Every once and a while, a performer surprises you. Paul Janeway is one of those performers. The nerdy white guy opens his mouth and releases a sound so soulful and smooth that you may think your eyes are deceiving you. That is the anomaly that is St. Paul and The Broken Bones. Don't take my word for it. See it for yourself in the video above.
The Birmingham-based band brought the house down at Boston's Paradise Rock Club with their electric sound and Janeway's invigorating stage presence. He is as comfortable on stage as a preacher in front of a choir, which should come to little surprise with Janeway's childhood dream of becoming a preacher. Although, he dances across the stage in a way I've never seen a preacher move. Quite a lot of butt shaking and impressive footwork in this performance.
The way Janeway puts it all out there on the stage brings to mind Brittany Howard, lead singer of the Alabama Shakes. Both bands originate from Birmingham, Alabama, but that is not the only way they are connected. Alabama Shakes keyboardist, Ben Tanner, also produced the band's debut album, Half the City. Maybe the bands will collaborate more down the road. It's hard to imagine a better suited pair for a duet than Paul Janeway and Brittany Howard.
Between songs, the video shows segments of an interview with Janeway. The frontman discusses everything from how the band came to call themselves St. Paul and The Broken Bones to the time when his mother threw away his Nirvana CD. It is clear in the interview that the singer never expected music to become his career, sharing that he was at accounting school when the band was recording the album. He also seems to be grounded about his success, saying, "I'm in awe of it all... when you start getting used to this, that's when you mess it up." So let's hope that the band doesn't get used to their recent success, because their sound is fantastic.
Half the City is available on Amazon (Vinyl, CD, MP3) and iTunes.
For St. Paul and The Broken Bones' latest music, news, and tour dates, check out their Zumic artist page.
Source: WGBH Music Youtube Channel