Jakübi w/ The Bad Tenants
Tractor Tavern, Ballard, WA
05.03.15

I’ve seen enough shows to know that it takes a lot to get a Seattle crowd to dance, but on Sunday night in Ballard, Australian five-piece Jakübi managed to make everyone move from the get-go. This was the third show of their second U.S. tour, even though as of now they’ve only released four tracks. Impressively, those four tracks turned into a 20-song set list that kept the crowd on their toes with a jam session feel. A bunch of adorably edgy, harmonizing Australians, their modern funk shows off reggae guitars, R&B harmonies, hip hop beats and calculated use of a talk box, melting into a uniquely infectious pop sound all their own.

The band is made up of two brothers: Jerome Farah (lead vocals/keys/talk box) and Jacob Farah (bass/moog), cousins Jesse Rehaut (drums/guitar) and Addam Kane (guitar/keys/drums) and friend Robert Amoruso (guitar/keys). Genuinely charismatic on stage, it’s obvious they’re enjoying playing together, and they clearly know their way around their instruments. More than once during the set the guys rotated between guitars, bass and drums.

While some of the set felt like they were testing material in preparation for a full album, the experimentation was always on point. Their biggest hit – with an equally carefree video out now – is “Couch Potato” which Jerome said we didn’t have to “dance or clap or sing or do anything to, just go to sleep on the floor and relax.” They followed that with “Spirit Up” offering a swing-style, finger-snapping sound. There are tracks that rock a little harder, and some that are pure Reggaeton. There was also a great cover of Stevie Wonder’s classic “Superstition.” But the track that really got everyone excited was “Holiday” which if you haven’t heard yet is bound to get stuck in your head and become a summertime hit.

Seattle – by way of Bellingham – locals The Bad Tenants opened the show with the horns and hooks and plenty of animated, soulful hip hop.

Find a Jakübi tour stop near you here. Also, check out our pre-show interview with them here.

Jakübi Set List
I Wonder
You Got It
Money Tree
Mr. Popular
Holiday
Over There
Don’t Stop
Couch Potato
Spirit Up
Spenito
Feels Like Yesterday
Stop Drop Roll
Music Was Killed
She Like Me
Can’t Afford It All
Oh My
Superstition (cover)/Ride On
This is My Life
Encore
No Money

Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini

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050315_jakubi_30The Bad Tenants
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