'Vintage funk' band The New Mastersounds going strong after a decade

Calling all crate diggers, mods and others who enjoy mesmerizing funk jam experiences: The New Mastersounds, hailing from Leeds, England, will be performing at The Pour House on Friday and Saturday.

Set worries aside, though. Even though they're from the U.K. and can be described as "groovy," The New Mastersounds will in no way conjure thoughts of Austin Powers.

"We have one foot in the past and one in the present," said Eddie Roberts, the band's guitarist. "We've got enough modern influence to make it relevant for today."

The term "vintage funk" is one the band members "quite like" to explain their music. The New Mastersounds delve into extended groove sessions with such expertise and energy that the funky yet melodious songs all but force audiences to dance.

The wailing organ and playful keyboard by Joe Tatton make the band one of a kind, and, in combination with Pete Shand's smooth bass playing, creates a very throwback vibe.

Roberts' speed and skill on the electric guitar is astonishing at times, while Simon Allen's drumming keeps up the energy and tempo of the music. At times, it's hard to stifle a deep "Huh! Get down!" while listening.

Such exclamations from the crowd and witty banter among band

members between songs are the only words from The New Mastersounds, who tour without vocalists and only add lyrics when occasionally collaborating with singers, including Corinne Bailey Rae, Dionne Charles and James Taylor.

"There's never been an importance for vocals," Roberts said. "Sometimes the audience is too focused on that and music becomes secondary, and the rhythm and dancing get set aside."

Though only Shand grew up in Leeds, all four musicians were drawn there for the music school and stayed for the city's deep and diverse music scene.

In 1999, Roberts was running local club nights that followed a British tradition of DJs spinning funk and soul. When an opportunity came along to have a live band headline the nights for an hour, Roberts put The New Mastersounds together and there was musical chemistry from the start.

Over the past 10 years, the band has received international acclaim and has shifted from a boogaloo sound to more of a soul-jazz, funk operation. Touring in America also has allowed a little more musical expansion in that shows are expected to be nearly four times longer than the club nights they performed for more than two years in Leeds.

There are no signs of the guys turning off their amps anytime soon.

"We will be as long as we can, probably longer than we're popular," Roberts said. "We're just starting really, after 10 years, to get somewhere."

This summer, The New Mastersounds are alternating spending two weeks at home and spending two weeks touring the U.S. promoting their most recent album "Plug & Play," released in 2008.

"That's what we're really about," Roberts said. "We plug in and play. The sound that comes out is just our own."