concert – The Cultural Exposé

What we’ve been up to… Robert Glasper Experiment at Hammersmith Apollo

The Cultural Exposé — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:00:59 +0000

The seated art deco styled interior of the Hammersmith Apollo made for a suitably relaxed venue for experiencing the Robert Glasper Experiment. As a jazz pianist and producer, Glasper won a Grammy for best R&B album with the original Black Radio album in 2013 and has collaborations with Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Common under his belt. Experimental performances and a playful sense of humour are what he is known for and this is what stood out.

The electronic act opened with the classic Black Radio and went on to deliver soothingly synthetic renditions of Jay-Z and Kanye’s Church in the Wild and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky separated by an epic sax solo by the multi-talented singer, saxophonist and coloured quiff-rocking Casey Benjamin. Let it Ride was performed drum and bass style and followed by an epic breakout from drummer Mark Colenburg.

Stand Alone was punctuated by an almost shamanic guitar session by bassist and Blue Note recording artist Derrick Hodge where everyone else left the stage.

R&B crooner Raheem Devaughn pounced on stage with No Worries and let us know what kind of woman he appreciates with his hit Woman, getting a verbal exchange between the men and women of the audience going.

The stand out song was Somebody Else with Emeli Sande, who came on stage to effortlessly add her haunting lyrics to an already atmospheric musical landscape. The other guest was Laura Mvula on Jill Scott’s Calls.

Glasper has a funny bravado on stage and his antics made the audience literally laugh out loud – saying he was going to sing, messing around on the piano and making a terrifically cheesy go of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time to the begrudging compliance of his band were highlights.

Supporting act Vula Malinga equaled if not surpassed Glasper’s hilarity when telling us about her having purchased a ticket to the show, but since she drunkenly grabbed the mic at a previous Glasper show he invited her at short notice to open for him.

It was a mellow yet innovative night full of raw talent. I could have done with even more improvisation and comedic moments and as the set ended it seemed somewhat premature – perhaps Glasper joking about Common coming on stage created too much hype! (Words, pics and video: Róisín Lonergan)

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Something you should see… Stop Making Sense

Apostolos Kostoulas — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:02:20 +0000

With the summer days almost over and the melancholic autumn breeze slowly creeping in, you might find yourself more inclined to just chill and watch a decent flick two. Well, the good folks at Sugarhouse Studios have been kind enough to offer an eccentrically joyful mix of sounds, images (and puppets!) to help you do just that.

Widely regarded as one of the best rock movies ever made, Stop Making Sense (directed by Jonathan Demme, who went on to win an Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs) follows the innovative American New Wave band Talking Heads for three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December 1983 as part of their tour to promote their album Speaking in Tongues. Captured in a straightforward manner, the film is a visual and aural feast from beginning till the end.

Those of you unaware of the genius that is David Byrne and his band mates, brace yourself because you’re in for a treat. As for the loyal fans, this interactive film experience will give them a chance to try and come with even more eccentric clothes than the ones wore by the group and imitate the otherworldly dance moves of Mr Byrne. Part of the Scala Beyond film season. (Words: Apostolos Kostoulas)
Sugarhouse Studios and Assemble present STOP MAKING SENSE takes place on Saturday 25 August at Sugarhouse Studios. For more information visit www.sugarhousestudios.co.uk/stop-making-sense

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What we’ve been up to… Lauryn Hill @ Indigo2 (April 14th)

Matilda — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:00:48 +0000

“It’s been a long time coming,” says Ms. Lauryn  Hill, as she appears on the IndigO2 stage to the sold-out crowd.

“We cut through so we can get back to doing it the way it should be done.” This sounds like a veiled apology for the past decade, where her eccentric behaviour and cryptic proselytizing for a religious/political cause no one could quite figure out, did little to preserve the glory that came with her brilliant, ground-breaking ’98 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Garish outfits and makeup, peculiar new songs – Social Drugs anyone? – bad vocals and frustrating re-mixes of her classics seemed to taint her last two London shows in ’05 and ’07, but if all this was the sum of being vexed at the music industry and any other personal woes, then tonight’s show suggests she’s finally made peace with the world.

Flanked by an enthusiastic 7-piece band, the youthful looking 36-year-old delivers an ecstatic tribute to her musical heritage and the album that made her famous, defying any misgivings she’d lost her sparkle. The first part of the nearly two hour proceedings features a flamboyant recap of Everything is Everything, where her pitch perfect rasp evolves into a spine-tingling gospel lament, as well as a funky reworking of The Doors’ Light My Fire and Marley’s Concrete Jungle, which seamlessly segues into Forgive Them Father. All the while, Hill’s a fearless conductor who’s remarkable to look at. Completely in sync with the music, she continuously whips her head around to each band member to ensure they’re keeping up and commands each song, from the ominous Final Hour to the endearing Zion.

Other heartfelt numbers, like The Sweetest Thing and further tributes to Marley and Stevie Wonder also elicit approving cheers, followed by a thunderous performance of Lost Ones, and a quick dip into Fugees territory, where she truly exceeds herself, thanks to a machine-gun delivery and tomboy swagger, made all the more incredible when you’re reminded she’s doing all this macho posturing in a shiny, gold dress.

The show’s only shortcoming is the dodgy soundsystem and the fact she steers clear of the MTV Unplugged 2.0 album, which for all its criticism had some real gems – and even she points out she thought “no one wanted to hear that”, promising she’ll come back to perform it. But all this does little to dampen the rest of the evening,which has more than enough triumphs to certify this lady’s on the comeback. (Words: Matilda Egere-Cooper, Pic: Akin Aworan)

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Somewhere you should go…Public Enemy, The Forum

Matilda — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:00:11 +0000

If you know anything about Public Enemy‘s LP Fear of A Black Planet, you’ll understand it had such an extraordinary influence on hip-hop, it’s since been compared to the impact made by the works of Bob Dylan, George Clinton and Bob Marley. PE’s 3^rd album came out at the dawn of the 1990s, inspiring anyone with revolutionary sentiments to “Fight the Power” and endorsing a new sense of consciousness withi the African-American community. Musically, it was remarkably hard-hitting and eccentric – so the fact that the band has dedicated this entire show on September 8th to that legendary album should make for a brilliant night out in London, and one you’ll certainly be buzzing about a week later. Not to be missed.

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The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road London NW5 1JY

Tube: Kentish Town

For further info and to buy tickets, click here

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