APS’s Saturday Night Concert: A Smashing Hit

On Saturday night, the Sheraton Ballroom V at the 24th APS Annual Convention was turned into a swinging club featuring the musical talents of five-time Grammy Award winning bass player Victor Wooten and a band of both professional musicians and musically gifted psychological scientists.

Wooten took the stage first and warmed up the crowd with a soaring version of Amazing Grace that morphed from a mellow melody into an explosive, jazzy jam that sent his fingers flying across the strings.

After the band assembled, the music switched to rock with award winning folk, country and blues singer Dale Boyle leading the band in a hip-shaking rendition of “Flip, Flop, and Fly” that had the crowd twisting to the beat. Psychological scientist Daniel Levitin backed him up with a smoking saxophone solo that showed his talents extend well beyond the laboratory at McGill University.

His McGill colleague, psychological scientist by day, drummer by night, Bianca Levy kicked off a rollicking version of “I Fought the Law” with Kevin Feyen, formerly with the Black Eyed Peas and now with Worth Publishers, rocking out on the guitar in a solo that left the crowd cheering for more. After the Rolling Stones’ “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” Levy took a turn at the mike, leading the band in a pulsing rendition of “Nobody But Me” that showed her vocal chords are just as strong as her science.

Wooten returned to the spotlight and brought in the funk with his hip-dipping, bass-laced song “My Life.” APS Past President Robert Levenson wowed the audience with a wailing sax solo, leaving the psychological scientists in the crowd blown away by his music as well as his research and leadership.

Later on, Levitin slowed the beat down a bit with soulful vocals in “Wicked Game” and Bob Dylan’s in “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Other highlights of the night included APS shout outs during Wooten’s “The Rap,” the intricate vocal harmonies of “Cotton Fields,” and a rendition of Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” that had the crowd swaying their hands in the purple lit room, holding iPads and iPhones aloft, instead of the iconic lighters.

Closing the night was “Sweet Home Chicago,” a blues standard that brought the house down with a perfect blend of psychological science, magnificent melodies, and fun.

After the Bring the Family Address, APS Past-President Robert W. Levenson, psychological scientists Daniel J. Levitin and Bianca Levy and psychology books editor Kevin Feyen (who used to play guitar for the Black Eyed Peas) rocked out with singer Dale Boyle and five-time Grammy award winner and bassist for Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Victor Wooten.  Stay tuned for clips from the concert posted here and the APS YouTube page.