Photograph by Steven Higgs

Chicago Afrobeat Project guitarist David Glines was among the smaller-than-usual band that played Uncle Fester's House of Blooze on Jan. 12. The band's latest release (A) Move to Silent Unrest has held a steady spot on the New World charts since its release last fall.

Uncle Fester's House of Blooze got a taste of the real thing last Thursday.

But just a taste -- because when you take a band like the Chicago Afrobeat Project (CabP), whose last show was at the House of Blues in Chicago, and place them on a small stage like at Uncle Fester's, not only do all of the musicians barely fit, they've got a hell of a lot less to work with.

Luckily for the Bloomington crowd, CabP didn't seem too concerned with the venue. They were just having a great time showing us what the Chicago spin on afro-beat music sounds like.

Even if you walked in to Fester's last Thursday with no idea what afro-beat music was, as long as you like live music, particularly high-energy music with funk, jazz and rock influences, you were bound to have a good time.

"It's really easy music to get into," said percussionist Marshall Greenhouse during an interview the week of the band's Jan. 24 show. "A lot of people in the band weren't familiar with afro-beat music at first either, but you really get into it."

Afro-beat music was popularized in the 1960s and '70s by Nigerian band Koolo Lobitos. CabP follows the traditional characteristics of afro-beat through the large size of the band (eight-plus musicians and several dancers typically perform), high-energy tempos and a combination of genres.

The band is on tour supporting their new album, (A) Move to Silent Unrest, which was released last fall and holds a steady spot on the New World charts, according to the press release of the show. This will be their second show in Bloomington in the last year.

CabP donates proceeds from all of their albums to Journalists Against AIDS Nigeria (JAAIDS), a nongovernmental organization that contributes to the prevention, care and control of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

According to the press release, "the group's vision is to create a Nigeria society where all persons are able to freely access information, facilities and services on health/HIV and are empowered to use these for their personal protection and natural development."

(A) Move to Silent Unrest is the band's second album, and they're already experimenting with their approach. According to the press release, "all seven tracks were recorded straight to two-inch tape, giving the album a vintage sound heard throughout the classic afro-beat recordings of the '60s and '70s."

"We really wanted to emulate the sound we have live," said Greenhouse. They recorded with eight people playing at once, and everyone was in the mindset that it was like a live show with "no second chances," he said.

CabP brings "Chicago flavor" to the traditional afro-beat style, according to the press release. Greenhouse describes this as a high-energy urban sound with a range of influences. And CabP encourages each band member's individual influences and background to come out in the music.

For Greenhouse, this means balancing his background of heavy metal influences and jazz. He feels this brings two elements to the band - thanks to his heavy metal influences, at times he's likely to hit harder on the drums than with most afro-beat styles, but he also enjoys working the drums as a mellow background sound.

"I really try to back up the other musicians and help the soloists sound good," he said.

And he thinks the blend of funk, jazz and African music sounds makes a perfect mix for both the musicians and the crowd to enjoy.

"We had a good crowd in Bloomington last time," he said. "We're excited to play in Bloomington again."

Based on the energy CabP had on Thursday, it seemed like the crowd didn't disappoint. And though I'd be excited to see them in Bloomington again, next time, I hope they're at the Bluebird.

Alison Hamm can be reached at arhamm@indiana.edu.