Too Many Zooz, Broken Three Ways: Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool

Too Many Zooz

Too Many Zooz brought their unique brand of live brass house to Liverpool and Getintothis’ Gary Lambert was there.

It is a strange situation for someone with a Scouse vernacular to be asked to review ‘some New York brass house visiting Liverpool’.

Thankfully, while some no strings fun was on the cards, it was provided by a trio of musicians rather than a travelling house of ill repute.

Opening up at Invisible Wind Factory was the five piece Broken Three Ways who provided some thought-provoking ska at their first gig of the night. As they mentioned several times on stage, they were going straight from Regent Road to a gig in Chester.

Broken Three Ways were a bit of a throwback to the days when Glastonbury was connected more with the Levellers than Beyoncé, and it was impossible to not feel forced to enjoy their set.

Unfortunately the connection only went as far as toe-tapping and there was an enormous space at the front of the venue which made the confines of Invisible Wind Factory seem far emptier than the few hundred people who were already there. It should be said however that there was one brave soul who took that space as a performance area rather than an empty dancefloor and threw himself around with abandon.

Thankfully when Too Many Zooz took to the stage people had moved forward and created a much better atmosphere for the gig.

Musically this three-piece are fantastic, full of energy, and nuance that even someone who hadn’t heard of them until two hours beforehand could be seriously impressed with their talents.

Each of the trio had ample opportunity to showcase their individual talents, as well as the synergy brought from working in tandem. However, it was Leo Pellegrino on saxophone who stole the show with a look and dancing moves that reminded me of any Brazilian footballer playing overseas and enjoying it. He constantly worked the crowd, spinning, sliding, and generally making sure that the audience were taken along for the ride.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening live- Getintothis’ Gig Guide are here

At almost an hour and a half though the set was too long, and the venue too cavernous.

The greatest aspect of house music being performed live is the building to a crescendo followed by an almighty beat drop, but with the sounds of brass and drums being limited to those which can be achieved on a synthesizer, the crowd missed out on those raw explosive moments.

While the music does generate a party atmosphere, ultimately the set sounded like a long, drawn out version of Hear The Drummer (Get Wicked). Ultimately you get the feeling that the band are still in the mindset of quirky, brilliant subway buskers rather than performing musicians.

If you get the chance to go to see Too Many Zooz at a festival, fiesta, or event then do it. If it’s at one of their gigs, you might find it helpful to turn up a bit late to keep things short and fresh.

Pictures by Getintothis’ Keith Ainsworth