Photos and review by: Jason Robey

CHARLOTTE, NC — Denver psychedelic rock quartet Sqwerv has been making waves in the jam band world lately, and their tour stop in Charlotte on Friday gave the Queen City crowd a chance to see what the buzz is all about. The members’ impeccable skills on their instruments coupled with a penchant for jazz and funk filled improvisation make for a musically interesting and highly danceable performance. The unspoken communication between the players during extended jams translates into seamless song transitions, engaging sonic experimentation, and unique performances.

With no opening act for Friday’s show, the band took the stage in an unassuming way, quietly taking their places and easing into “Drivin’,” with a slow-burning build up through the verse and chorus, gradually ramping up in intensity. A few minutes into the song, the psychedelic visuals kicked in on the screen behind them, and the band locked in for a slinky instrumental groove that set the tone for the rest of the evening. For the next hour and a half, the band would weave in and out of funk, jazz, rock, and even bluegrass, all while managing to keep it smooth and cohesive. Capping the set off with a 12-minute “King George,” the evening was just getting started.

After a few minutes break, Sqwerv returned for another nearly-90-minute second set, blasting off their track, “Smile,” while trippy images continued to swirl behind them. One of the more unexpected moments of the night was the samba-laden “When the Dust Settles” melting into a psychedelic jam, eventually unfolding into an a cappella performance of the traditional sea shanty “Wellerman,” before finishing the former. The only other cover of evening came shortly after, with a run through of the Pink Floyd progressive rock instrumental “One Of These Days.” Sqwerv ended the musical journey that was the evening by finishing their fan favorite “Looky Lou,” which they began near the beginning of the first set. Follow Sqwerv on social media for upcoming tour and festival dates.