By Jameson Mangan | December 9, 2022
Creating music that “brings us to our feet literally, figuratively, and spiritually” has been SunSquabi’s mission statement since their inception in 2011. The electro-funk trio – comprised of Kevin Donohue [guitar, keys, production], Josh Fairman [bass, synth], and Chris Anderson [drums] – has built a devoted fanbase over nearly a decade of live shows and touring, including stops at iconic venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater. With the release of their third full-length studio album Arise, SunSquabi looks to “incite personal revolution” through their signature mix of familiar funk and modern electronica.
SunSquabi took the stage after a brief intermission and built off the high-energy performance of lespecial. The group provided over two hours of highly danceable, boogie-inducing livetronica that had the crowd getting weird until well after 1AM. Amplified by an impressive light show, SunSquabi would first build their jams manually – laying down infectious grooves via guitar/drums/bass. Then the group would manipulate that groove electronically, adding in layers of scratches, vocals, horns and keys. Their set was simultaneously a wink to the past and a nod towards the future. The result was a fantastically funky show that had audience members smiling from ear to ear and getting down until the early morning.
We caught up with SunSquabi ahead of their Brooklyn Made headlining show and they answered a few questions for the groovement:
Where are you from?
Boulder / Denver Colorado
How did you get started?
We met and started in Boulder, CO over a decade ago and started experimenting musically and playing local gigs.
How would you describe your music – either by genre or general vibe?
Livetronica
Who/what do you draw inspiration from?
Musically, we draw influence from a variety of places but one of the main things that inspires songwriting is animals. If you look at the catalogue, many songs are named after animals
What’s your dream venue to perform at?
Red Rocks (we’ve played there multiple times now and we’ve headlined there once)
Connect w/ Sunsquabi on Instagram, Spotify, Youtube and their website.
📸: shot by Jill Boyatsis
