REINVENTING MUSIC
Remember those guys back in school in marching band?
Yeah, us either.
But we were schooled last night by Lucky Chops at Asbury Park’s legendary The Wonder Bar that these were the true winners, the cool kids all along.
Whether played in the school band during sports games or infused into garage bands, brass instruments always resonate with celebration and bring an exciting element to the moment and to the music.
Now imagine an entire band of brass instruments – celebration to the extreme – and you get the charismatic New York friends behind Lucky Chops. Impossible not to love, the band radiates contagious, positive joy while putting uplifting twists on some of our favorite songs, from “Coco to “Helter Skelter, yes, spanning every genre.
The set was a marathon of fifteen powerful, high energy performances – imagine a 10 mile run while jamming out to your favorite pump-up music. Daro Behroozi (Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone) led the band into songs he dedicated to the fighters at the front line of The Pipeline crisis and another beautiful rendition to a recently passed music teacher, underscoring that this band’s mission is truly to spread joy and love, more than your average band.
Our first experience of Lucky Chops was in the subways of New York City (literally on the platform), later to discover that the subway-band was also a selling-out-New-York-shows kind of band. It’s always fun to root for the little guys, but it was unquestionable that their talent would take them from the platforms to the stages. They were also a perfect fit at the Festival of Color as rainbow holi flew in the air to party horns of the band, featuring past touring member Leo Pellegrino (baritone sax) who you can now see in the similarly playful band Too Many Zooz.
Even with some past face time with the band, Lucky Chops still impresses and surprises us every time they hit the stage. After just playing at Irving Plaza, NYC, it was a real treat to see them in a more intimate setting by the boardwalk of a small, rock and art town. Lucky Chops left us with another cherry on top when they encored with “Lean On Me” as the mixed aged crowd swayed together in unison. Maybe there is a way to bring our world together.
Wonder Bar Set List
Without You
Coco
I’ll Fly Away
Boom
Miami
D20
Helter Skelter
*jam sesh*
Stand
Buyo
Connie
Behrozzie
Stand By Me
Danza
Encore: Problem & Stand By Me
Band Members
Josh Holcomb – Trombone
Daro Behroozi – Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Raphael “Brian” Buyo – Sousaphone
Joshua Gawel – Trumpet
Charles Sams – Drums
[+] LUCKY CHOPS
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Photos ©Brittany “NO FOMO”. All Rights Reserved.
