I recently caught Too Many Zooz at The Atlantis in DC, and honestly, they had me hooked before they even played a note. I did a quick Google search about them beforehand and was immediately pulled in by their bright, eclectic aesthetic. Their bold colors and chaotic energy felt like foreshadowing for whatever wild sonic universe they were about to drop on us, so my curiosity was fully sparked from the jump.
The crowd was buzzing before the trio even hit the stage at The Atlantis on Dec. 10. I had never seen them play, but the chants of “Too! Many! Zooz!” made it pretty clear I was in for a treat. And they delivered. Leo Pellegrino on baritone sax was basically the entire stage performance on his own. The man refuses to stay still, and thank God for that. He danced, jumped, shook his behind at one point, and the room absolutely lost it.
Meanwhile, the drummer, David “King of Sludge” Parks, was in his own universe. Eyes closed, barely speaking, just feeling the music like his soul was plugged into the beat. Matt “Doe” Muirhead held down keys for half of the set, but then switched to trumpet, which made their whole sound shift in the best way.
Photographing them was a fun challenge. Leo was the only one moving freely for a majority of the time, so I focused on capturing his motion from up close and at angled perspectives. His energy carried through every shot. When Matt switched to trumpet, he finally gave me a second subject with some movement, and those shots added another dynamic layer. The lighting at The Atlantis played a big role too, so my photos really show how color and atmosphere shaped the entire vibe.
Watch the official music video for “Caravan” by Too Many Zooz on YouTube:
![Too Many Zooz - “Caravan” [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5BxFAFv8aU/hqdefault.jpg)
The audience was completely obsessed. Loud, rowdy, already screaming before the band even walked on. At one point Matt grabbed the mic and just chatted with everyone, which made the room feel warm, cozy, and familiar before they jumped back into the chaos. A yell of, “I love your shirt!” earned a giggle from him, which tells you everything about the vibes.
If I could choose what comes next for this band, I want a full circle moment. Take it back to where they started. Pack out a section of the New York subway they started playing in. Shut it down for a night. Let people experience that raw, intimate energy again, but on their own terms. It would make an amazing story and honestly a legendary show.
Here are some photos of Too Many Zooz performing live at The Atlantis on Dec. 10, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Christina Abwara.
