This article was published in High Country Press.

Last January, Soul Benefactor—a group that describes itself on its Facebook page as “a band that can flat out boogie with the best of them”—hosted a sold-out tribute to soul king Otis Redding.

After the success of the Redding tribute, the band was itching to do another themed show.

The theme they settled on was “Love and Happiness,” a show they’ll play this Saturday, February 12, at Boone Saloon. The show begins at 10:00 p.m., and the cover charge is $5.Another local soul band, Bafoodus, will play the show as well. In fact, the two bands have been looking for a chance to collaborate for some time now.

“We’re all kind of musician buddies,” David Brewer, Soul Benefactor member, said. “[We] have really enjoyed each other’s shows and have been looking for an excuse to do something together for a while.”

Bafoodus’ Andy Page agreed, adding that the two bands share influences and have similar ideas about what makes good music.

“And we’re friends outside of just the music as well,” Page said. “It all leads into being able to work well together. We have a lot in common…we’re a bit older and have been around the Boone music scene for a while. We support one another.”

In addition to original tunes, each band will play several covers throughout the night. Soul Benefactor plans to play classics by Al Green, Otis Redding, Ray LaMontagne, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Little Milton and Marvin Gaye. The Bafoodus lineup will include Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Prince, to name a few—and Page looks forward to mixing things up.

“When you play covers, you can either be faithful to the original or put your own stamp on it, and we’re definitely trying to put our own stamp on it,” he said.

In addition to offering great live music, the show is taking place on Valentine’s weekend—and it will be “couple-friendly,” Brewer said.

“It’s going to be a fun show,” he said. “It’s not going to be dinner music. We want people to come and dance and have a good time.”

For more information, click to www.myspace.com/bafoodus or www.myspace.com/soulbenefactor or call Boone Saloon at 828-264-1811.