Live Report: Snarky Pupppy reign supreme at The Olympia

Last night, attendees of Snarky Puppy’s Olympia Theatre performance were taken on a genre and decade-spanning musical journey. The group’s chops and technical prowess were on full display, allowing them to effortlessly navigate diverse ground. Led by bassist Michael League, the group at one moment sounded like a space-age samba ensemble and the next a psychedelic jam-band, all while staying firmly rooted in the world of progressive jazz.

They jammed on blistering cuts from their new record Immigrance, which took on a new life in the live setting. League took a quick moment to address the crowd but wanted to utilize his time playing as much music as possible. Snarky Puppy resumed their spellbinding onslaught of jazz mastery, and the audience couldn’t get enough. Highlight’s took the form of tunes like ‘Bad Kids to the Back,’ which showcased the band’s dynamism and chemistry.

Hailed as the vanguard of modern jazz and the torchbearers of the genre’s boundary-pushing legacy, Snarky Puppy surprisingly had humble beginnings. In 2004, Michael League was studying at University in Texas, where he failed to place into any of the school's ensembles. The group that resulted, which we now know as the three-time Grammy winners, was an alternative way for League to continue playing.

It would be impossible to map out all of the references Snarky Puppy pulled from in order to deliver their gut-punching performance. They referenced everything from Nigerian Funk to what sounded like Frippertronics. Thus, there was never a dull moment.  The group were triumphant in making sure every showgoer left the Olympia not only satisfied, but craving more.