Starr Hill, in Charlottesville was the last stop for the funky jazz trio hailing from Woodstock, N.Y. Soulive, a harmonious blend of funk, jazz, hip-hop, and soul, ended their fall tour on Sunday, Oct. 27. This funk-rooted team originally hooked up in March 1999, began jamming one afternoon, decided to record the session, and ended up with their first EP entitled "Get Down!" By the way, just writing "Get Down!" makes me excited and giddy, thinking back to that fine October night! So this band, now comprised of Neal Evans (keys), Alan Evans (drums), and Eric Krasno, aka, "Kraz" on guitar, decided they had a good thing going, and they bought themselves some badass suits and hit the road for some touring. They played their soulful groove in clubs everywhere from there on out. And the rest, as they say, is history!

After a long car ride to Charlottesville, my friend and I were anticipating the show with hopes of some funky beats, tight drumming, lots of solos, and soulful melodies; oh, and of course, hearing at least one of the members exclaim: "It's time to get down!" (All of which proceeded to happen.) The ride to the show was almost as good as the show itself. A little herbal refreshment, getting lost, and driving around aimlessly somehow brought us to Starr Hill. So around 10:30 p.m., Soulive took the stage, the keyboards started, my mind expanded, and we were off! Soulive had ignited the engines of the audience while we embarked on a funky journey into the jazzy, hip-hop realm of Soulive.

Opening with a new track called "Fire Eater" did not fail to get the audience moving, although most were not familiar with the song. Each song lasted at least 10 minutes, building a foundation for a climactic ending. Each song succeeded in pleasing the crowd, with the tight drumming (the best drummer I have ever seen), Neal on the keys holding down bass lines with his left hand, and dropping melodies and solos with impeccable rhythm with his right; and Kraz on guitar, playing funky rhythms like it was nobody's business.

They played several songs: some new, some old, and even a Stevie Wonder cover. "Jesus' Children," a cover, was the highlight of the night. The song lasted for 30 minutes, maybe more. Each member of the band had their own solo, while the rest of the members sat back and let the grooves fly. The band played others such as "Rudy's Way," "Tabasco," "Solid," and "Uncle Junior," just to name a few. The show wrapped up with "Turn it Out," a huge crowd pleaser. And then they were gone. Their grooves embedded themselves inside my brain, and I will never be the same again.

I wish I could express how great this show was, but words cannot do it justice. It was more of an experience than a mere concert. The energy of the band was soaring, up to the very last note of "Turn it Out." The rhythms were so tight that you had to move, nod your head, or just shake it fast. Words cannot describe the feel of this band! Their grooves are natural and they flow with each other. It is almost as if they are silently communicating with each other through their instruments. Soulive evidently defines the unique fusion of music, individual styles, and a unique sound unmatched by any other band.