Ural Thomas and the Pain - “Smile”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Charles Bradley, Black Joe Lewis, Lee Fields & The Expressions

Ural Thomas and the Pain share the classic soul experience, an old-school, horn-assisted sound that expresses timeless R&B with rich emotionality. It’s been four years since the Portland-based band’s last full-length The Right Time, a consistently grooving record that could have come out of the mid-Sixties as much as 2018. Thomas has an incredibly rich vocal tone, a mix of weathered and smooth stemming from his natural vocal tone. Now at eighty-plus years old, Thomas’s tone is notably authentic and can still tear the house down alongside his whip-tight band. The Pain can jam as well, allowing Thomas to really lean the vibrant funk that connects the past to the present. Bring your dance shoes and get ready for the party. (Kevin McStravick)