Reflections: L.E.S. Bands 15 September 7, 2024

Posted by: Darcel
June 23, 2025

This Saturday in September ended the Summer on a high note with this LES Bands series featuring three magnificent, traditional, live R&B / Funk bands: The House Musicians Band, The Untouchables, and Debbie Knapper and the Knappertime Band. This fulfills our important mission of providing live musicianship that the older demographic can enjoy and re-live, but more importantly provide a live show of talent playing musical instruments that the Millennials, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, and younger no longer. have the privilege of experiencing as we did as teens. Music equipment and ‘instruments’ are completely digital. “Live” performers sing or rap to tracks which understandably is an economic necessity, particularly for the new artist, but as we progress in technology, use of instruments are less used particularly in the R&B / Funk / Rap genres of Black Music, even by successful artists. While Jazz, Gospel, and Neo-Soul keep musicians working and creating (thank God), it appears R&B/Soul/Funk musicians have platforms few and far in between.

With that said, our LESCPIA 2024 free, outdoor, music concert — on Henry Street again in conjunction with Henry Street Settlement having Community Day in Sol Lain park — was full of skilled musicians so good, one group sounded like house record recordings, the other band had an amazing tenor vocalist that got people on their feet, and the third a female guitarist leading her band with blazing hits and a powerful leading lady. We actually featured four bands, three in the tradition of funk and the fourth a diverse electronica trio called Darris as the lead, and his lead guitarist and keytar player (the keyboard held like a guitar). Additional acts were an R&B singer giving hip-hop romeo vibes, a rap singer in the vein of Megan thee Stallion, and a Latina vocalist belting out pop classics. An added bonus is always our L.E.S. Bands Music Supervisor and singer, Robbie Mitchell, treating us to memories why he is such a talent, singing the best love songs from his heart. Because of the rainstorm that interrupted and delayed the program, we urge you to view the concert here on our site. You can view last year’s concert, L.E.S. Bands 15: Lower East Side Showtime on the home page. See who the acts were on our Archives page.