The Revivalists

The Revivalists gave an inviting blend of dance-worthy alt-funk and genuine personality that is rarely seen in live performances. When they were really grooving as a unit, the sound was nothing short of sexy. I couldn’t shake the inner voice in my head wishing that more bands would play like this. - Seattle Audiophile

What’s unique about The Revivalists is that the band defies categorization. They take elements of rock, soul, country, funk, roots, and folk, throw it in the pot, and cook up an addictive, spicy musical jambalaya. This is a band with solid chops, solid songs, and a range of styles and influences. Their wide array of musical colors and Shaw’s thoughtful lyrics give them a very rich palette to paint from in studio and on stage. - Seattle Music Insider

There's just two days left of French Quarter Festival 2011. If you don't know who to go see, here's Music writer Keith Spera's pick for Saturday:

Music writer Keith Spera's "best bet" for Saturday's French Quarter Fest, The Revivalists.
The Revivalists
12:30-1:45, Coca-Cola Esplanade in the Shade Stage
In little more than three years, The Revivalists have emerged as a contender on the local rock scene. The quintet's full-length independent debut, "Vital Signs, " sounds like a major label release, with its hearty production and stout arrangements and musicianship that, at times, evoke the Dave Matthews Band at its most focused. -- Keith Spera - Times Picayune

It was merely gray and humid when a young New Orleans group, the Revivalists, kicked off the day with a Crescent City-rhythm spin on jam-band jubilee and, at the end of the set, a barely-R-rated burlesque troupe. Singer-guitarist David Shaw had a dash of Dave Matthews in his crusted tenor, but there was a heavy-rock spring in the Revivalists' strut, and pedal-steel guitarist Ed Williams added distinctive wah-wah-treated scream to "Appreciate Me" and "Soul's Too Loud," both from the group's new album, Vital Signs. - rollingstone.com

...Press play and album opener ‘Not Turn Away’ will quickly get you acquainted with The Revivalists’ warm, inviting sound. Hearty pedal steel riffs and gentle sax-play weave in-between lovelorn lyrics that echo the blues. Like most Southern gentlemen, The Revivalists find solace in the simple pleasures of a stiff drink and a good woman, as evident on tracks like ‘Catching Fireflies’ and ‘Purple Heart’. The songs on Vital Signs set the groundwork for some playful live liberties - which is where these Gulf Coasters really Revive you. On the road, new material including ‘Soul’s Too Loud’ and ‘Appreciate Me I’ invite nightly reinvention... - thewaster.com

T he Revivalists formed in
the perfect New Orleans
way—as strangers brought
together by music. Singer
David Shaw was playing
guitar on his porch when guitarist Zack Feinberg road by
on his bike, and the fast friends decided to start a band.
Add a classmate, a prodigy and a friend from the Tipitina’s
Sunday Morning Workshop and the Revivalists were born.
Judging them by their self-titled EP, the Revivalists can
play JazzFest and the crowd would love them: the audience
would get funky and sing along to “Common Cents;”
They’d sway to the song “Soulflight;” they’d love them, no
doubt. They blend soul, reggae, blues and funk, and they
do it well. The main obstacle that the Revivalists face is the
New Orleans music scene, that little pond filled with big
fish, and it’s easy for any band to drown. The Revivalists are
good, but they aren’t as funky as the Meters or Soul Rebels
and can’t compete with the force that is Galactic. However,
with a strong EP (as this one is) and some heavy touring,
the Revivalists might have a chance. There are audiences
across the country that are starved for soulful and funky
music, and we’re so spoiled that we’ve been presented with
yet another option. —Caroline DeBruhl
- Antigravity Magazine

The Revivalists put on a good show at their Howlin' Wolf E.P. release party on Friday, Sept. 19.

The band has been together for over a year and includes two Loyola students, Andrew Campanelli and George Gekas. Their sound derives from New Orleans jazz, blues, funk and modern rock. The club grooved, the drinks flowed, the crowd was high and the music was full of eclectic flavors.

The song, "Common Cents," ventured from their funk sound to a rock song featuring guitar riffs comparable to indie super-band Broken Social Scene. The singer, David Shaw, was similar to John Mayer, while the pianist, Nick Offenberg, played a slick melody.

Next the band played their song, "Blue Lung," a cool, funky ballad with soulful keyboards. The guitarist, Zach Feinberg, played a blues-influenced solo, and Shaw sang with a softer voice and telling lyrics.

"Reggae Tap," was reminiscent of a Phish concert. Concert-goers were introduced to an innovatively laidback beat and a smooth bass line. Feinberg performed playfully psychedelic riffs to accompany the classic funk organ.

For an encore, the group came on first for a three-man folk song called, "Wait for the Sun." The beat was steady and simple, and the acoustic guitar was catchy, but the dreamy folk lyrics were the real crowd pleaser.

The final song, "Concrete," ended the show with precision. The organ and guitar players laid down a truly funky sound. The song featured the best solos of the night from Offenberg, with an old school sound, and from Gekas, with a modern, rock sound on bass.

The show ended well, and the band showed instrumental potential. A big turn out of friends and fans added to an energetic atmosphere, and the show was worth seeing - Loyola Maroon

One of the only new bands to catch my ear in the last year has been The Revivalists, and it isn't just because they give me a shout out on their new CD, which by the way will be released this Friday at the Howlin Wolf. They are a return to organic sounds and fat grooves, hip lyrics and good tunes. I highly recommend going to see them play, and supporting them by buying the CD.
-Kevin O'Day - neworleans.com

NOLA Indie Rock Fest Day 3
The Revivalists at One Eyed Jack's 10.4.08


Despite the fact that the boys have only been a band for a year (almost to the day), The Revivalists have some mighty fine chemistry and possess, as a group, lots of on-stage energy. Complimenting Zack Feinberg's guitar riffs that are warmly reminiscent of traditional New Orleans music, lead singer Dave Shaw has an unexpectedly powerful voice - that reminds me more than a bit of Incubus' Brandon Boyd - and the two combine to form songs strongly influenced by jazz and blues, but not penned in by them.

This past Saturday at One Eyed Jack's, The Revivalists were in finest form, dressed to the nines and riding high on the fact that the huge crowd was so obviously jazzed to be there, listening to them. Even though I had never seen The Revivalists before, I liked them the second I heard the reggae-jazz-soul fusion. The addition of a trumpet, compliments of that night's headliner, Antenna Inn's Michael Girardot, enhanced the sound even more by adding a hint of brass band, which fit right in to the mix.

Considering it takes most bands so much longer than a year to make such an impact and gather this many fans, these guys must be lucky... Nope, they're just that good!

~Meghan Jones - NewOrleans.com

“The Revivalists know how to infect a live venue with a sense of purpose and energy. Their performances veer from pop sensible and anthemic to progressive and brooding, often within the space of the same song (often within the space of the same minute, in fact), and show an innate talent for finding the balance in the tricky dichotomy of a hooky chorus and an indulgent jam. The overall effect is inspiring, and, most importantly, never boring.”
- Someamerican.com/originals 10/08 - Someamerican.com

“There definitely is no better live music than The Revivalists, at least in my mind for right now, we wish you good luck and to keep going and keep giving it to us for many more years.”
–Sherwood Collins WWOZ 90.7 New Orleans Music Show DJ 10/9/08 - WWOZ 90.7 FM New Orleans

"CDBABY.com Editor's Pick" in American Traditional Rock and Jam-Band Genres
-November 2008 - CDBABY

Following the eruption of Hightide Blues mustn’t have been easy, but local indie aces, The Revivalists were more than up to the task. With the crowd gathered from the stage to the door, they served up a set of gritty, reggae-inflected rock that launched one of the most out-of-control parties that I’ve experienced in quite some time. Wrapping feel-good, danceable melodies around funky, shape-shifting jams, their songs came to life as their young, energetic fans latched on to and got down to their grooves. Rhythmically infectious and melodically driven, as a band, they rallied around the strength of their songs to guide their jams. Never wondering off of the deep end or noodling into oblivion, they were able to keep their fans in step as they took their songs to another level. Clearly feeding off of each other, during the momentous “Concrete (Fish Out of Water),” a shower of beachballs rained from the upper level as frontman Dave Shaw invited the crowd onto the stage to partake in the mayhem. With beachballs flying from every direction, fans rushed to the stage, jumping over the barricade on their way. It was pure madness, a fitting bit of anarchy to fuel the celebration - Groovescapes.com

The Revivalists have become a staple to the ever-evolving New Orleans music scene. Seamlessly crossing back and forth between the indie rock bands and vibrant funk and jazz genres, the Revivalists have taken the city by storm and now they are ready to take their music even further…By incorporating both a pedal steel and saxophone, the band puts an unusual twist on what could be a common sound…the Revivalists combination of unique mixture of flavors manages to produce a sound that bends genre and pushes listeners out of their comfort zone. - Where Y'at Magazine

There’s a fine line between a jam band and a band that jams. New Orleans’ the Revivalists fall into the latter category. The group burst onto the scene in 2008 and honed their chops in 2009, expanding their live set as well as their songbook in the process. After spending some time in the studio, they return with Vital Signs, an album that brims with soulful melodies, explosive jams, and down-home rock ’n’ roll.

Singer Dave Shaw delivers an especially powerful performance here. His husky, fervent wail goes perfectly with the locomotive groove of “Ride the Earth,” a propulsive number whose lively acoustic breakdown and dancing sax fills calls to mind a more rocking version of the Dave Matthews Band. Earlier, his gripping rasp shimmers on “Strawman,” a tugging ballad with major crossover appeal.

Never showy or indulgent, the band tempers its virtuosity with calculated eruptions and nimble, intuitive punctuations. The racing atmospherics, winding guitars, and ricocheting rhythms of “Appreciate Me I” show why The Revivalists have also latched on with indie rock fans. Perhaps no song better captures the group’s inventiveness and creativity than “Soul’s Too Loud,” an intoxicating foray that emerges from a shadowy backbeat and a hypnotic guitar melody, only to be swept up into a collage of convulsive psychedelia. - Offbeat Magazine