After playing in bands for more than 20 years, Walker Adams wanted to reset and start a project that represented the best qualities music can bring out in people.  

The 36-year-old drummer graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and mulled around New York City for more than a decade before starting Telepathic Moon Dance, an instrumental jam funk band, last year.  

“Everyone progresses on their own journey and finds different times in their life to do their original music,” Adams said. “Luckily, I’ve found a lot of support for this music in the Hudson Valley, so it all came together. We’re young at heart and happy to hit the road.”  

Fresh off the release of its debut album “Desirer” in June, the band is looking to spread its deep grooves and uplifting melodies across the country, said sax player Steven Frieder. This includes a tour stop at Funk ‘n Waffles on Oct. 15. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.  

The band, spearheaded by Adams on drums, is a groovy mix of contemporary jam bands like Snarky Puppy and Phish fused with the influence of legends like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, Adams said. The lineup changes each show and will feature Sam Smith on bass and Frieder on sax at the waffle joint.  

A portion of the band’s set list will be comprised of the five songs off its album, but the band also improvises and will play some unreleased material. Adams said the band’s goal is to capture the positive spirit of people dancing and vibing to music in every one of its songs.    

“Telepathic Moon Dance came to me because the best concert experience is when it’s a beautiful night and the moon is out, you’re dancing to your favorite band, your friends are around; just that feeling of everything is perfect,” Adams said.  

The band’s formation is a testament to Adams’ belief that playing good music will put out good energy and attract the right people. 

Frieder was playing gigs at the Newburgh Illuminated Festival last year when Adams walked up to him on the street. He noticed Frieder was carrying a sax and, in need of a sax player, asked him to sit in on his gig later that day. 

Initially, Frieder said he thought Adams was a little weird, but he thought he might be a good drummer. When Frieder found out that there would be a guitar player at the gig, he decided to sit in. 

“The whole place was packed, I pulled out my horn and it was like love at first sight. We played the whole set and it was just jam city,” Frieder said. “I haven’t had many moments meeting musicians like that, so it was a special thing.” 

Smith knew the two for years and had played gigs with both of them separately. When Adams moved to Newburgh a year-and-a-half ago, Smith started playing with him again and officially joined the band six months ago. 

Bringing live bass to the band has helped the band expand potential during live performances, Smith said, especially during improvisation. This forces band members to be on the edge of their seats waiting for a time change or solo.  

Telepathic Moon Dance is also heavily influenced by Adams’ childhood growing up in Vermont. Though the band now uses supplementary electronic beats to make up for missing members, Adams said growing up among the Green Mountains helped him steer clear of music that felt “artificial,” including much of the hip-hop on the radio.  

Once he left Vermont for New York, he gave the radio another chance and stumbled upon what would become the foundation of his musical ability.  

He said he remembers moving to New York at 13 and discovering classic rock, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. Soon after he found artists such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, he found out about the fusion genre. Adams said that’s why he likes jam band music today. 

The band hopes the release of its album will help it take the right steps toward spreading its music outside of the Hudson Valley.  

For fans coming to the show, Frieder said to expect a fun show full of original funky dance music mixed with a feel-good aura that they can do or dance whatever they feel while listening. The goal is to get people out of their seats and up next to their friends or strangers to sweat and move their bodies, he said. 

“Every show we do, people love it. They want to know where we’re playing next, they dance, it’s very danceable music,” Frieder said. “But at the same time, it’s fun and freaky. It’s kind of just about expression and trying to bring people together.” 

Published on October 8, 2019 at 11:40 pm