Paul Janeway is an unassuming, balding, Caucasian male with a round face clumsily framed by thick glasses. He’s the son of a preacher who almost became one himself before eventually deciding to be a banker, but something nuts happens when Janeway — the leader of Alabama soul outfit St. Paul & The Broken Bones— opens his mouth to sing.
He becomes a man on fire, and anyone with eyes and ears fixed on the boy starts to notice the way his white dress shoes are wriggling around the stage. His voice — a pained howl with power usually reserved for brokenhearted, angry soul divas — makes you stop questioning his dapper get up and question your own self with a hearty “what...da...f**k am I watching??”
The Bones’ debut full-length Half The City was produced by Alabama Shakes’ Ben Tanner and will see release on February 18. The band brings their soul revival to Crowbar (1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City) this Thurs., Feb. 6. Tampa’s own Nervous Turkey and Orlando hip shakers The Sh-Booms play support.
Cover is $8 in advance/$10 day of show, and doors are at 9 p.m.
Watch the Southern Living“Biscuits & Jam” clip below, which features the band performing “Don’t Mean A Thing” off their forthcoming LP.