Denver funk outfit The Motet announce 10th studio album “All Day”

The first single, ’79, is available now.

Out now across platforms

When we first moved to Boulder, CO in the early 2000’s, there was definitely a music scene – but it may not be the bands you are thinking of that caught our attention upon first taking up residency in Colorado.

At that time, a young Yonder Mountain String Band was finding its stride and gaining popularity, partly filling the void left by other local Jamgrass legends, Leftover Salmon and String Cheese Incident, who both took a hiatus around that time.

But it wasn’t any of those local heavyweights making waves when we first started hitting the live music scene in town that was ruled by The Fox Theater.

Instead, a Denver-based funk band turned our heads and made us pay attention.

The Motet were unlike any other in town at the time and gained a reputation for throwing all-out dance parties in Boulder and Denver.

“The Motet” also became synonymous with “Halloween” along the Front Range.

Each holiday they would don a musical costume and put on a show based on musical legends like Prince, Madonna, Tower of Power, and Talking Heads.  These were the parties to be at in Boulder and Denver.  It was never even a discussion of what to do for Halloween – we obviously were doing The Motet.

But while the Halloween cover shows were fantastic and showed off what this band was capable of, it is the original music of The Motet that has made them a lasting force of funk for over 2 decades.

20+ years, 10 studio albums, and countless dance parties later,  The Motet is still at it, as good as ever.

And to our delight, they are have just released a new single, ’79, the first off their forthcoming new full -length instrumental album, All Day.

Read on below for more about ’79, All Day and The Motet.

Listen to ‘79, out now across platforms

Denver funk outfit The Motet announce 10th studio album All Day and release lead LP single “‘79”

Out now across platforms

“’79” is one of four tracks that I’ve written for our new album, and will be the first instrumental song we’ve released for a Motet record since 2009. Those tracks were written in my home studio, which was destroyed in the Marshall Fire, so seeing them finally come to fruition feels like a truly cathartic experience.” 

– Dave Watts, drummer from The Motet

Denver-based funk quintet The Motet continue to evolve 20+ years into their career. 

Known for pristine live performances and a seamless blend of funk, jazz, soul, and rock, The Motet has cultivated a fervent fanbase that follows them through sold-out shows across the nation – including six headlining slots at Red Rocks and sets at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Bottlerock, Electric Forest, Bumbershoot, Summer Camp, and High Sierra. 

Now, the legendary outfit, composed of Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass), Drew Sayers (keys and saxophone), and Ryan Jalbert (guitar), have found yet a new way to excite their highly devoted listeners. With nine studio albums already under their belt, The Motet is revving up towards their latest full-length LP, All Day, the band’s first instrumental project since 2009’s electronica-fueled Dig Deep.

All Day retains the infectious grooves and immaculate, layered arrangements that The Motet have become known for. But by recentering the listening experience around the playing and composition, All Day emphasizes the band’s instrumental mastery molded by two decades of shared musical chemistry. As a result, the new LP promises to showcase a world-class band at the peak of their powers. 

Fans can get their first taste of All Day  with the album’s lead single, “‘79,” a lavish funk and soul epic. One of the four album contributions from Dave Watts, “‘79” was written in the drummer’s home studio, which tragically burnt down in the Marshall Fire of 2021. This history morphs the track into a symbol of resilience, friendship, and memory, as the band helps reconstruct a creative artifact from a lost past. 

“‘79” kicks off with a blaze of synth chords, drum fills, and psychedelic guitar licks before washing away into funky basslines and percussion. The track then incorporates a bevy of other instrumental elements, including string arrangements and a mysterious central guitar melody. 

By imbuing its lush sonic details with sweeping synth lines and nostalgic instrumental motifs, “‘79” takes the shape of a retro-futuristic and jazz-fusion masterclass. The track takes you back into the funky past of the 70s and 80s while fortifying its pastiche with decidedly modern elements – a combination that promises a full-length LP full of similarly cathartic, genre-blending experiments, and a showcase for some of The Motet’s most mature work to date. 

The Motet will celebrate the release of All Day with a nationwide tour, kicking off at the end of this month at Crystal Bay Casino in Lake Tahoe. Fans will then be able to catch the group’s live performance expertise in cities such as their Denver hometown, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Columbus, and across the pond in Hawaii. 

The Motet tour dates

12/30/22 Crystal Bay, NV | Crystal Bay Casino
12/31/22 Crystal Bay, NV | Crystal Bay Casino
1/13/23 Telluride, CO | Sheridan Opera House
1/14/23 Crested Butte, CO | Center for the Arts
1/20/23 Denver, CO | Cervantes
1/21/23 Denver, CO | Cervantes
2/3/23 Tucson, AZ | Gem + Jam
2/17/23 Bend, OR | Volcanic Theatre Pub
2/18/23 Bend, OR | Volcanic Theatre Pub
2/24/23 Bozeman, MT | ELM
2/25/23 Missoula, MT | Top Hat
2/26/23 Whitefish, MT | Great Northern Bar
3/1/23 Victor, ID | Knotty Pine
3/2/23 Boise, ID | Olympic Lounge
3/3/23 Salt Lake City, UT | Commonwealth
3/4/23 Salt Lake City, UT | Commonwealth
3/10/23 Buena Vista, CO | Ivy Ballroom
3/11/23 Buena Vista, CO | Ivy Ballroom
3/15/23 Indianapolis, IN | Vogue
3/16/23 St Louis, MO | Delmar Hall
3/17/23 Columbus, OH | St. Fatty’s Daze @ The Woodlands
3/18/23 Columbus, OH | St. Fatty’s Daze @ The Woodlands
3/19/23 Cleveland, OH | Beachland Ballroom
3/24/23 Honolulu, HI | Blue Note
3/25/23 Honolulu, HI | Blue Note