For many musicians, there’s nothing better than getting up on stage and performing live in front of a roaring crowd, harnessing the energy to fuel their performance. Once a musician gets a taste of this feeling, it leaves them hungry for more and with a desire to play as much as possible. This feeling is reflected in the newest single by Sol Gyres, a reggae fusion band hailing from Storrs, Connecticut. The song, titled “Let Us Play,” was released on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
“Let Us Play” hooks listeners right away with a guitar riff by lead guitarist Logan Tichnor that evokes the influence of Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante with its funky sound. He is soon joined by the full band, anchored by the melodic and rhythmic bass line by Scott Bernier that makes it impossible not to groove along to—even if you’re sitting down. This is further complimented by melodic saxophone lines interspersed throughout the song and the use of a horn section, which adds an extra boost of energy in certain parts. Though the song uses the same basic chord sequence, the different dynamics used keep the listener hooked and wondering where the song will go over the course of its four-and-a-half-minute runtime.
Lyrically, “Let Us Play” is a testament to the power of live performance and wanting to play as much as possible. Mainly sung by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Jake Russell, this burning need can be heard in his delivery, almost like he’s begging to get back on stage. He hits a breaking point around the song’s halfway point when he repeats the line, “It’s getting harder and harder each and every other day” and also sings, “Let us play, oh let us play.” These lines show how important playing live is to Russell as a release from the pressures of life. The build-up and tension created in this section give way to the song’s climax, which features a melodic semi-rapped section by Russell. His flow and delivery are filled with passion and energy, showing how much he and his bandmates long to perform.
The song’s theme of wanting to play live as much as possible is a theme that musicians everywhere can relate to, especially in the Storrs-Willimantic scene, where it can be tough to find shows to play every weekend. The band successfully channels this feeling experienced by many local musicians with their energetic performance.
Overall, “Let Us Play” is a top-notch work that shows the band continuing to peak on a sonic level, both musically and lyrically. It’s a song that will certainly fit right at home in their shows, with an opening guitar riff and energy that is the perfect way to kick off a show and get the crowd going. This energy has made them one of the most successful bands to come out of Storrs in recent years, and “Let Us Play” keeps them going.
Rating: 5/5