December 30th & 31st at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn turned out to be just what 2009 needed in order to end on the highest (funky as hell!) note. For 1200-plus fans, these showcases jam-packed Royal Family excellence from start to end, featuring two sets with Adam Deitch's project, BREAK SCIENCE, another two from the greatest funk band alive, LETTUCE, and an intimate and powerful 'round-midnight affair each night featuring SOULIVE in Trio format and full-on suit-and-tie rage. New Years Eve was kicked off ever so sweetly by the NIGEL HALL BAND featuring Deitch, Neal Evans on keys, Eric Krasno on bass, John Natto on guitar, Chloe Papas on backing vocals and, of course, the incredible Nigel Hall at lead vocals and Rhodes keys. 

Break Science, the duo outfit featuring Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee, played the openers and closers to this epic ball, as they started the dance party on the 30th and sent the New Year off into oblivion shortly after midnight with heavy break-grooves and soul-rattling bass and beats. 

Lettuce came to the gala providing a revised cast of some of the best players in the region - core members Deitch, Krasno, Neal Evans, Sam Kininger and Nigel Hall, accompanied by John Natto on guitar, James Casey on saxophone and Blake Hillard on trumpet. As Lettuce does in natural style, the funk of life was cast over a mesmerized crowd each night. Barely coming up for a breath for each 75-minute set, the band provided a much-appreciated infusion of danceable grooves, with the usual jaw-dropping musicianship. 

To say that 'Soulive' and 'Brooklyn' belong in the same sentence is an under-statement. Which leads to a HUGE "Thank You" to Brooklyn and the incredible vibe that produced a couple of the best nights we've experienced. The Trio of Soulive came to the stage feeling the blanket of love emanating from two sold-out crowds and spirits that couldn't have been higher. On drums, Mr. Alan Evans commanded eyes and ears as he bobbed his head and laid down the ultimate of drum groove; Kraz wailed through solos and kept the crowd fixated on his outpouring, full-of-emotion play throughout each evening; Mr. Neal Evans did his thing, providing killin' B3 Organ and bass keys action that had concerned faces wondering if he'd ever come back from his own world of soul-groove. 

During a break in the music, Alan made a very special announcement from stage, alerting the public for the first time of Soulive's upcoming 10-night residency over the first two weeks of March (2nd thru 6th; 9th thru 13th) at the Brooklyn Bowl. The Trio will play host to special guests each night and plan on holding court to one of the coolest extended runs ever to take place!

Nigel Hall and the Lettuce horn section helped to welcome in the New Year with some James Brown-infused funk and a champagne toast on stage. If ever there was a way to know a good year when it's coming, this was it and we're sure 2010 will continue in full rage style. 

Highlighted by classic Soulive tunes such as "So Live" and "Turn It Out", and a few cover songs like Stevie Ray Vaughn's' "Lenny" and the newly-infused Beatles encore of "Eleanor Rigby" into "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", both nights had the packed crowds dancing, cheering and yearning for more.

Thank you all so very much for an awesome and memorable occasion. The Royal Family New Year's Ball was all it was meant to be and more. Welcome to 2010!

-Schloss