Nat Osborn Band Has An Album Release Party

There was no better place to be on Friday night than at the Nat Osborn Band party at Rough Trade. Along with his band, Nat threw down a stellar performance that I’m sure stuck with the crowd long after its conclusion.

Starting the night off however was a man dubbed “Sasquatch of Soul,” Lyle Divinsky and his “Big Ass Band.” His name, rightfully earned, with a falsetto silky enough to make you feel at ease, or his powerful full voice, saturated with soul so deep it was easy to get lost in it. One fan in particular started his enthusiastic “WOO!” from the crowd the moment Lyle placed his bare feet onto the stage, to the very moment he disappeared behind the stage. Every moment in between was utter perfection. I’ve seen Lyle and his band perform previously and they always deliver honest, and consistent music that makes you want to come back for more. Fans from all walks of life easily fell into the rhythm and swayed in time with each new selection, and it all culminated with a huge acapella crowd sing-along that I’m happy to admit sounded pretty great!

Lyle Divinsky

By the time Nat Osborn took the stage with his band, the crowd was electric. The crackling of anticipation was in the air, and I even got a bit overzealous when a horn section came out on stage. I’ve said this previously, but I think it needs to be restated – when you record songs with horns or strings, do everything in your power to bring those musicians out on tour with you. Nothing can replace the sound or impact that live horns and strings makes at a show. That said, Nat delivered one of the most rousing sets I’ve seen in past weeks. If you saw Nat strolling down the street you might not imagine that such a crisp, soulful and impassioned voice resides within him. Evidence of his effect on the crowd was the room packed to the balconies with fans, applauding and cheering for more. When he played “Exorcism,” a song from his new EP that we recently debuted here, the song held such a theatrical quality that it was hard for me to look away from the stage. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.

Nat Osborn

The final treat in a night filled with delights was Nat bringing Lyle back out onstage for one last song together. To see them both onstage, obviously good friends, and both equally passionate performers was such a joy to witness. We all left Rough Trade with much warmer hearts and a bit more soul to get us through the rest of our days.