The Groove Orient Heed the Call: Go West, Young Men!

Go west, young men!

The Groove Orient are taking Horace Greeley’s advice. They are about to embark on a 33-date tour taking them from Florida through the Southeast and Kansas before nine concerts in Colorado.

Art by kind permission of Yhali Ilan

The Groove Orient, an excellent quintet from Orlando, have been throwing down great shows at festivals and concerts all over Florida, including a great set at Orange Blossom Jamboree and a second there with “the Mad Woman of Rock and Roll,” blues belter Kaleigh Baker. They played with Baker on their New Year’s run with J.J Grey and MOFRO. The band also played a series of dates with Tom Hamilton’s American Babies with some nice sit-ins and collaborations.

The band features Chuck Magid on guitar and vocals, with Harry Ong (lead vocals, bass), David Vanegas (percussion, bass, vocals) and Aaron “Bucky” Buckingham (drums). The band’s secret weapon is Tommy Shugart, a wizard on Hammond B3 organ, electric piano and guitar.

Tommy Shugart, Harry Ong, Bucky Buckingham, Chuck Magid and David Vanegas

Their shows feature intense jams and superb playing and fine vocals from Magid, Ong and Vanegas. Their versatility on instruments has really elevated their game. Shugart has also played and recorded with Savi Fernandez, and Vanegas is part of a fine collective called Christian Ryan’s Garage: A Tribute to Frank Zappa. Magid also hosts a radio program on WPRK in Winter Park Tuesday mornings from 10 to noon; what’s not to love about Green Eggs and Jams?

The first four dates of the tour find the boys with Baker, including a performance at Purple Hatter’s Ball (June 18). Their Georgia dates include a set at Sigh in July at Live Wire Athens (July 15). Their July 22nd show at Quixote’s in Denver is an afterparty for the Motet/Medeski, Martin & Wood/Vulfpeck Red Rocks show. Along the way, they will also play with The Heavy Pets, The Hip Abduction, and Kevin Maines.

Check them out on their official website and on Facebook. And this awesome tour poster was created by Jimmy Rector! Video courtesy of Richie Williams / The Sober Goat.