Doug Van Pelt

Family Force 5

This eclectic quintet squeezed into a tiny stage area near the entrance of The Chugging Monkey. With the front of the stage offering not much space, the audience was about as thick as two-deep in front of the stage, with other spectators on the stairs, in the balcony and in front of the long bar in the hallway-like rectangle of the club. The band brought its crunk n' funk rock music, but it took almost a half an hour to get the energy level in the place where they needed it. For the last five minutes or so, they tore the place apart. Had they been able to crank it up this high from the first note, there might not be any of the club left. As it stands, though, the band's penchant for disco silliness and over-the-top rock theatrics should help them grow to be a perennial crowd pleaser. Hailing from Atlanta, it almost feels like Cooper Fortson, son of Squad Five-O party leader Jeff Fortson, has grown up with his own band and just travelled back in time to rock us. This wasn't their best show by any stretch, but it gave strong indications that they'll be bringing the rock full force soon.