Critic's Pick: The Altered Statesman

Springwater Supper Club & Lounge plays host Saturday night to one of Music City’s most interesting and inventive bands, The Altered Statesman. Led by vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter Steve Poulton, the group’s music features Poulton’s smoky vocals over an unrushed, groovy, psychedelic mix of soul and jazz that is inspired in part by the early 1970s work of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. “The object of the project right now is to have more poetry with the jazz,” Poulton tells the Scene. “Or more jazz with the poetry. We’re just into some slow fuguing. I’m really trying to pursue that.” Poulton says the group will perform selections from the two EPs they released in the spring — Yestalgia and God’s Own Fool — as well as “some new shit.” In addition to Poulton and longtime bandmate Robert Crawford (drums, percussion), The Altered Statesman’s current lineup features Le Ann Etheridge (bass) and Vincent Quinn (acoustic guitar, tres Cubano, harmonica). The band will be without saxophonist-keyboardist Anders Juhl, who is in Europe and not available for Saturday’s show. Whimsical indie singer-songwriter Jake McKelvie and ambient folk artist Taylor Daukas are also on the bill. 

9 p.m. at Springwater

115 27th Ave. N.