28

SUNDAY

It plays with acts such as Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, but Soulive shouldn’t be labeled as just another jam band: Its cracking down-tempo beats and soulful vibes place the band closer to the Soulquarians than Phish. Besides, the group’s members prefer leather jackets and knitted skullcaps to tie-dyed T-shirts and Birkenstocks. Soulive’s Next successfully introduced a new player (saxophonist Sam Kininger) while affirming the band’s hiphop roots with guest appearances by rappers Talib Kweli and Black Thought. And even though Next takes an awful nose dive on the smaltzy “Joyful Girl,” which features—ugh—Dave Matthews, Soulive advances its overall sonic progress with tight drumming from Alan Evans, creamy keyboard flourishes from Neal Evans, and sexy guitar licks from Eric Krasno. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $20. (202) 393-0930. (John Murph)