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Tour Dates
07/21/16 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
07/22/16 Wayhome Music And Arts 07/24/16 XPoNential Music Festival 07/26/16 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall 07/27/16 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Bowl 07/28/16 Pittsburgh, PA The Altar Bar 07/29/16 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 07/30/16 Floydfest Read More
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The Cedar and Sue McLean & Associates brought Femi Kuti and The Positive Force to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Friday night, July 15th. This was the second show for the Cedar’s annual “African Summer” music series... and by the large turnout to Friday’s event, it’s a huge success. This is really a good thing, as only the Cedar and the Walker Art Center seemed to be the only two venues bringing world music to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, and it’s a “positive” thing.
Worldwide Discotheque was a DJ who spun some World, Tribal, Afro-Dance music, to keep guests entertained while waiting for the show to begin. They continued to provide music between sets (and even after the show). The unique thing about them is that they only used a vinyl setup... which is challenging when queueing up the correct song, etc.
Zuluzuluu opened up the show. This experimental project is fronted by Greg Grease, and seemed to look like three men standing over electronic switches. They described themselves as African/Astro music, and had more in common with current pop/r&b sound, with heavy dance, funk beats. I understand what they trying to, that is to take African music and take it into the future or modern age... but to me, the heavy reliance on electronic-produced sound kind of defeats why people like Africana music (which has always been traditional organic instruments). Perhaps time will tell if people accept this new sound or not.
Highlight of their set: they had a guest flutist and saxophonist Troy Williams (of Mind and Matter) appeared near the end of their set.
If you’re not familiar with Femi Kuti’s name, he is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti (or simply known as Fela). Like Fela’s youngest son Seun Kuti, Femi continues his father’s massive music legacy by creating new Afrobeat works and campaigning against political injustice (in fact, some of the songs performed live included a piece about “Political Corruption” in his song ‘Politics Na Big Business’).
In a typical funk show with a large musical cast (there were at least 15 people on stage), we get a long introduction to the various band members. At first, the backing back, known as The Positive Force, came on stage, playing their intro music. Next, the horns section comes on and do their little ditty... then promptly head back to their respective area. The traditional girl dancers in colorful garb came on next, did a little twerking, and then settled in the dancing section. Finally, the main star of the show, Femi Kuti came on stage to a roaring cheer from the audience.
Right at the start of Femi’s show, he tells us, “This is Africa. This is Afrobeat.” He asked us to forgive him for not talking much, as he would rather just let the music play, hoping that through his music that he brought Africa to us.
The majority of his set seemed to be songs from his last few albums, including 2013’s No Place for My Dream and 2010’s Africa for Africa (live set included the title track). However, he did play some unrecorded music, which he said, “now for the new.”
If you want to learn more about Afrobeat, you really need to check out a Femi or Seun Kuti show. I promise you will be dancing throughout the night.
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Worldwide Discotheque |
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Zuluzuluu
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Highlight of their set: they had a guest flutist and saxophonist Troy Williams (of Mind and Matter) appeared near the end of their set.
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Femi Kuti |
In a typical funk show with a large musical cast (there were at least 15 people on stage), we get a long introduction to the various band members. At first, the backing back, known as The Positive Force, came on stage, playing their intro music. Next, the horns section comes on and do their little ditty... then promptly head back to their respective area. The traditional girl dancers in colorful garb came on next, did a little twerking, and then settled in the dancing section. Finally, the main star of the show, Femi Kuti came on stage to a roaring cheer from the audience.
Right at the start of Femi’s show, he tells us, “This is Africa. This is Afrobeat.” He asked us to forgive him for not talking much, as he would rather just let the music play, hoping that through his music that he brought Africa to us.
The majority of his set seemed to be songs from his last few albums, including 2013’s No Place for My Dream and 2010’s Africa for Africa (live set included the title track). However, he did play some unrecorded music, which he said, “now for the new.”
If you want to learn more about Afrobeat, you really need to check out a Femi or Seun Kuti show. I promise you will be dancing throughout the night.
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Femi Kuti at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (15 July 2016) |
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