Nick Greer & the G's Heart On Fire CD Release Warehouse Live June 27, 2014
Its not his voice alone that stuns you, it's the emotion and life behind the voice of Nick Greer that reminds you why and how much you love music. It's not the strokes of his keyboard that are particularly astounding (although they very much are), rather the balance between his delicate touch and the forceful brigade of sound that Greer and his band create.
Friday, the Green Room at Warehouse Live was packed wall to wall for the CD release party for Heart On Fire, the newest offering from Nick Greer & The G's. Rocks Off was in attendance at April's preview event at Wire Road Studios that was attended by friends, family and the Trill OG himself. We heard then about the life trials that have fueled the songwriting and provided motivation to produce something grand and special with this new work; after hearing more tracks from the album, we feel totally confident that Greer has succeeded.
After beginning with a song entitled "Respect," Greer played the track "Trippin," which was the first single we previewed back in April. The song speaks about surrender and the need to remember, but what it really sounds like is the dramatic score of a major music picture, perhaps during the big action sequence or the closing-credits montage.
What Greer brings to the table is exponentially reflected back to him by his band. He has expressed his appreciation for how in tune and tight the Dave Matthews Band sounds, but I can tell you that the G's are about as glorious and in sync as any multiplatinum, Grammy-winning act out there today. They are just so damn good. And loud, you can't forget loud.
The mood and tempo slowed down during "Caving In," a bluesy soul track with a broken heart and need for transformation. Again, we can feel the beat of the bandleader's heart as he expresses his deep-rooted thoughts and feelings. A lone violin sets the mood and is a perfect complement to the tearful vocal delivery.
The band shifted between soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz and Latin music all through the night, clearly having fun with each song and shining brilliantly with each solo. One of life's basic questions is contemplated during "Do You Love Me?", where Greer asks his love interest to "set me free" if his love is not reciprocated. "Leave Me Alone," "Pours" and "Thank God" all hit onto the heartstrings, but the song "Trouble" really stood out. Its opening lines are exceptional, and so very appropriate for Greer:
Excuse me if I'm, causing trouble...
Trouble finds me, somebody hide me.
Review continues on the next page.
