Garrett “G. Love” Dutton is in a good place right now. We got the chance to catch up with the slacker-rapper recently and the excitement in his voice was evident.
For starters, Dutton’s musical family has officially expanded from a longtime trio — with upright bassist “Jimi Jazz” Prescott and drummer Jeffrey “The Houseman” Clemens — to a five-piece. Joining the band is Mark Boyce on keys and drummer Chuck Treece. That’s right: the Special Sauce just got a little sump’ sump’ added to it…and it includes a second drum kit. Treece has toured with Urge Overkill and Bad Brains and Boyce has recorded with The Roots, King Britt and The Goats among others. However, due to a scheduling conflict, it’s unlikely Treece will appear at the quintet’s Charlotte show on Monday night.
The band has also wrapped up a new album. It’s Dutton’s seventh studio effort and he’s hoping to release it this summer. The record, with the working title of Ain’t That Right, features a slew of notable guests including Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos and Slightly Stoopid. The new record will be the group’s fourth for Johnson’s Brushfire label.
And Dutton always looks forward to hitting the road — which he’s doing this month — especially when he gets the opportunity to mix up club dates with several big festival stops. Currently, the band is scheduled to play at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Bonnaroo and Florida’s Langerado Music Festival. Hitting the seasonal circuit should provide ample opportunity to experience the workshopping of the new tracks, described by Dutton as, “Straight hip-hop beats and all that shit, you know…” Yes, we know: Ain’t That Right should play to the funkier strengths of Dutton’s best work.
G. Love & Special Sauce play the Visulite Theatre; Mon., March 6, 8:00pm; $25. www.visulite.com
This article appears in Mar 1-7, 2006.
