Article & Photos by: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – It’s sort of ironic, really.  Live music is emerging from the ashes of the coronavirus pandemic, slowly but surely, and what better way to celebrate its return than with… mummies from the grave!

Here Come The Mummies (HCTM) is an energetic and insanely talented band from Nashville, Tennessee, bringing their unique brand of jazz funk to the stage in playfully ghoulish style.  The musicians are anonymous by design, masked behind clever costuming, hiding their identities.  The band is rumored to boast Grammy winners in their midst, as well as members of other bands, moonlighting (so to speak) as creatures from beyond the grave.

It’s a masterful recipe.  There’s much movement on stage, with performers weaving about, sometimes in a very choreographed manner (yes, they even collectively crawled on hands and knees toward the audience), and sometimes organically.  It works flawlessly.

It’s no easy task to keep count, but around nine band members grace the stage at a given time, moving fluidly, entertaining with near-impossible verve.  Saxophones, trumpets, guitars, trombones, drums, keyboards (and more!), coupled with bright lights and strong positive vibes, combine to create an incredibly infectious musical experience that stimulates all the senses.

So, let’s talk a bit about the music.  It’s bright, energetic and yes, more than a little “suggestive.”  Consider the songs, like “Friction,” for example, which has nothing to do with brake pads, and more to do with, well, relative motion.  And “Shag Carpet” is not a song about interior design choices!  With a wink and a nod, each song provides pure fun, something that post-pandemic fans crave.

This was an outdoor event on a beautiful Cincinnati evening.  Patrons stood in sectioned-off areas to maintain a bit of social distancing.  It didn’t feel at all confining, and everyone was clearly enjoying a night out, surrounded by positive energy.  Matt Waters & The Recipe opened the night, spending a full hour warming up the crowd.  Waters, a talented Cincinnati singer-songwriter, has a natural, easy-going appeal and colorful stage presence that the crowd welcomed.

One woman exclaimed that this was her 50^th HCTM show.  Wow!  It’s merely my second show, but surely not my last.  Interested in lively entertainment from beyond the grave?  Go to www.herecomethemummies.com/pages/tour to check their tour schedule.