Hustle Souls staged its own musical intervention on a recent tour, swapping overconfidence and underpreparation with a concerted intent to connect with listeners. “You can feel the difference between an audience who is passively enjoying the music and an audience who is fully engaged,” says vocalist, trumpeter and keyboard player Billy Litz. “When we came back to Asheville, the changes came with us.” Since then, Litz has noticed an uptick in enthusiasm for the year-old quartet, which mixes ragtime jazz, neo-soul, rock, alt-country and other eclectic influences. “We sing in four-part harmony on tightly arranged songs and follow it up with pretty wide-open jams. When you hear it, though, it all makes sense.” Local funk band Supatight opens for Hustle Souls at The Altamont Theatre on Thursday, March 17, at 8 p.m. $5/$8. thealtamont.com. Photo of bassist Sean McCann courtesy of the band
Smart bets: Hustle Souls
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