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Live Local Music

Rusted Root at the State Theatre Review

Posted by Chelsea Sweithelm on 09/30 at 05:15 PM

Rusted Root’s performance at the State Theatre on Sept. 21st was a fresh and invigorating experience. As soon as the six band members from Pittsburgh stepped foot on stage, the audience erupted. The feeling of pure excitement and anticipation filled the room as the chant of “Rusted Root” filled the room. There were people dancing and jumping before Rusted Root even began to play.

The band opened with a song off of their new album Stereo Rodeo called “Dance in the Middle.”  During the song, people appropriately began to dance in the middle of the aisles.  Back up vocalist and percussionist Liz Berlin reminded everyone else that they “weren’t obligated to sit in their seats even though they paid for them.”

Rusted Root played other songs off of their new album such as “Suspicious Minds” and “Animals Love Touch,” along with fan favorites like “Send Me On My Way” and “Ecstasy.” By the end of the show, every person, even the event staff, was on their feet dancing and singing along.

Rusted Root’s sound combines funky African rhythms, eclectic instruments, and fun, catchy lyrics. What impressed me the most was the assortment unique instruments Rusted Root used to give their songs a little something extra, such as the flute, penny whistle, acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, washboards, and bongos, just to name a few. The use of these instruments gave their music a worldly, robust sound.

During the performance, the band clearly fed off the energy of the audience. My favorite parts of the evening were the drum solos by percussionist Preach Freedom. As is always the case of masterful musicians, he made his job seem effortless.  His best performance was during the show stopper “Send Me On My Way.”

It doesn’t matter what age you are or what music you usually listen to; any person would enjoy seeing a Rusted Root concert. From their use of diverse instruments, African inspired beats, and catchy lyrics, it’s impossible not to have fun at a Rusted Root show. If you missed last night’s performance, make sure to check out Rusted Root’s tour schedule at http://www.rustedroot.com.