Fatty Lumpkin

Fatty Lumpkin - Let It Play (Independent)
First formed in 2000 and gigging since 2003, Fatty Lumpkin has gained plenty of experience on their voyage of musical endeavour, and they’re not afraid to let it show. Their latest release, the four-track EP “Let It Play” oozes professionalism, from the airtight production to their complete ease mixing styles and flavours to create a streamlined whole.

Opening cut, the instrumental “Spy Hunter” borrows from ska and funk, as well as King Tubby and Augustus Pablo inspired dub, and inevitably it’s Seth Myers’ fearsome bassline that’ll grab the headlines. It’s followed by “Irresistible”, the sort of muscular, sassy funk rock that Hendrix pioneered and Lenny Kravitz popularised in the ‘90s; Fatty Lumpkin’s model falls somewhere between the two. “Gloria” is all about the rhythm, a New Orleans beat and a good time buzz. They wrap things up with a nine-minute instrumental, “True Romance”. Reggae bass and rock guitar powerfully sync, and by the time the jazzy bits arrive, you’ll already be a convert.
http://www.facebook.com/FattyLumpkinMusic
Rob F.
- Leicester Bangs Blog

Fatty Lumpkin - Let It Play (Independent)
First formed in 2000 and gigging since 2003, Fatty Lumpkin has gained plenty of experience on their voyage of musical endeavour, and they’re not afraid to let it show. Their latest release, the four-track EP “Let It Play” oozes professionalism, from the airtight production to their complete ease mixing styles and flavours to create a streamlined whole.

Opening cut, the instrumental “Spy Hunter” borrows from ska and funk, as well as King Tubby and Augustus Pablo inspired dub, and inevitably it’s Seth Myers’ fearsome bassline that’ll grab the headlines. It’s followed by “Irresistible”, the sort of muscular, sassy funk rock that Hendrix pioneered and Lenny Kravitz popularised in the ‘90s; Fatty Lumpkin’s model falls somewhere between the two. “Gloria” is all about the rhythm, a New Orleans beat and a good time buzz. They wrap things up with a nine-minute instrumental, “True Romance”. Reggae bass and rock guitar powerfully sync, and by the time the jazzy bits arrive, you’ll already be a convert.
http://www.facebook.com/FattyLumpkinMusic
Rob F.
- Rob F.

Fatty Lumpkin’s EP has plenty to chew on

01:34 PM CST on Thursday, February 16, 2012

Denton’s funky fresh jazz rockers Fatty Lumpkin unveils its latest EP, Let It Play, with two Denton dates at the Abbey Underground.

The first is at 8 p.m. today. The next is at 8 p.m. March 9.
[Click image for a larger version] Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Fatty Lumpkin — Seth Myers, left, Matt Dixon and Kelyn Crapp — has released a new EP, Let It Play. The band will have copies available at upcoming Denton gigs.

Let It Play is a scant four tracks, but don’t let that fool you. With “Irresistible,” “Gloria” and “Spyhunter” — plus “True Romance,” a track borrowed from the band’s 2010 self-titled debut — Let It Play packs plenty of music into the project.

First impressions? This jammy, free-flowing record is an exhibition of Fatty Lumpkin’s broad abilities. With Kelyn Crapp on guitar, things get funky and playful. And with Seth Myers tripping along nimbly on the bass, “Gloria” winks and nudges at the elastic lyrical wordplay. By the time we get to “Spyhunter,” a cool instrumental, the heated-up blues have cooled their jets and settled into an audacious jazzy chill.

The band got a good start in 2012, winning this year’s Waka Winter Classic in Dallas, which earned the band a spot in Wakarusa 2012, a music festival in Arkansas. The festival will be in the Ozarks from May 31 to June 3.

They’re with the band: Kelyn Crapp, guitar and vocals; Seth Myers, bass and vocals; Matt Dixon, drums/percussion; Larry Powers, lights and atmospherics.

Details: The Abbey Underground is the basement of the Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub at 101 W. Hickory St. The entrance is around the corner on Walnut Street. No cover. - The Denton Record-Chronicle

When a band's motto is "Life, Love and Music," one might expect it to produce a sound just as simple. However, Fatty Lumpkin defies expectations.

A band formed out of Denton, Texas, a decade ago, Fatty Lumpkin combines rock ‘n' roll, funk, jazz, hip-hop and blues to create a sound all their own.

This unique sound has been part of what's carried them to the Dallas Wake Winter Classic five times, winning it for the third time this year.

"After losing last year, we were very inspired and motivated to win and outwork the other acts this year, utilizing a menu of tactics to promote the show," said Keylyn Crapp, the band's lead singer.

"We decided to release an EP from our new upcoming album at the show as well, to make it a double whammy and increase the significance of the night."

Apparently, the double whammy paid off. Fatty Lumpkin has been invited to play at the 2012 Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival in Arkansas from May 31 to June 2.

But their goals aim beyond the Wakarusa Festival.

"Our objective this year is to acquire national attention via radio play, festival performances and the strength of our new CD that's forthcoming," Crapp said.

"The big dream for me, consists of something similar to what I'm already doing as a musician. I'd just like to travel extensively and have a reliable outlet for my compositions."

Crapp also mentioned a lucky break supporting Umphrey's McGee on a world tour as a possible goal.

However, the band has learned through time that nothing can be achieved without struggle.

"Our biggest obstacle was becoming a trio back around 2009," Crapp said.

"We were a five-piece band at the beginning of the year, but our drummer and another guitarist basically walked out cold on us with a calendar of shows ahead, bills due and a record in the works."

Filling Fatty Lumpkin's distinct sound minus two band members was not an easy task.

"We adapted and became different musicians in the process, with Matt moving from percussion to drum set and myself taking up vocals," Crapp said. "Now I think we should have always been a trio."

Stillwater will get to hear these "deep, instrumental passages" live tonight at 10 and on Feb. 24 at 10 p.m. at the College Bar on the Strip.

Stillwater's own Flatland Travelers will join them.

"We have been working hard with Flatland Travelers for several years, and they have been super cool to us as we make our mark in Stillwater," Crapp said.

And if you're wondering about the band name?

"Fatty Lumpkin… How could it be anything else?" Crapp laughed. - The Daily O'Collegian

Denton jam band Fatty Lumpkin releases a new studio album on January 27, and we've got their new track “Gloria” as a little tease for what's to come. The tune, which has a New Orleans big band flavor thanks to the added horn section, was written for singer/bassist Seth Myers’ grandmother after she died. It has been fan favorite at Fatty’s live shows for quite some time.

“Gloria” isn't the only song on the EP, titled Let It Play, that will be familiar to fans; the band has also included “True Romance” from their first LP. Let It Play also includes some new tracks to hold you over until the release of their LP sometime in April.
You can hear “Gloria,” “True Romance,” and the rest of Fatty’s groove-worthy repertoire at the Waka Winter Classic at 2826 Arnetic in Dallas on the same day as the release of Let It Play. Those who hitch a ride on the band’s party bus from Denton to Dallas and vote for the band to perform once more at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival in Ozark, Arkansas, will receive a copy of Fatty’s new single.

Artists also performing at the Waka Winter Classic in Dallas -- hoping for a chance to play Wakarusa -- are Ishi, Gravity Feed, Kapow, Goodnight Ned, and We The Sealions. - pegasusnews-Jessica Harp

Fatty Fatty Fat-Fat.

(That episode of the Simpsons still makes me laugh.)

Seriously cool Denton band with a giggle-inducing name—Fatty Lumpkin—plays Friday night, January 27th at 2826 Arnetic, downtown Dallas. It’s the release of the trio’s new EP called Let It Play, and you’re going to experience a very cool show. You’re going to see Kelyn Crapp, who is an outstanding guitarist, along with bassist and vocalist Seth Myers (not Meyers; that Seth is on SNL) and drummer/percussionist Matt Dixon.

And it’s also the Dallas stop of this year’s Waka Winter Classic. You will ensure Fatty wins a spot at Wakarusa (the SXSW of the Ozarks) when you scream and yell and throw undergarments onstage. By the way, Kelyn is the guitarist for early KXT first-week-ever-on-the-air local music alum Andrew Tinker, whom you can see March 22nd at the Kessler.

—Joe K - kxtradio

July 24, 2008

The Dallas/Fort Worth-based band Fatty Lumpkin brings together four guys with way different backgrounds.

“I grew up with soul and R&B and listened to artists like Michael Jackson,” said Kelyn Crapp, one of the founding members.

“We all just have a crazy mix.”

Seth Myers, who plays the bass guitar and is lead vocal and a founding member, was born in Louisiana. His mom’s classic rock music rubbed off on him.

Then there is Michael Furry, who plays guitar, sings and loves heavy metal from artists like Metallica.

The final component is Matt Dixon, who plays the drums and brings that Latin and Brazilian sound.

“It is really exciting for us when we start playing,” Crapp said. “Anything can happen. Our general improvisation is about making that moment in time special right then and there.”

When asked where the unique name came from, Crapp said there is no true meaning behind it, even though it was chosen before the band existed.

“It just has a ring to it,” he said. “I like the feeling and the vibe it gives. It is funky and gets attention.”
Paying their dues, Fatty Lumpkin played relentlessly around the area, crafting and polishing its sound and style.

“We wanted to play as much as possible to achieve the sound we wanted,” Crapp said. “Achieving that extremely tight organic sound, there was no way around not doing show after show.”

For the members of Fatty Lumpkin, their statement is simple: Life, love and music.

“That statement is there so there is no confusion to where our true intentions are,” Crapp said. “It is a reminder to whoever reads it, so they know we are not playing around. This is what we do.” - Go! - Lubbock's Entertainment Guide

By Andrew Wyatt
Wakarusa June 5th-8th, 2008

Early in the morning, the skies were shrouded in drab gray. Like surfing a fickle wave, most concertgoers are fine with a little cloud cover, but prefer to stay dry. The headline of the Lawrence Journal-World was far from reassuring: "Expect Severe Weather Today," followed by the admission from the County Sherriff's office that the state park is "not equipped to handle" or shelter the 13,000+ Wakarusians in the event of a tornado. The National Weather Service warned of a potential "tornado outbreak" in the Plains tonight, as local meteorologists hyped a possible second coming of a legendary 1974 storm that produced 39 tornadoes and killed 22. So with a critical eye to the sky, it was time for some music.

I dipped out to catch the very end of Fatty Lumpkin in a tent about 50 yards away. While only catching the final five-minutes or so, the band had a trance-happy gallop that was enough to turn every concertgoer into a bobblehead. After finishing the set, the band handed out free discs to anyone that stuck around. - Jambase.com

By Mark Kneubuhl
July 1, 2007

Fatty Lumpkin came into San Angelo and provided a breath of fresh air. Their funky sound derives from a solid backbeat and melodic swirls that can only come from years of dedication to the craft. I was surprised to hear that this group of mature musicians is no more than 22 years of age. All of them have been playing together since grade school, on both the playgrounds of Grapevine, TX and the stages.

Their music, as well as their name, is very unique. They play several jazzed-up covers of The Beatles, and Nirvana to name a few. Since their serious jamming started a few years ago, all members have been contributing to the writing of several very unique originals.

Their music, as they describe it, is a celebration of R&B, Funk, Love and Life. “Camble’s Hole,” a cut on their soon to be recorded debut CD, is a captivating song that blends captivating lyrics of life experiences with smooth melodies. “We hope to go into the studio by the end of the year,” said Kelyn. Fatty Lumpkin’s music relies on two elements, whether they are playing a spiced-up cover or one of their own. The first is the ever present (almost a trademark) sound coming from Drummer/Percussionist Matt Dixon. The second coming from the front line where Kelyn Crapp, Seth Meyers, and Mike Furry play an intricate and interwoven game of musical chess.

Their songs often jump from a bluesy bend to a rock and roll rhythm, using diminished and augmented cords. It’s experimental, but not to the extent that you suddenly crave some James Taylor. It’s more to the extent where you still have that urge to tap your foot and even may consider asking the women at the next table for a dance. It’s good stuff. They’re young… who knows where their music will take them. - San Angelo Live

Show date 2/14/09 -- While you were busy with your special someone on Valentine’s night, one of the greatest and most respected musicians of all time was on stage at the Boiler Room in Denton. Greg Ginn, founder of the punk rock group Black Flag, took the stage with his two current acts, Jambang and the Texas Corrugators for an evening filled with the sultry sound of quality jam band tunes.

Headlining the show was the Denton group Fatty Lumpkin, who effortlessly accomplished the not so easy task of following the man named the ninety-ninth greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. All together the three groups put on a show fitting for Valentine’s Night. The songs were soulful and deep, the hypnotic beats of Jambang conjured up images of summer love while the funky tunes of Fatty Lumpkin were a perfect prelude for getting down to business.

It is truly a pleasure to see these groups combining forces and play a show together. Bobby Banclari, the mandolin player for Jambang and the Texas Corrugators, is incredibly entertaining, turning his underrated instrument into a powerfully moving rock device. And Greg Ginn, who by the way is one of the nicest guys you will meet, put his musical genius on display in front of the fairly crowded room below Abbey Inn on the square.

Fatty Lumpkin kept the night moving with an ardent display of musical prowess which more than surpassed expectations. They are a fantastic four piece group who turns out jam after jam with incredibly ferocity and precision and are truly a great asset to the Denton music scene.

by MDM Writer Josh Hogan - MyDentonMusic.com

Fatty Lumpkin sounds like "the abstract images of the mind that only music can depict". These are accurate words for a band celebrated for their diverse mix of funk, reggae, experimental styles. Fatty Lumpkin is Matt Dixon on drums, Seth Myers on lead vocals and bass, and Kelyn Crapp on guitar. Last Saturday they played a gig at Fred's Texas Cafe in Ft.Worth, and I had a chance to sit down and chat with the members of the popular Denton jam band.

You guys have been playing a lot of shows around DFW. When are you coming back to Denton?
Kelyn: Our next Denton show is December 3rd at Andy's.
Matt: We're headlining, and the opening band Spank goes on around 10pm.

What about your upcoming album?
Seth: We're still working on it, but our EP is available.
Kelyn: It's still a work in progress, but we're going to release it sometime this spring.
Matt: We're pretty particular about what we want it to sound like, and we don't want to release it before we're all sure it's finished.
Seth: This is our first full-length album, something creative and original that we've been working on for a long time.

You guys currently live together in Denton, but how did you first meet?
Seth: We met in high school, but I've known this guy (points to Kelyn) since elementary school.
Kelyn: Yeah, we all grew up in Grapevine and started playing together in high school.

Where have you toured?
Seth: Around Texas, mostly. We've played in Austin, Waco, San Antonio, Lubbock.
Kelyn: We'd really like to tour outside of Texas, like when we did the Wakarusa festival in Kansas last year.
Matt: Yeah, that was fun. It was definitely one of our best shows and the festival was ridiculous.

Who else was playing there?
Matt: Flaming Lips, Galactic, Sound Tribe Sector Nine.
Seth: Cake was there, Emmylou Harris.
Kelyn: There were a lot of great jam bands there too, lots of relatively unknown musicians.

Wow. That sounds like an incredible lineup. Where else do you like to play?
Seth: Lubbock.
Really?
Seth: (laughs) Really. They're so starved for good music, you know?
Matt: Yeah, they're some of our biggest fans. They go a little crazy for us, so we always have fun out there.
Kelyn: We've had some great shows in Austin, and of course in Denton.

You guys do have a pretty big fan base in Denton. How do people usually hear about Fatty?
Seth: Word of mouth, mostly.
Kelyn: Yeah, that's usually the best way. We've been really lucky, because we have fans who come to our shows and enjoy our music for the live experience. We don't play our songs the same way every time, which is why people keep coming back to see us. We have a lot stronger fan base than a lot of other bands who have put out several CD's, which we're grateful for. We're sort of like...diamonds in the rough, you know?
Matt: We also have the Fatty Lumpkin Street Team, which is a group of our friends and fans that go around putting up posters and handing out flyers for our shows. In return, we can put them on the guest list to get into the show.
Seth: We feel connected to the people who come to see us play, because it's not just about us onstage. That's why we've added lights to our show, and why we have an artist paint onstage with us while we're playing.
Matt: That's our goal, to create more of an all-around sensory experience for the audience. We've definitely been inspired by bands like the Flaming Lips, whose shows are always more of a total experience than exactly as it is on the album. That's what music is about, a shared experience.

True words, and well put. Good luck to you Fatty, and we'll see you on December 3rd!

- MyDentonMusic.com

Bill: Backside Pick, Fatty Lumpkin, Waters of Lake Minnetonka (Prince Cover Band)

I had one of those great nights while catching an album release party Friday night. You know, the kind of evening that leaves you grinning yourself to sleep and waking up the next morning with the tunes still bouncing through your head?

A Denton hot spot, Hailey's, hosted the delightfully funky Backside Pick's album release. The large crowd, already in the dancing mood thanks to the talented opening band, Fatty Lumpkin, greeted Backside Pick with enthusiastic wolf whistles and cheers, and for good reason. The first note quickly drew the mingling groups into a tightly huddled mass of happy people around the stage, already singing along.
- MyDentonMusic.com

When I hear or read the words Fatty Lumpkin, I can’t help but let out a little giggle. It wasn’t until a week ago that I learned what Fatty Lumpkin is: a term used to describe a rather large joint; and it's also (for uber fantasy nerds out there), the name of Tom Bombadil’s horse in The Lord of the Rings books.

The first time I had heard those words was when I unexpectedly had the pleasure of seeing the band at Andy’s in Denton. I was blown away by the sheer talent of each member, combined with and their cool groove and heavy tracks.

In early March, the Denton band released their first full length LP, which they have been relentlessly working on for over a year – maybe longer if you count that some songs on the LP are from their EP. The new tracks are better produced, thanks to lead singer/bassist Seth Myers’ job at a local recording studio in Addison.

Fatty, as their fans call them, has a style unlike other local bands. They infuse blues, rock, jazz, hip-hop, and funk into their music in such a way that just standing there to listen is not an option; you have to dance. Even with the setback of losing a member last year, Fatty does a great job at getting the beats grooving.

Each member is a master at his instrument and brings a signature style to the album. Guitarist Keyln Crapp creates guitar riffs that and melodies that permeate from each track with undeniable talent. Each riff oozes a sort of sexuality that can make any audiophile tingle with pleasure. If there is one guitarist in Denton that everyone should keep an eye on, it is Crapp.

As far as dropping the fat beats – yes, pun intended – Matt Dixon is the man in the band that gets the party started. Any percussion instrument that he gets his hands on will get used in such a creative and unusual way to produce seriously funky beats to any track, which is especially evident on this album. He can toggle from one time signature to another and back again, and he can do it with genres too. The tracks sometimes start with the band in sync and carrying a predictable tune until bam!, they go in a whole different direction but still maintain cohesiveness. At the center of it all are Dixon’s beats.

One signature move that makes the band stand out from their peers is Myers' voice. Sure, he's an exceptional bassist who can produce some tasty grooves, but his voice makes Fatty Lumpkin unlike the majority of the bands out there. One of the band’s biggest influences is Phish, and you can easily hear the connection, aside from the fact that Fatty can jam equally as much as Phish. When Myers sings, he manages to leave the listener with a smile on their face – even if the subject matter isn't cheery. In fact, it is tough not to be happy in some way while listening to Fatty Lumpkin.
Fatty Lumpkin’s new album is available on iTunes and CD Baby – but the best way to experience them is in person. - Pegasus News

One thing that I always forget about Dallas is that the party starts so early! I got to The Loft at eleven and headliners Fatty Lumpkin had already begun. I walked up the stairs and entered the closest thing to a rave that The Loft has ever seen: there were giant white screens set up on either side of the stage backlit by lights in alternating hues of magenta, chartreuse, and electric blue. Dancers twirled and undulated behind the screens, their shadows hypnotic as they moved in time to the music. Looking around the room, it was obvious that Fatty Lumpkin is a band that stimulates their audience members' creativity as well. Hula hoop artists wandered through the crowd, their hoops adorned with sunny fabrics. There were glow sticks everywhere: on the floor, around the bar, on people's wrists, ankles, and heads. Fatty Lumpkin is definitely a group that you wear your party panties for.

I've seen Fatty Lumpkin countless times, but I keep coming back to their shows because they always wow me with their musical and performance ingenuity. They are a band that asks the question "Why not?" again and again, testing the limits of what's possible without getting gimmicky. In addition to their ever-evolving stage show, they play their old standards with an infinite number of variations, then treating us to new songs that are just as engaging our old favorites. Though the trio has been together since high school, they never play like they think they're too good to practice. In fact, it's quite obvious that they have been working on their craft quite a bit even since the last time I saw them play: Fatty Lumpkin is more polished and more precise than ever before. Their medleys between songs were quick, teasing us as they switched time signatures and styles with the kind of easy fluidity that comes from countless hours of practice.

Bassist and lead vocalist Seth Myers is so calm offstage, it's hard to believe it's the same person when he gets up there and jams with the intensity of a hardcore punk singer. I noticed a few more tricks and accents in his playing that I never noticed before, and he's really come into his own as a frontman for the group. Drummer Matt Dixon and guitar player Kelyn Crapp are no slouches either, and I'm convinced that this band is one of the rare few whose members love sharing the spotlight just as much as they enjoy shining under it. Their camaraderie was evident throughout the course of the night whenever someone took a solo: Kelyn would step forward and weaken your heart and your knees with his lightning-fast shredding while Seth stepped closer to Matt, the two of them grinning and egging each other on to push the boundaries within their own lines. Matt Dixon is one of those dream drummers that can play it all and play it all so well. He's so much fun to watch I feel inspired to take up drum lessons every time I see him play.

The horizon looms large for these princes among musical men, and I feel like there is truly no limit to where this band can go. I just hope the world is as kind to Fatty Lumpkin as they have been to their audiences.

-Laurel Johnston, MyDallasMusic.com - MyDallasMusic.com

Where do '70s funk, '90s jam-band tinkering and modern experimental rock mingle? Ask Denton trio Fatty Lumpkin. Vocalist-bassist Seth Myers, vocalist-guitarist Kelyn Crapp and drummer Matt Dixon can give you the lowdown on the instantly rhythmic, insanely infectious sound.
The new, full-length disc Fatty Lumpkin contains the slamming tracks "Fred Berry," an instrumental exploding in scratchy guitar licks, a thumping bass and an incessant drum beat, and "Mr. Mellow," an old-school funk number great for head-bobbing, foot-tapping and hip-grinding.
Myers, Crapp and Dixon met while in high school in Grapevine. They relocated to Denton, where Crapp and Dixon studied music at the University of North Texas and Myers vied for a sound engineering degree at the Dallas Sound Lab. Judging by the grooves, these guys are meant to jam together.
Thursday, July 29 at the Loft, 1135 S. Lamar St., Dallas. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Moon Taxi and Andrew Tinker are also on the bill. $10 in advance, $12 the day of show. www.theloftdallas.com.

-Mario Tarredell
- Dallas Morning News

By Joe Hyde
September 15, 2007

San Angelo LIVE! introduced The Fatty Lumpkin Band at the end of June. They returned to The Steel Penny Pub (2412 College Hills, San Angelo, Tex.) Friday, Sept. 14, 2007 to light the stage up again with their dueling guitars backed by a wall of percussion and rhythm.

The band will start recording their first album release before the end of 2007, and the Grapevine, Tex. band deserves some attention. Playing a mix of rock, blues and jazz, the band’s strength lies in two areas: the dueling guitar expressions of lead guitarists Kelyn Crapp and Mike Furry and the intricate percussion and bass lead by bassist Seth Myers along with Matt Dixon on percussion and the drum set.

The young band, all of whom are only 22-years-old, have known one another since high school. The nucleus of the band was formed when Kelyn and Seth Myers got together their junior year at Grapevine High School. About two years ago, the band brought in a separate percussionist to provide more “texture” to their music. Percussionist Matt Dixon honed his percussion skills on the drumline of the Grapevine High School Marching Band. “I was the drumline of the Grapevine High School Marching Band,” Dixon quipped.

Keyln is finishing his music degree in the prestigious North Texas University (UNT, Denton, Tex.) music program where he is learning more than just rock and the blues. “I am really getting into the jazz,” Kelyn said. And North Texas is world-renown for its jazz music program. “I am not in the One O’Clock [Lab] Band yet,” he said. At North Texas, the best musicians in the program meet at 1 p.m. to rehearse jazz. Each successive hour afterwards consist of musicans vying for the next earlier hour meet and rehearse. But just being enrolled and succeeding in the program is in itself a prestigious accomplishment.

Earlier this month, Kelyn toured California with Texas blues guitarist (and organist, and singer) Lucky Peterson. Kelyn is starting to get the recognition he is earning.

The depth of musical experience is clearly displayed on stage with this band. Kelyn referenced “textures” of music several times in our interview. That is clearly on display with their performance. If you ever wondered how Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jimi Hendrix would sound if their natural talent was tempered and forged in a formal music program like UNT’s, don’t miss the next Fatty Lumpkin show. They are that good.
- San Angelo Live

Words and video by Laurel Johnston

Last night's show at Hailey's began on a cool breeze and ended hot and sweaty. We came together in celebration of Fatty Lumpkin's first full-length album, and celebrate we did...

Starting out the night was Hatch, their performances always a particularly intense blend of individual musical prowess, band synergy, and various curious electronic effects. The members of Hatch have an acute perception of their fellow band mates' next musical step, and it's hard to look away as we, the audience, also attempt to guess the next path Hatch will tread.

Next up was Backside Pick, a fiery follow up to Hatch's killer ice cold fusion Backside always seems to bring a more festive vibe to the club, or maybe it was the steadily increasing stream of people arriving fashionably late to the show. This group has a knack for putting a fresh edge on classic funk, instantly garnering a sizeable crowd on the dance floor.

Both Hatch and Backside Pick played great sets, but the overall vibe permeating the club was relatively relaxed for a Friday night. The entire crowd was enjoying the music, but more from an observer standpoint versus as participants. That changed when Fatty Lumpkin took the stage. Their set consisted of an extra heavy dose of funky, reggae-inspired bass lines from Seth Myers, experimental, bluesy, rock guitar riffs a la Kelyn Crapp, and a perfect blend of live drumming and electronic drum effects by Matt Dixon.

Fatty's sound last night was like a relentlessly crashing wave upon the shore: they started their set with a tremendous force and they didn't stop until the lights faded and the last note rang off into silence. The experience was only enhanced by the smoke drifting onstage, and the artful effect of the lights alternating between spot lighting the musicians and highlighting the audience. Fatty poured out their heart and soul into their long-awaited LP, and they represented it well last night with their sweat and furious musical fervor. The crowd on the dance floor absorbed their infectious energy, increasing both in size and fury.

For the second half of the show, Fatty brought Backside Pick front man Rocky Ottley onstage to sing a song, then brought what Seth described as the "hot and spicy" horn section onstage along with "Denton celebrity" guitarist Mike Clowes of The Bastard Sons of Skoalfield. Andrew Tinker joined them on keyboard for several fantastically boisterous solos while his brother George Tinker came onstage to lend his vocals for a song. Fatty effortlessly transformed from a down and dirty jam band to a bright and peppy New Orleans-style band.

Their last song "Ophelia" was a magnificent cavalcade of rollicking piano solos, furious sax sounds from Backside Pick's Ben Bohorquez, Peter Brewer's rousing trumpet fanfares, and Phil Menchaca's roaring trombone solos. Each horn solo prompted a response from Fatty proper, and each player's increasingly outrageous licks only egged on the sufficiently riled up audience. The lights went down to a deafening explosion of cheers, the audience thoroughly entertained yet hungry for more.

While no one can dispute their considerable musical talents, what I love about Fatty is how completely and easily they transform when they step onstage. The trio is easygoing and humble offstage, yet they're downright effortlessly cool once they plug in. It's not easy to discern a leader of the group, as all three members are formidable forces in their own right.

Seth and Kelyn's jovial, other-deprecating banter only adds to the spectacle, making Fatty's performance even more enjoyable to watch, and you can tell that these guys have enjoyed playing together for quite some time. Their album is the culmination of their efforts and years in the making, and I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next. Fatty Lumpkin's CD will be available on iTunes in a few weeks. Contact the band directly on their facebook or myspace page for a hard copy of the album. - My Denton Music

I picked up a copy of Fatty Lumpkin's EP several months ago at their House of Blues show, and I couldn't stop listening to those same four delightful tracks on repeat. I was dying for them to release a full-length album, and their March 5th CD release show couldn't come soon enough. It's a beautiful feeling because I honestly can't remember the last time I got this wound up about an album release.Things almost never live up to the sky-high expectations in our own heads, but I must say I was impressed by this LP.

Friends, fans of Fatty, jam-enthusiasts listen one and all: you need this album. This is the kind of album where you don't skip tracks, an album you want to listen to over and over again just so you can catch all of the crazy shit you missed the first or second time around. And trust me, there are a lot of musical nooks and crannies to get lost in...
Fatty Lumpkin has a way of playing a song slightly differently at each of their live shows, keeping their sound fresh and interesting every time you see them. They play with the time signature, add or subtract effects, use different drums and percussion instruments while still retaining the juicy meat of the song. It can be difficult to harness the raw power of a live performance on a studio album, but for a group like Fatty that's oozing with intensity and musical magnetism, it's a piece of cake. Overall, they've done an incredible job of capturing the particular brand of energy and oomph of their live shows. Here's my best effort at a breakdown of their album, track by track:


Track Listing
1. Breakdown (with Mike Furry)
One of my Fatty favorites, and oldie but a goody. I like that this tune has a message, but it's not too preachy. Each instrument's line blends seamlessly into the others, and the result is aural perfection. An allegory for the band themselves, there's a place for everything and everything is in its place.

2. Fred Berry
A close second favorite of mine, Fred Berry starts out defiant as hell. After the first breakdown, the sudden addition of electronic drums is bold but tastefully done, yet another reminder of Fatty's versatility. The song closes with some lickety-split guitar shreds and insistent, crashing drums. With one final fierce rendition of the melody, the band goes out with a bang, dropping us in midair.

3. True Romance (with Mike Furry)
This track features a meaner edge on the rhythm guitar, more present conga drumming, and some otherworldly guitar effects, and more of a reggae/dub bass line. I love Kelyn Crapp's guitar line on this track, it's as if his music is coming straight from his heart and guts and flowing right through his guitar to our ears. It's clear that these guys are raging hard until the very end of the song.

4. Do Me A Favor
Lead singer Seth Myers' vocal effects on this track are really cool, consisting of a "mix of distortion, flange, stereo delay, and reverb." There are also a ton of tasty bass licks on this tune as well, but you have to be patient. A true mark of a band's maturity, whenever Seth has a bass solo Kelyn's guitar line slightly recedes to give Seth room to flex his muscles while Matt Dixon keeps the drumming at a steady simmer. When he boils over, look out.

5. Noobie
I love how Fatty leads you into their next phrase without giving it all away: the beginning of Noobie teases you right from the start, letting you think you know which way the melody is headed but then switching it up. This song shows how easily they can shift gears between feel-good melodies and classic rock jamming.

6. Go Funk Yourself (with Mike Furry)
I immediately thought of Stevie Ray Vaughan when I heard this song, with a little My Morning Jacket thrown in. Seth's downright nasty funk bass line coincides nicely with Kelyn's guitar solos, and of course Matt holds it all together with his airtight percussing. A little more than halfway through the song, the funky happy jam melody fades into the distance and is replaced by a soft, brooding bass line and an eerie guitar note. Something's coming, and suddenly it's a subtly smoking hot Latin groove. Matt's drumming and artful use of percussion instruments really shine in this song.

7. Mr. Mellow (with Andrew Tinker on piano)
This song made me think of The Steve Miller Band. The beginning is a lush, pretty melody; the middle a funky jam with breezy lyrics, then back to the melody that slowly fades away to nothingness.

8. Oodles (with Mike Furry)
This is by far my favorite track, and boy was it hard to pick. It's like eavesdropping on a very private musical conversation, almost as if I was listening to an afternoon jam session at the house where all the members of Fatty live and work and play. It sounds so intimate and so casual, but it's still so tight. Each member jams along, each doing their own thing but sounding so damn good as a whole. - MyDentonMusic.com