Surprise at the Phoenix!

Don't cha just love it when the opening band blows you away. This was one of those times!

The Phoenix Theater in Petaluma hosted an evening of new-ish bands. Not unusual for the Phoenix as it's geared towards up and coming new young bands. There is no alcohol served on the premises and under age concert goers are all welcome. Mood Jungle was headlining as it was their EP release event. They were signed by Dont Flunk Me Records. DFM is a record label run by the Santa Rosa Junior College and helps with everything from audio to design. Mood Jungle is the newest JC sponsored DFM band.

Every year another artist is chosen for DFM Records to support the band in all aspects of making a record. One of my classes was given the brief to create a new design for the band whilst Jake Stillman (a JC instructor and owner of Stillman Sound) helps the band with the audio. My PhotoShop classes are involved with the DFM label and my instructor suggested I attend this show and take some shots of Mood Jungle, hence what brought me to the gig.

I didn't expect to be so blown away by the band that went on before Mood Jungle, which was Soul Shake. SoulShake is a young band fronted by Domenic Bianco. A super talented, energetic frontman that is apparently known for losing his shirt during shows. Back in 2016 this band emerged and then when Covid began they were living at Jake Stillmans' house.

April 19 2020 - Covid live music with SoulShake

I didn't realize I've seen them until this evening at the show when Domenic spoke of the Covid concerts on the lawn. When Covid started up, they played a 45 minute set every Saturday on Jakes' front lawn providing us live music lovers a little live music we can actually attend spaced apart and safe, for what little we knew about Covid back in the early days of the pandemic. I recall attending one of those 'front lawn shows' and what I remember clearly is it was the first time I wore a mask. The first of many times from then onward throughout the pandemic. In fact on the morning before this show April 19, 2025, my phone served me one of the photos from that day five years ago, the day that I apparently saw SoulShake for the first time on Jakes' front lawn. On that day at Jakes house, I also ran into a former workmate of mine from the KRSH, Penny Bianco, Domenics' mother, whom I hadn't seen in years since she left her job at the radio station. She was there to see her son and SoulShake play live at the start of the pandemic. That was my first intro tho this upbeat band.

SoulShake has a Rock, Reggae, Ska vibe that just makes people want to dance. It's happy vibe gets people moving and the players are all full of personality and quite obviously super happy to be there doing what they love - playing music. It reminded me of a Jamiroquai gig I saw a few years ago where the venue seemed like it was the happiest place on earth! When a band can provide something like that...I'm fully in! At this show I saw a few music friends, and one of those happens to front another soul shaking band in the North Bay, Kevin Mulligan. His band Soul Section is one of the hottest North Bay bands playing the circuit. (With a fantastic all female horn section.) Kevin told me that SoulShake has opened for his shows about a half dozen times so it's quite possible that I've seen SoulShake more than only twice, possibly opening for Soul Section. Either way, I was super impressed with SoulShake and would definitly go see them again and suggest you catch them! If this band plays their cards right, I think they can go places!

The headlining band, Mood Jungle, sponsored by SRJC's Don't Flunk Me Records, was cool. After the energy that SoulShake brought, it was a little difficult coming down to the jazzy alt sounds of Mood Jungle. The Mood Jungle trio were solid and seemed to all be good musicians. I always love a female drummer and Mood Jungles' female drummer, Hannah brought it and was providing a great beat for the music to flow in.

I hope one of the classes at the JC will provide them a great logo depicting their mature jazzy sound. I opted out of the assignment, as for many years I was a working designer. So after talking to my instructor, I excluded myself from the assignment. I am however, sure that my classmates will provide a groovy look for this bands' future branding style.

I wish Mood Jungle, Stillman Sound, SoulShake and Don't Flunk Me Records great success with all of their future endeavors.

Chris Newton with Mood Jungle onstage and Domenic Bianco grooving to the music.

As always, remember..."Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh often, be kind to each other, and never regret anything that made you smile". And of course...see live music, as often as possible, (especially in these difficult times)!

With peace, love, art and music,

Cheryl ☮ ❤️🎵

My You Tube channel has posted a video of the show, and Please SUBSCRIBE: youtube.com/@TheMusicSoupVideo?sub_confirmation=1