STEALTH is a fully funkified album from four friends forged together during the pandemic. It’s predestined to be on FunkCity.net’s top albums of 2026, as it ranges from old-school covers like Herbie Hancock’s “Doin’ It” to new-era homages to funk pioneers, as with the tune “Garibaldi.”
MTN Lion is a powerhouse Denver-based funk quartet composed of drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff of Lettuce, alongside keyboardist Joey Porter and bassist Garrett Sayers, both known for their work with The Motet. While their main projects were off the road in 2020 and 2021, the group met at Deitch’s house and started playing—first for themselves, then on a livestream, and soon after assembled in the studio to record their debut album STEALTH.
Each of the foursome earned their funk chops from years of cutting albums and massive touring schedules. The mix of eight tracks on this album shows the talent of the individuals as well as the synergy of the collective and will delight new funkateers and old funksters all around. Let’s kick back and listen Track-By-Track.
On Stealth, the band locks into tight, interlocking parts. Deitch and Sayers anchor a deep-pocket, syncopated groove shaped by the approach of Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia, while Smirnoff’s guitar moves between rhythmic drive and tonal detail. Porter brings the talkbox and vocoder into the core of the arrangements, giving the group a distinct sonic identity.
The album is a testament to top-tier musicians who are passionate about their craft sharing a collection of songs spanning influences across the funk lineage that will get you on your feet—real instruments, no AI, and analog warmth.
“Stealth is in line with all of MTN Lion’s influences and heroes,” says Deitch. “From James Brown to Prince to Herbie Hancock to Marvin Gaye and Zapp. Fans of our longtime touring groups Lettuce and The Motet as well as fans of funk music will surely dig this unique quartet’s musical output. Put Stealth on at a party and watch everyone get up and dance!
Track-By-Track
YOU CAN LEAVE BUT IT’S GOING TO COST YOU is a funked up cover of a Marvin Gaye tune from the “Here, My Dear” album in 1978. It’s a great tune and an interesting choice in that it wasn’t a super well-known track off a hit album. The original version highlights Marvin’s vocals. In this new MTN Lion version, they’ve brought in the always outstanding Nigel Hall from Lettuce to handle the singing. He’s got an incredible voice and always does spectacular work on covers include songs from Tears for Fears, Frankie Beverly, Cold Blood and many more.
On this version, the instruments are amped up and funkified compared to the original. It’s a slow-churning funk groove anchored by Deitch’s precise pocket drumming and Sayer’s thumping bass. I really dig the jiggly vibe from Shmeeans and Porter with an airy quality. Porter takes a spacy synth solo halfway and the band locks in behind him. The vocals haunting the space in the background and the title tagline chorus makes this a memorable opener.
TURNING UP THE HEAT is the clearest reference to Zapp band as it showcases Joey Porter’s talkbox keys and Adam Smirnoff’s razor-sharp, rhythmic guitar scratches. This high-energy, sweat-inducing classic dance-funk tune was the lead single on the album. Sayers and Deitch are a power rhythm unit and the bass line booms. Porter has a keys solo toward the back half that’s funk-jazz gold. So much fun!
FUNKY STRUMMER‘s title is a wordplay analogue to the James Brown tune “Funky Drummer.” This rhythmic, percussion-driven jam has Deitch absolutely crushing the groove. It emphasizes syncopated acoustic-feel guitar rhythms from Shmeeans layered over a bouncy bassline courtesy of Garrett Sayers. Porter actually has the longest solo on organ back half with full band gelling together perfectly.
STAR OF THE SHOW starts with a classic funk guitar riff with the full band jumping on board quickly. It segues into a synth-led groove from Porter that feels like a smooth, late-night R&B-funk club jam session. Shmeeans lays down a smashing lead that sounds like funky George Benson. The tempo is cooler, with the melody taking center stage with lush keyboard textures and a Prince-inspired swagger.
MY TIME starts with a light, airy feel, and Joey Porter takes the lead on the voicebox. It has a confident, driving sound with an aggressive, repetitive drum pocket that Shmeeans leaps off from to blaze the first solo. After the second chorus, Porter takes flight with the next solo. As with the rest of the album, it’s a fresh tune with an old-school funk vibe.
GARIBALDI is an homage to one of Deitch’s heroes, David Garibaldi, the long-time drummer of funk legends Tower of Power. In a recent social media post, Deitch mentioned Garibaldi this way when talking about the “Tower of Power” album: “Garibaldi changed my life with this record. I wore this record out when I was 10! Then I got a chance to take a lesson with him thanks to my dad when I was about 12! Talk about hero worship!” On top of that, Shmeeans has mentioned in the past his respect for Bruce Conte, the late great guitarist for ToP, and his solo reflects that touch. Sayers also has a sleek bass solo on this one through to the closeout. The thru-drumline on this encompasses a lot of riffs that I could envision coming from Garibaldi, so it’s a fabulous tribute from one great drummer to another.
DOIN’ IT is, of course, the lead track off the Herbie Hancock album “Secrets‘ from 1976. The MTN Lion version starts in classic form with the initial guitar pluck from Shmeeans a la Wah Wah Watson and Porter is playing as funky as Herbie would.
The middle synth section from Porter is a full on space exploration expedition starting out with a mix of electric piano transitioning to synth warp mode complete with ray guns and lasers.
After the solo, the groove picks up with a reggae groove with Sayers dropping bass bombs and Deitch playing some echo on the drums. It plays like a live studio capture, loaded with call-and-response instrumentation and heavy, syncopated bass slaps.
THE KID has a touch of a Bill Withers feel in the opening repeat pattern. It’s a celebratory, triumphant closer. Shmeeans carries the melody through the B section, and then it segues into a PFunk kind of jam. I could be wrong, but I think “The Kid” might be a reference to Michael Hampton, famously known as Kidd Funkadelic. Porter plays a haunting sync groove, and Shmeeans leads the band into a tight, explosive crescendo.
MTN Lion is:
- Adam Deitch, drums
- Garret sayers, bass guitar
- Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff
- Joey Porter, keyboards
Buy on Apple Music
