The House Café was a haven for smooth moves and spinning glow sticks Saturday night.

The progressive groove band U-Melt blessed the venue with their hybrid formation of original funk tunes.

The New York City-based quartet gave the audience the ability to do exactly what music is supposed to make you do – dance. Lead guitarist Rob Salzer was sensational, rocking out sounds that were essentially in the realm of blues, but hints of some trance and soul also showed through.

Keyboarder Zac Lasher was the icing on the cake. Swimming through solos that were impossible for the ears to resist, Lasher’s performance was amazing. The combination of this, as well as the rhythm and hip bass work done by Adam Bendy, was fantastic.

Vocals were scarce throughout the entire show, allowing the audience to tread in a sea of serious harmony.

Drummer George Miller delivered a solid performance on the drums, making good use of the cowbell and even managing to break a drumstick early in the show.

He maintained his cool when a young lady picked that drumstick up and took it upon herself to start banging on the drums from where she was standing on the floor.

Miller looked at her and coolly shook his head “No,” and she stopped immediately.

The girl seemed disappointed, but to discontinue U-Melt’s set, even for a moment, would have been a tragedy.

The opening band was DeKalb’s very own Whiskey & A Gun. They definitely set the tone when lead guitarist Matt “VT” Voelker’s fast vocals and harmonious riffs combined with the eccentric keyboard tunes by Mike D. “GooZe.”

During a couple of new songs, the band members seemed to be a bit unprepared and not entirely in sync with one another, but when they were on point, they certainly made it count.

Strangely enough, U-Melt’s music didn’t always match the vibe given off by the crowd and seemed to transcend it in ways. Most of the people were dancing as if they were at a rave and losing themselves to techno music. That didn’t matter. U-Melt’s thrilling atmosphere awoke something in everyone.

It didn’t matter how people’s bodies interpreted it because, on the inside, everyone had the same thing going on, and that was a good feeling.

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