Good Vibrations

No travel news I'm afraid but we (me, Debs, Paul, Daisy) did eat in a lovely bohemian Kurdish veg place (Hawraman) just along from the gig which was at the Camden Assembly. So good I wrote a rare review on TripAdvisor. We get to the venue fashionably late and catch up with the proud parents Beckie and Simon and various family members downstairs before trooping off upstairs where we catch the last half of the last song of the support. The bar surprisingly clears and armed with drinks we sidle down the side of the room in readiness for what I think is KAWALA's first gig in their home town since their record contract signing. Well deserved too!  They come on to rapturous applause as the place has a lot of fans here, probably quite a few locals as the boys grew up in Camden. They launch into their set which is a great mix of what I think is called indie folk with African dance beats or the edgier side of world music. Not my usual fare but with the vocals throwing out old style jazz rapping and with a poppy vibe they hit the spot and the audience agree. They are pretty engaging as a band, well the main two guys Daniel (family friend) and Jim (great name). Dan especially gives us a bit of chat finding out exactly how many of us haven't seen them before (a few but not many) and cracks a couple of jokes. Also gets a fair bit of audience participation encouraging us to sing one of the choruses, clap, comes into the audience for a stroll around and so on. Also introduces each of the band which is sadly lacking at gigs these days. And the band are all great musicians. Drum and bass strong backing, electric guitar shredding (as Dan call it) a couple of great noodly solos one straight outta old grey whistle test which I'm sure Whispering Bob Harris would love. Indeed Kawala are right up his street I'd imagine. Dan on acoustic guitar is great and has given me second thoughts on trying to learn - that looks way too difficult. And the two of them on vocals are what make them stand out from others in a jazz scat style. I think they're better tonight than I've seen them before maybe because the place is literally bouncing. Maybe it's their sound or maybe it's the venue but the walls and floor are vibrating which seems to give them a harder edge than I've seen before and one I like. They don't tease us by leaving us with no encore and although it's a short set they leave us on a high with an electric energy buzzing about the place. We trundle downstairs for a last couple of drinks to relax, chat and chill out to easy listening rap before goodbye hugs all round and an uneventful journey back south, you'll be pleased to learn.

Kawala (c) Debbie

One with the drummer

Shredder, Daniel, Jim