LIVE at the Little Theatre - GITKIN (International Psych Rock/Funk ft. Brian J from Pimps of Joytime)

"LIVE at the Little Theatre - An Evening with GITKIN (International Psych Rock - Funk ft. Brian J from Pimps of Joytime)"

Step into a world where dust-strewn landscapes meet the hypnotic melodies of desert blues and psychedelic Cumbia. Where middle eastern funk intertwines with reverb drenched twang and the pulse of Latin American rhythms. Welcome to the world of GITKIN.

New Orleans-based GITKIN, also known as Brian J, a Grammy-nominated artist and producer renowned for his production skills (working with Cedric Burnside, Bernard Purdie, Cyril Neville) and as the mastermind behind the funk ensemble Pimps Of Joytime, is experiencing surprising success with this passion project.

With monthly streams over 300,000 Gitkin’s three self-produced studio albums are resonating with fans globally. In 2022 inspired by the success of his streaming and social media response Gitkin put together a band and started playing live. The trio featuring Palestinian musician Simon Moushabeck (keyboard, accordion, percussion) and Cuban American Washington Duke (Drums) brings a new life and dimension to the recorded music. Teaming up with international booking agent FMLY they embarked on their first European tour in September meeting enthusiastic audiences in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Austria, selling out a number of shows. This was followed by a short stint supporting Steel Pulse and most recently Say She She.

"After years of making songs where the vocals and lyrics take the spotlights, it's been liberating to let my guitar do the talking. With Gitkin I get to bring in my love for African, middle eastern and south american music and mix it with my native musicality that sits in American blues and funk.

Performing as a trio with my two talented compadres provides a lot of space in the music that opens the door for what I like to call "expensive moments." My favorite moments of a show don't usually happen by somebody playing something fast and impressive. More times It's when a palpable essence takes over the room. You feel it and you know everyone in the spot feels it. That's what keeps me getting in vans and planes and putting in endless hours in the studio."

Gitkin’s latest album “Golden Age” out October 18th is a ten song showcase of the latest evolution of his lyrical guitar-driven sound. The album is unmistakably a product of the Crescent City. There’s a swampy, subtropical feel to each of the ten compositions, to be sure. But there’s also a rhythmic and percussive drive that is characteristic of the best New Orleans music, whether that be the funk of the Meters or the hoodoo vibes of Dr. John, both of which faintly echo through Gitkin’s music. The juxtaposition of unlikely influences that somehow end up making perfect sense continues with one of the album’s highlights, appropriately named “The One.” Something Brian J. describes as “Sudanese synth-trance mixed with Tuareg, Black Sabbath, and 2000s-era hipster disco,” the song is a favorite at the band’s live shows. “My goal when creating is to think as little as possible and do what feels good,” he says. “I don’t overthink creating. If I wake up with a groove in my head or melody idea I just go into my studio and record it.” We should probably take the same advice, cease analyzing things too deeply, and simply enjoy - Golden Age, Gitkin’s latest batch of dreams made manifest.

JOIN US FOR AN AMAZING EVENING OF ORIGINAL, LIVE MUSIC AT THE BAY ST. LOUIS LITTLE THEATRE!!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH!!