Long-time readers of Synapsis may remember the last time we checked in on this band about a year ago. A lot has gone on since that time.

At about 10:30, The Band That Saved the World hit the stage and proceeded to play two sets of solid funk and R&B. This particular night was different for the band in several ways. First off, they had built a special stage for the evening: four piers connected together by rope to make the stage look like an old ship. They also added a bunch of lights to the stage and also strung Christmas lights throughout the club to add a carnival-like ambiance.

Secondly, you might be wondering why the band went through all this trouble… well, that was because the band was taping a video! They did a live audio recording at Mercy Recording Studios, which is upstairs from the Bottleneck. Then, that night, they taped the show for a video made in conjunction with First American Entertainment. There were three video cameras being used in an effort to get a first-rate quality video of the evening. The purpose of all this was to create a solid video they could use in their promo packet.

The band may also use some of the audio for their upcoming CD, which should hopefully be out in the next three to four months. Having seen some of the video footage from this show, I must admit that the band seems to have made a good choice in recording companies. If you’re looking for someone to do your next video project, I recommend that you check First American Entertainment out. (Contact info will be at the end of the review.)

Last but not least, this evening was unusual, because the band would be introducing a bunch of new material during the course of the show. Needless to say, this was a pretty high-pressure gig for the guys.

The Band That Saved the World has been around for about four years and has been playing all over Lawrence and Kansas City during that time. The band now consists of members / former members of Bastard Squad, Monterey Jack, Lipsmacking Kitty Lunch, The Cats, The Typewriter Band, Double Stuff, John Brown’s Underground, The Jesse Jackson Five, and Funky Shtuff among others.

The members of the band are: Shannon Savoie – vocals; "Reverend" Aaron Morris – trumpet and vocals; Steve Henry – guitar and harmonica; "Brother" Jeff Harshbarger – bass and vocals; Tom "Toad" Wiener – drums, percussion and vocals; "Dr. Love" Brandon Curtis – trumpet; Jon White – alto saxophone, baritone sax, flute and tuba; Dan Penn – tenor saxophone; Chris Leopold – trumpet and keyboard; Mike McFarland – guitar and vocals.

Nearly everyone in the band has studied their instruments on a collegiate level – most right here in Lawrence at KU – and it really shows. The performance talent and song writing skills in this band are enormous. Flat out, these guys can lay down some of the most ferocious and solid funk grooves the region has ever heard. While funk is indeed the band’s specialty, it is not the only style they can play convincingly. Throughout the night, they played some very nice acid jazz, rhythm and blues, and even some rock n’ roll.

The show was divided into two sets. The first one started off with a brand new song entitled "Franky’s Golden Ring." The song featured John White making his premier live performance on the tuba. The elaborate setting and ambiance the band worked hard to create really became apparent during this song, as it fit perfectly with the story the song tells, set aboard a cruise ship. The song itself was a very interesting little ditty, as it featured a little bit of swing, a little bit of reggae and even a touch of polka! I thought the song was cool, and its unique use of varying styles was a nice change from the norm.

Other highlights from their first set included BTSTW standards like, "Whoz Yo Daddy," "Sunday," "Struggle" and "N.Y.C.," as well as a couple of other very strong new tunes – "As Far As I Can See" and a brand new instrumental, "Funk Anthem." Musically, this set was very solid, but there was one problem: The band seemed very stiff and not at all relaxed, which is very unusual for a BTSTW show. The pressure of getting things just right was obviously affecting the band. So after this first set, a break was just what the band needed.

After a 20-minute break, the band took the stage for set number two. The carnival atmosphere of the show continued as "Brother" Jeff did a very nice fire-breathing stunt and even managed to not burn the place down in the process! The band looked a lot more relaxed and looked to be having more fun. This set also contained a couple of new tunes. The best of these, and what has now become my personal favorite from BTSTW, is entitled "Industry." This is easily the heaviest song the band has in their repertoire, and also gives both Mike McFarland and Steve Henry a chance to show off their substantial guitar chops. This set also featured more BTSTW standards like "Bad Seed," "BBQ," "Changes," "Scarlet Witch," and the set-closer, "Holy House." The set also featured a couple of covers that the band has become known for playing: "Pick Up the Pieces" by the Average White Band, and "Knock Yourself Out" by Tower of Power.

Overall, the show had a very nice flow to it and I think the band accomplished their goal for the evening, and the new songs are some of the best the band has ever written. I think that the band is really starting to hit their stride in that department.