Concert review: Feletha Black soldiers on without Lucas White

Lucas White is one of my favorite drummers, and one of my favorite people in the Funkytown music scene.

He plays with Feletha Black, Rivercrest Yacht Club, James Hinkle, Confusatron and Impulse of Will (to name a few). Recently he had to undergo emergency thoracic surgery and for now he is unable to work or play drums. Saturday, I read that Feletha Black was playing at Shipping & Receiving bar, and I thought I would head down there and see how they were going to do this thing without Lucas.

Feletha Black — an original, Fort Worth-based soul band — was on stage when I got there, and for Saturday the band consisted of Josh Creel (bass), Lauren Mosely (vocals), Marco Petrilli (keyboards), Rob Wall (guitar), Rahmaan Price and Elizabeth Reed (backing vocals), Chuck Brown (horns), Alex Hernandez (sax) and Greg Bahr (guitar).

The part of Lucas White was played by drummer Justin King of Black Market Garden.

Lauren Mosley fronts this mob of talent and has a powerful, soulful voice and a forceful stage presence. Marco Petrilli pounded on a vintage Rhodes electric piano with style, and Chuck Brown of Telegraph Canyon and Alex Hernandez of The Rythmaires — the headlining band that played later — joined them on stage.

This is painfully good soul music, and Justin King did an admirable job of filling Lucas’ shoes. Despite not having their normal lineup, and Mosely missing practice due to illness, they were tight, precise and lively.

I love soul, and it was refreshing to hear a band like this that didn’t just get up and only play a bunch of covers. It’s a living art form, not a nostalgia trip. There’s nothing wrong with a few covers mind you, they even finished out the night with a cover — Al Green’s Take Me to the River. I could have used another full set of this band.

Lucas is still recovering from surgery, and hospital bills and time off of work are taking their toll. Bandmates have set up a GoFundMe page, and there will be a benefit concert Saturday at Lola’s.

Being a musician doesn’t usually come with insurance, so it’s critical that the Fort Worth music scene support its fallen rock stars. Give if you can, and join me Saturday at Lola’s.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Concert review: Feletha Black soldiers on without Lucas White."