Steamboat Today: Playing that funky music

Archive for Friday, September 12, 2008

Courtesy

On the One members Jesse Molloy, left, and John Staten plan to hold a "high-energy, funky, throw-down dance party" at Magogany Ridge when the band performs at 10 p.m. today.

Soul band On the One performs tonight at Mahogany Ridge

By Margaret Hair Friday, September 12, 2008

Past Event

On the One, funk/jazz/soul

Friday, September 12, 2008, 10 p.m.
Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill, 435 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs
Not available / $5

On the One's influences, explained by Jesse Molloy and John Staten:

1. James Brown and Prince: The name On the One comes from Prince and James Brown always saying "everyone get down on the ONE," which is a musical term for everyone starting in on the first down beat of the song.

2. Any and all soul music: John was brought up on gospel and there's always a bit of jazz involved, but - see influence No. 3.

3. Hip-hop: You'll hear it in John's drumming. Dance music, as well - we've been throwing down a Daft Punk medley this summer, and John and Jesse produce hip-hop and dance music from the studio when they're off the road.

4. Coincidences: John and Jesse were born on the same day in the same year, founded On the One together after years in the tour bus with Giant People, and finish each other's sentences. We figure it must be a sign.

5. Other bands who throw everything they have into their show: We play at a high energy level and are influenced and inspired by other artists who put everything on the table each night and leave it all on stage.

6. Four pieces: You don't need 10 to 12 players on stage, running around beating on garbage can lids and throwing knives in yellow spandex. A four-piece allows musical tightness as an ensemble.

7. Chinese fire drills where one person doesn't make it back, hands-free table tennis and disco gypsy trading cards: Forcing our guitarist, Pete, to put on the tightest T-shirt for sale in random Alabama gas stations and watching him run through the aisles keeps us going, as well. He's still pledging.

8. "Soul Train": What a great show. Someone recently bought the rights to the entire catalog, so look for late night re-runs in '09, right after "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge."

9. Andy Irvine (On the One bass player): Have you seen the guy play bass? Close second is Hannah Montana. Billy Ray Cyrus didn't make the cut.

10. Steamboat dance parties: The Steamboat crowd always brings it.

For On the One saxophone player Jesse Molloy, a good arrangement isn't all about strict harmonies and accompanying parts. Molloy says a solid funk arrangement is about having a good time.

"When everybody sticks their parts, that's what brings on the tight four-piece band," Molloy said of his San Diego band, which plays tonight at Mahogany Ridge. Opting for a shorter roster than most groups that play funk, jazz or soul, On the One brings lock-tight instrumentals with sax, guitar, bass and drums.

"What's good about the four-piece is that like every part counts, which means there's not a lot of filler and there's nothing there that doesn't contribute to the song or the groove," Molloy said.

To highlight the importance of playing as a group, Molloy and longtime bandmate and drummer John Staten put together a list of the music and memories that influence their band, letting fans in on the dynamic that keeps the quartet together and makes an On the One show a "high-energy, funky, throw-down dance party."