Illinois-based group The 17th Floor is bringing their genre-bending set list of covers and originals to the Jupiter Bar and Grill this Friday night.
Boasting over a decade of experience and a reputation for playing at fraternity houses and clubs across the country, the group’s party-starting exploits are numerous.
“They are, hands down, the best R&B live performance I’ve ever seen,” said Jeremiah Jones, co-owner of the Jupiter Bar and Grill as well as the band’s manager. “There’s two keyboard players, there’s a guitarist and there’s a drummer. Their vocal performance is incomparable. They’re a real band. And, it’s not just that they do covers, it’s that they do it really well.”
The 17th Floor can hardly be defined by one genre, but they definitely have a hip-hop swagger about them. It is evident in the playing of bassist Aaron Thompson.
“The main thing of it is making the audience happy,” said Thompson. “When you do original material, people may not know it. For the most part, people enjoy stuff that they’re familiar with. It’s not about us, it’s about the fans!”
Despite that statement, The 17th Floor is not solely a covers group. Thompson noted that the band will be recording a song called “Feel Me Now” in promotion for a full record the group hopes to be released in August.
“Everything we’re doing on this upcoming album will be like our live shows. Just straight energy,” Thompson said.
Moreover, the group’s story has a 90s hallmark to it, hearkening back to appearances on the short-lived “Keenan Ivory Wayans Show.” Additionally, the interplay between brothers Aaron and drummer Greg Thompson holds the group together.
Aaron Thompson’s love of playing in Tuscaloosa is not far from his mind.
“It’s a good family,” Thompson said. “It’s perfect for us, because it’s a party and a good college town. I know that Alabama’s certainly about being ranked No. 1. I think it is more about the people than anything else.”
Jones emphasized that the band has a sense of humility in the work that they do.
“One of their biggest draws to me is also their professionalism. They show up and do what they’re asked to do,” Jones said.
“There’s not a single down moment in the show. Definitely expect high energy. A lot of people expect more current material. But with The 17th Floor, it’s not just Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z. Expect the unexpected, you know what I mean?”
