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Snarky Puppy on Tour
With a jazz-minded head and a jam-band heart, Snarky Puppy are the ultimate live act. A collective of 40-odd rotating members who typically play shows in groups of 10 to 20, they frequently play with guests ranging from David Crosby to Charlie Hunter to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Led by bassist and composer Michael League, this rogues' gallery of instrumental misfits stir up all sorts of styles — rock, jazz, funk, R&B, Afrobeat, fusion and various world strains — into one big roiling pot of groove. Snarky Puppy have been playing together in various iterations since 2004, and live recordings of their countless club shows, festival stops and concert hall gigs are feverishly collected by fans with good reason. No two concerts are alike, thanks not only to an ever-shifting lineup but also to a healthy dose of improvisation. When they have the space to stretch out, Snarky Puppy can easily go a couple of hours onstage, playing songs from their 10-plus official albums plus plenty of imagination-infused, on-the-spot riffing.
Snarky Puppy in Concert
Though Snarky Puppy are based in Brooklyn, Michael League founded the group in Denton, Texas, under ironic circumstances considering the group's runaway success. As a freshman jazz major at the University of North Texas in 2004, he wasn't good enough to place in any school ensembles. Starting his own band was a way to play the music he'd loved since his teenage years. And since then, Snarky Puppy have not only become a legendary live band, but won three Grammys: Best R&B Performance for their Lalah Hathaway–sung cover of "Something" (on 2013's Family Dinner, Vol. 1), and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for both 2015's Sylva (with the Dutch Metropole Orkest) and 2016's Culcha Vulcha. The group's unwieldy roster happened by accident. In Snarky Puppy's early days, members couldn't afford to turn down gigs with bigger touring artists, so League would bring in pinch players, train them and put them on the road. But between the bonds formed and knowledge acquired, it seemed a waste to kick them out afterward. Hence, "The Fam," as they're called, grew and grew, from Snarky Puppy's self-released debut, 2005's Live at Uncommon Ground, through League's move to New York, and on to albums like 2019's Immigrance, which leans deeply into the members' multicultural backgrounds to arrive at a sound that's continually new and evolving.
Over the course of their career, Snarky Puppy have brought many venues to capacity, like Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.) and the Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles).
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it was my first time going to a SNARKY PUPPY EXPERIENCE and all I can say with their live IN YOUR FACE MUSIC? I’m left speechless and in awe!!! I hope that their next album and albums in the future continue to be live ones….WOW!!
The show was really well done on a performance standpoint. They played a lot of the biggest hits on their albums. The lighting was kind of poor, it was hard to see everyone on stage the way it was lit, luckily the TV screens made it easy to see what was going on. I also thought the stage presence was a little awkward, I thought there could have been more talking, and just a better layout for the audience to see everything going on. Visual aside they killed it musically. I thought the electric violin tone was a bit too shrill. There was one tune where the fiddle played for a while and it was really tiring on the ears. Maybe find a better effect or lower the treble a bit?
From start to encore, snarky puppy had the audience eating out of the palm of their hands…wanting more and getting it in a memorable encore that has everyone on their feet.
Anybody who listens to Snarky Puppy knows they in for a treat. However, I didn't expect them to bring so much energy and I left feeling in awe at how talented they are. A++
I've been to a lot of great concerts with the first tour of the Sting band as one of the best, if not the best as far as musicianship and performance, but Snarky Puppy's show with a small (10 person band) may be on par with that Sting concert. It was so good.
Snarky Puppy is an amazingly talented group of instrumentalists. Their music does not fit neatly into any one genre . . . they're jazzy and funky, with a little bit of rock and the total sound is just incredible. The live concert experience eclipses their recordings, which are total ear-gasms! The concert at the Theater at MGM National Harbor, a beautiful venue, was stellar. If they had played another three hours, I would have sat right there, soaking in every bit of music so good, it's almost therapeutic. If you haven't seen Snarky Puppy in concert, do yourself a favor and check them out!
First time seeing them. Phenomenal show. I had seats in row C, about 10 seats to the right of the soundboard. Great sound quality and just high enough to see over everyone else’s heads. They blew me away with almost every song, but Chonks was my favorite. Love that deep bass and funky rhythm. I’ll see them again for sure!
Snarky Puppy have been one of my favorites for years. They're first rate musicians and Michael League's compositions for that band are amazing. They sounded great and played a nice set that covered a decent bit of terrain from their catalogue, though certainly with emphasis on their more recent records. Nothing from the new album, which apparently drops this fall. Michael League talked about that early in the set. Highly recommend seeing them to anyone on the fence ... and everyone else.
3 to 4 months ago, I was very unknowledgeable about Snarky Puppy. I binged all of their releases on a 22 mile drive one way and back from MD to TX. Amazing band. I was so ready for the up and coming concert but this band is totally next level. Amazing performance and incredible sound. I can’t wait to see them again.
The venue was incredible as usual, but Snarky Puppy was absolutely Outstanding. The performance of from all the musicians was awesome, missed Corey Henry but it was a great performance none the less. Would go again.
Wherever Snarky Puppy plays is where I want to be. They are the best band in the world! The Jazz-Fusion style is executed masterfully by them time & time again! Fortunate to have found this band, they change lives! A MUST-SEE!!!!
Fantastic production, fantastic venue, most fantastic music
Snarky Puppy is in my opinion was of the best jazz fusion bands around today! Each member is talented beyond belief! The sound at MGM was crystal clear. I walked out of that theater with a broad smile on my face. Can’t wait to see the band perform the next time they come back to the DMV. They never disappoint!!
Snarky Puppy was amazing, the sound quality was loud and clear. The seats were tiny and uncomfortable, that's my only complaint
As an admirer of Snarky Puppy music, I was completely blown away @ Saturday ACL show. You could feel their Vibe. Incredible musicians who certainly enjoy presenting their wonderful craft in concert.
Group of truly talent musicians. Entertaining from start to end.
They set the place off, lit as can be, with more Moogs than Bob himself. Crazy stuff man, face melted so much I almost slipped in it, Mark Lettieri rules! I’m all snarked up still!
The venue is awesome, the event staff and bartenders were great but the band was so disappointing! I’m never heard of the band before and went on a whim - why it was almost sold out is a big question. In a town of fantastic professional musicians, Snarky Puppy had no business here playing for money… it was exactly like a high school level jazz band, but not as good. There was no soul or sweat or serious effort made by these guys. With no opener, the 90 minute set was a huge bust and ripoff. In short, I do not recommend.
This Concert was everything and then some more, the sound in the room was great, the light changes with the songs were great and Snarky Puppy crowned it with an ethereal master class in what I call out of this world music.
Dear old dad boomer review: Never, ever before have I enjoyed a concert so much where I didn’t recognize but one song. The concert was one virtuoso performance after another. My son turned me on to Snarky Puppy. He learned about them thru DCI.
