’s UC Theatre from September 18th to 20th, playing 6 sold-out shows and recording a live album, entitled Clarity of Cal, in the process. I had the pleasure of attending the early show on the 19th, where the band, known for their playful energy, groovy melodies, and technically precise musicianship, was at their best.

The band took the stage around 7 PM and kicked things off with “Outro” from 2012’s Vollmilch. Next was “Cory Wong” from 2016’s The Beautiful Game, with Jack Stratton, founding member and creative mastermind behind the group, donning the same red jersey from the album’s cover. Stratton was joined by the gargantuan Vulfpeck touring band, featuring Theo Katzman (guitar, drums, and vocals), Woody Goss (piano), Joe Dart (bass), Joey Dosik (saxophone, vocals), Antwaun Stanley (vocals), Cory Wong (guitar), Jacob Jeffries (vocals), and Charles Jones (piano).

After each song, some members would swap to play a new instrument; for example, we saw Stratton on guitar, keys, and drums, Katzman on drums and vocals, and Dosik on sax, vocals, and keys. It was a game of live music musical chairs like I had never seen before.

Next came the unreleased portion of the set, during which the band performed 11 brand-new songs from Clarity of Cal. The audience instantly caught on to the new tracks, dancing along as if they’d been listening to them for years. Stanley’s rich and infectious vocals were on full display, along with Dart’s classic funky basslines and Wong’s undeniable stage presence. The band seemed effortlessly connected, dancing together and flashing nonstop smiles throughout the performance.

Fans cheered loudly as they entered the final portion of the show filled with familiar favorites, starting with “Back Pocket” from 2015’s Thrill of the Arts. Next was “Christmas in L.A.”, where Katzman encouraged the crowd to switch up the chorus, singing “Christmas in The Bay” instead. The band closed the regular set with “Bird of a Feather, We Rock Together” before leaving the stage for a short encore, re-emerging to play the fan-favorite “Dean Town”.

For all the latest Vulfpeck infomation, head to www.vulfpeck.com and @vulfpeck.