Vibe in Color featuring Vibe & Direct/Manitoa/Broken Keys

Vibe & Direct, who will headline tonight’s Vibe in Color event in the Ballroom, is among the city’s most dynamic jam bands. These guys -- Mike Miller on guitar, Doug Rab on guitar, Danny Giannetto on drums and Marty Calkins on the mic -- create highly visual music in an extremely danceable atmosphere. Songs like “Elysian Fields” evoke the musicians’ jazzier inclinations, while “Psychadelevator” sports a more upbeat feel. In these examples and plenty others, the bands tends to branch off into improvisatory waters, with Miller throwing down mind-bending lead guitar work and Calkins going apeshit on anything from a djembe to the rafters. This is at once a percussive, tightly rhythmic band, and also a melodious journey. (Sandy)