March 21st, 2025
I’m sure most people my age would jump at the chance to time travel and relive favorite moments from a younger past, to experience once again that first kiss up in the sand dunes or behind the bleachers during a football game, or to arrive at your grandparents’ house as your five-year-old self on Christmas Eve, filled with wonder, to be warmly greeted by beloved family members that are no longer with us.
That same sentimental longing, for me, transfers to musical memories. I would love to hear Queen’s “We Are the Champions” on vinyl in 1977 for the first time again, ten years old, in my best friend’s bedroom. If only I could experience Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” or REM’s “Automatic for the People” with fresh unsuspecting ears or road trip with friends in a car with bald tires and one headlight to catch Bob Seger at the Joe Lewis Arena!
One way to listen with unsuspecting fresh ears, while making future nostalgic musical memories, is to catch local bands around town. I was introduced to a favorite “new to me” song, Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” by Nina Sofia when she performed at Sawyers. My first Distracted show was the first time I’ve heard Steely Dan songs played live…
I had high hopes for Friday night’s Velvet Mushroom Syndicate show at Pub One Eleven. I suspected their psychedelic funk vibe would present familiar songs in fresh unexpected ways, allowing me to hear them anew…
Velvet Mushroom Syndicate
www.facebook.com/VelvetMushroomSyndicate
Corey Leonard – Guitar & Vocals,
Mark Meade – Drums & Vocals,
Eric Olson – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Velvet Mushroom Syndicate is no ordinary band. Their bass player sports a violet velour fedora and silver sequin sport-coat. Their guitarist dons round mirrored shades and a Hagrid’s jacket fur coat.
Their setlist is no ordinary setlist. It’s a cosmic kaleidoscope of mystical musical montages. It’s Freudian’s fantastical Tourette’s treasure trove. For example, midway set two: “Fire/Corvette/Sex/lilwing/lady”
Their show is no ordinary show. It’s a fluxing phantasm – pop morphing into classic rock melting into disco and funk.
After starting the first set with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy” and Eric Clapton’s “Before You Accuse Me”, they launched into a medley including Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft”, War’s “Low Rider” and The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.”
I want to pause there, because a lot of cover bands do mashups of songs. In a past band I was in, we did “Sweet Home Alabama” into Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” (wow, that’s going to surprise absolutely nobody).
To effortlessly and seamlessly transition between genres and tempos, something the Syndicate does throughout their show, takes hours and hours of practice. The transitions alone! It’s musical “Mission Impossible” territory, like jumping from a moving automobile onto another one going in the opposite direction. Probably not the best analogy, but I’m going with it…
After that they performed Prince’s “Kiss” (video below) and Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” (video), before launching into a funky version of Blackstreet’s “No Diggety”. These were all exceptionally done, even though they were chasing slight feedback problems.
The show rolled on (feedback issue resolved) with song after awesome song including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Cocaine Blues” flowing right into Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” all with a healthy dose of the Syndicate’s trademark funk/psychedelic vibe with extended guitar solos.
After covering Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” the trio jumped full force into uninterrupted musical mayhem including Sublime’s “What I Got”, Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”, Queen’s “Under Pressure” and “Another One Bites the Dust” with Cory handling lead vocals and Mark and Eric providing backing vocals and a rock-solid rhythm section.
I recorded their straight-out rock-and-roll version of CCR’s “Born on the Bayou” with Eric on lead vocals (video). My iPhone doesn’t do it justice, even though I added an epic spin technique late in the song. Check it out. Professional videographers eat your heart out!
After Corey shook out his thick fur coat, exclaiming “I do this for the people, getting dehydrated!” I recorded their stellar version of James Brown’s “Sex Machine”, which may be my favorite (video). I love the back-and-forth call-and-response vocals, and the funky lead guitar work.
There was more, much more! Frantic scribbles in my notebook: “Funky Music – Black Cherry”, “Get Down Tonight”, “La Grange”, “Little Wing! Hendrix! Awesome!”, “Fire ‘huh!’” but I’m going to stop now…
You see, my notes, insights and opinions, pictures and videos on my cracked iPhone – none of that will do this band justice. Take this review for what it is: a ticket for a magical ride; stamped, punched, and ready to go. It’s now up to you to board the train…
Catch their next live show! Find our where they’re playing and arrive early to get a good seat! That’s the only way you’re going to think one day “I wish I could travel back and relive the very first time I saw the Velvet Mushroom Syndicate live!”
Pub One Eleven
Pub One Eleven considers themselves the “White Lake Craft Beer Headquarters”. They currently have 16 beers on tap including selections from local breweries, along with a fully stocked bar of your favorite spirits.
They have a full kitchen and large menu featuring Starters, Soups & Salads, Wings, Wraps, Burgers, Taco’s, etc. with weekly specials.
They have a full-width stage, able to accommodate larger bands, featuring live music on Friday and Saturday nights (check their event schedule, or my weekly list for more information). They also offer Trivia and Karaoke, video games, and pool tables.
