Sammy Rae & The Friends Concert Review: A Return to Roadrunner With Even More Energy

Sammy Rae & The Friends — a Brooklyn-based seven-piece band blending jazz, funk, folk, and rock — performed at Roadrunner on Nov. 15 for the penultimate night of their tour for their album, “Something For Everybody.” Over the course of the night, The Friends delivered an electrifying and deeply emotional performance.

Ruby Fruit — an all-female a cappella group from the University of Connecticut — opened the night with their powerful harmonies, highlighted by a standout soloist on their rendition of “The House of the Rising Sun.” Following them, artist, environmentalist, and drag queen Pattie Gonia captivated the crowd with a mix of heartfelt ballads celebrating the resilience of the queer community and lively, danceable numbers that had the audience on their feet.

Cloaked in white and blue, The Friends opened with “Thieves.” The alt-J-esque driving bass line and whistle-like accompaniment built momentum to the repetitive chorus where lead singer Sammy Rae Bowers showcased her vocal strength and commanding attitude and vocal strength. The song — one of the singles from their newest album — set the tone for the concert, kicking off their set with infectious energy.

“Something For Everybody” marks the band’s first full-length studio album. While this is by no means their first tour, it is the first time that they have moved beyond performing singles or EP-length material. Previous concerts featured a familiar rotation of songs, but the new setlist for this tour introduced fresh material that maintained the same energy as their earlier work — now with a funkier, mature sound.

“Cool Doug, At Night” was a standout number. Will Leet’s high falsetto shone as he embodied “Cool Doug,” parading around the stage in the disco-infused number. His performance, combined with Bowers’s soaring vocal interruptions created a funky vibe as they sang of a man adopting an alter-ego during his weekend partying. The band’s willingness to experiment was evident in their new material. On “No Rulebook,” James Quinlan opened with a long upright bass solo, commanding the spotlight — literally — and setting the stage for a remarkable rendition. The addition of the strings of Nebulous Quartet on this song introduced a rich, textural layer to the already robust sound of the seven-piece band.

In addition to Bowers’s characteristically powerful vocals, always featuring decadent riffs and punchy lines, The Friends stood out because of their band. The multi-instrumental talent — from Kellon Reese on alto saxophone and flute to Debbie Tjong on keyboards, backing vocals, and auxiliary percussion — brought the performance to the next level, creating a party-like atmosphere on stage. However, the sheer amount and volume of instrumental lines occasionally overpowered Bowers’s vocals, such as in “I Get It Now.”

The Friends played their classics, including the hit “Jackie Onassis” and a medley of “Kick It To Me,” “Talk It Up,” and “Good Life.” The back-t0-back arrangement of these songs created palpable enthusiasm in the venue, and each band member took turns soloing, playing around the way the band knows best.

On their very first “tour,” The Friends only went to their hometown and Boston. Boston has come to feel like a second home for them, and so finishing out their tour with two nights at Roadrunner signifies the deep connection they have with this city. The band’s ease and confidence on stage highlighted their comfort in the familiar venue.

The Friends closed their set with “Coming Home Song,” a self-empowerment anthem that encourages everyone to love themselves as deeply as they love others. The anthem captured the feel-good, welcoming atmosphere The Friends create at their shows, giving the audience a warm, uplifting sense of coming home.

—Staff Writer Hannah M. Wilkoff can be reached at hannah.wilkoff@thecrimson.com.