Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) self-describes their sound as “Relentless Reggae” and “North American Body Music,” and, at their show on Friday night, relentless body music it was. Sullivan Hall was comfortably packed as the band took the stage a little before midnight, with everyone still dancing well after 2am as GPGDS grooved on.  GPGDS is definitely a band that thrives on playing live. As good as the their second album Slow Down is, the two-year-old studio recording certainly doesn’t do them justice. The band live sounds tighter than ever. Songs like “Missing You More” and “Easy Way Out” took on new lives, mostly because GPGDS was abounding with energy deep into the night.  Showing incredible dexterity, though, they were also able to taper things off nicely, playing a heartfelt and interesting interpretation of the Grateful Dead’s “Dire Wolf.” It’s been quite some time since I’d left a concert feeling so satisfied.

- Erica Block