Ever thought about what you could do? Buying a CD or supporting a SA gig is great, but maybe you have something unique to offer to South African music?
But, time for some reflection and for those who didnt make it down to the Mann Friday Gone Fishing gig... all I can say is WOW! A Sunday night definitely well spent!
And some super footage for those who wish to reminisce the now defunct Friday boys, or to check out what you could have been doing instead of slouching on the Sunday couch, then check out this MF video footage!
Mann Friday's gig was everything I expected and then some! And all this for just £6? Cheap cheap for such a special occasion! It's been a while since I was up for a good party on a Sunday (school) night!
Arriving at The Clapham Grand in bright warm sunshine was the first good sign of the night ahead. Inside was a buzz of anticipation... Just Jinjer flyers being handed out, a feeling of Mann Fridayness in knowing that all the people there had been touched by MF's music at some point in their 4 year London leg... and a darkness inside The Grand that signalled night time / party time, and by no means was there a lulled Sunday-mode atmosphere!
Flyers and freebies littered the counter tops as people scrambled to collect funky Dorp EPs (actual records!) seemingly left lying around. Dorp did their thing, great as usual, tho one suspects that they downplayed their image for the occassion with none of their usual loud visuals. They performed well to a composed, sober and small crowd, with the most of the gig goers probably still lazing somewhere in the last of the afternoon sun!
By 740pm the buzz was building and Mann Friday came on stage, kicked ass, intertwined cover songs (a very good Robert Miles' Children rendition) and put on a hugely impressive performance! Clearly I wasn't the only fan with goosebumps that night!
Their monumental track-with-a-message "15 minutes of shame" came across with all the vigour, passion and implied political angst against the state of Zimbabwe with which one assumes it was first written! It was intertwined with the chorus of Michael Jackson's "It doesn't matter if you're black or white!" as well as the famous line (but by who completely elludes me) "We're not gonna take it, No! We're not gonna take it... We're not gonna take it.. anymore!"
Powerful stuff music.
A few emotional moments and personal mentions, closing with the gorgeous Gin & Tonic Sky (one of my faves)! Join the "SA Music in London" Facebook group and add to the Discussion Board on your fave Mann Friday song and lyrics!
Enough nostalgia now. The MF guys will return...! And until they do, there is a whole whack of other great SA music talent to support and discover!
Just Jinjer are next, so buy tickets fast! And following them is afro-jazz ensemble Freshlyground! Or if new singer/songwriters are more your thing, then head to Hammersmith on 11 Aug to listen to Samantha Horwill, the ex-lead singer of ex-SA band Jane Doe! Samantha is living in Brighton now, but will be launching her new smokey CD next Saturday! Check out this week's Live Music SA section in the South African for a review on her debut CD or follow this link http://www.southafrican.co.uk/living.aspx?ID=376
Sad stuff. Exciting stuff. New stuff!!
Rock on SA stuff!
x
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