Bold, Brash Johnson Brothers Score

Flamboyance is strikingly bold and showy…. Conspicuously dashing and colorful… Elaborately styled, florid, and ornate… Flamboyance can be apparel, cerebral, philosophical, or verbal… And depending on the attraction, remarkable or remarkably annoying…

Now, I’ve discussed several bands’ unique sound… Each of those bands pails greatly when contrasted with the Fabulous Johnson Brothers. Featuring an ensemble of seven, which includes a vocalist, two guitarists, a drummer, two saxophonists, and a trumpeter (yes, they have three horns in the band), the Fabulous Johnson Brothers possess the ability to attempt renditions and rhythms that other bands wouldn’t dare…

From “9 to 5” to “Umbrella,” the set list runs the gambit… Every song a new creative and vocal opportunity… On “9 to 5,” one of the saxophonists steps out front and rips the song with a singular, funky solo…. On their closing number, “Purple Rain,” the guitarist and the lead singer rift, the vocals making everyone recall when the anthem owned their stereos…

While the entire group was excellent, Aaron merits a solo paragraph for his stage presence, which, akin to his group’s sound, is unmatched… Preening and strutting, in a manner which would have made Freddie Mercury blush, Aaron made his persona memorable enough to own the conversation, but not so memorable that it overshadowed his band…

As I mentioned previously, I receive calls, e-mails, facebook messages, text messages, and twitter messages everyday. This band is amazing. That band is incredible. For the Fabulous Johnson Brothers, I can state with certainty that the recommendation I received was inadequate. Their reality exceeded the hype.