Berkeley, CA – Last night, the Jabberwock played host to a mind-bending musical experience that left the packed house stunned, exhilarated, and hungry for more. When Country Joe and The Fish mysteriously canceled their gig, the stage was set for an unknown band to take their place. That band, as it turns out, was Z Kooper and The Zookeepers, and they did not disappoint.
From the moment they took the stage, it was clear that this was no ordinary group of musicians. The Zookeepers, led by the enigmatic Z Kooper, delivered a sound that was equal parts psychedelic rock, blues, and something entirely new. Kooper’s vocals, a gravelly, soulful croon, cut through the haze of the Jabberwock like a beacon, guiding the audience on a trip through uncharted sonic territory.
The band’s chemistry was undeniable. Goliath, the larger-than-life guitarist, coaxed otherworldly sounds from his Stratocaster, his playing a dizzying blend of technical prowess and unbridled passion. The rhythm section, featuring the diminutive duo of Myron Faylor on drums and Glibbit on bass, laid down grooves so tight, you could bounce a silver dollar off them. And then there was Gurney Poe, the wildcard keyboardist, who played like a tightrope walker on a psychedelic rollercoaster, all loops and flips and unexpected turns.
Together, they crafted a sound that was at once familiar and wholly unique. Hints of Ray Charles’ churchy country soul, coupled with the raw power of The MC5 and the swagger of the Rolling Stones, all wrapped up in a package that was pure Zookeepers. The crowd, a mix of wide-eyed hippies and curious scenesters, was transfixed from the first note to the last.
As the band tore through original tunes that felt like instant classics, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. Kooper, resplendent in a straw fedora and dark shades, prowled the stage like a man possessed, his every move a study in lazy thermonuclear chaos. The audience hung on his every word, every gesture, as if they were witnessing the birth of something truly special.
And special it was. By the time the Zookeepers wrapped up their set, after four solid hours of mind-melting music, the crowd was in a frenzy. As the house lights came up and the audience began to disperse, a sense of awe hung in the air. Something had shifted in the musical landscape of Berkeley, and everyone who had been there knew it. The Summer of Love had arrived, and the world would never be the same.
As the music world waits with bated breath for their next appearance, one thing is clear: Z Kooper and The Zookeepers are here to stay. Their music, a heady brew of rock, folk, country, blues, and something altogether stranger, has tapped into the zeitgeist of the Summer of Love in a way that few bands could manage. They are the sound of a generation, the voice of a movement, and they are only just getting started. Dig it.
