As we approach Summer Camp 2015, many attendees tend to get stir crazy, myself included. This was the perfect excuse to venture out to Hodi’s Half Note to experience the Felabration!
As it’s name would imply it’s a celebration of the amazing life and music of Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti. Dave Watts, the drummer and bandleader of The Motet, first organized this project last year. This time around he included members of his own band alongside players from Euforquestra and Atomga. The entire experience was almost supernatural, as the spirit of Kuti seemed to be in the air. The night got started with some stellar reggae from DubSkin.
DubSkin is widely known for their prowess creating enticing and lyrically powerful reggae on the Front Range. In 2010 they earned a slot at Summer Camp Music Festival with their all-encompassing style of music. These days, it’s utterly common to watch modern American reggae outfits to be comprised of a bunch of Midwestern white boys who met in college with absolutely real connection to the music they are performing. Jamal Skinner embodies the spirituality inherent in all reggae music. While DubSkin often ventures into realms of funk, rock, and hip-hop they are always true to their roots.
Set 1: Dub Intro, Look Wut Dem Do, Jah Love Dem, Ever Present, Calm Before The Storm, Final Call, Lifts Me Up, Warrior Stomp, African
Their set lasted about an hour with Jamal taking center stage in the performance. Guitarist Mike Tallman of Euforquestra stayed in the groove pocket for the entire set as well. Songs like “Look Wut Dem Do” and “Calm Before The Storm” were highlights with the entire band finding a proper equilibrium. Overall it was great start to the evening. If you are interested in well thought out, authentic reggae go see DubSkin.
Looking around the room it became obvious that there seemed to me be more local musicians than music fans. That seems to be the case with collaborative projects like these. It is musician’s music meaning that the players are undoubtedly playing at a higher level than an average bar band. Hodi’s was the first stop of three-night run, so the band came out swinging.
Set 1: Colonial Mentality, Shakra, Afrodisco Beat, J.J.D., Kalakuta Show, No Agreement, Expensive Shit, Egbe Mio, G’Ba Mi Leti Ki N’Dolowo> Everything Scatter, Roforofo Fight
Encore: Ikoyi Blindness
The Felebration was a high-energy dance party featuring the incredible brass work of Leah Concialdi from Atomga and Austin Zalatel from Euforquestra. All in all there were 14 musicians on the relatively small stage at Hodi’s. The result was a barrier of sound that seemed to encase the crowd completely. The band eased into night with a funky “Colonial Mentality.” Many of the songs performed stretch across Fela’s unmatchable career. He was most active in the 1970’s and 80’s with the various bands he lead. In fact “Egbe Mio” is a massive funk jam from his first album
Fela’s London Scene.
Dave Watts was literally flanked by Scott Messersmith and Matt Grundstad making him difficult to see from the floor. Despite being incognito Dave led the group marvelously through Fela’s unique and revolutionary repertoire. The Afrobeat anthem “Expensive Shit” pushed fans into a dancing frenzy. The horn-heavy “G’Ba Mi Leti Ki N’Dolowo” (Slap Me Make I Get Money) shook the room. The incredibly talented assemblage ended the set with the Kuti classic “Roforofo Fight.” The group came back to encore with a solid “Ikoyi Blindness.
Fela Kuti was a revolutionary who challenged the status quo. Fela created music that was itself a rebellion, which resulted in his being arrested over 200 times. Despite being beaten and permanently disfigured he continued to write politically charged lyrics. The fact that now almost twenty years after his death, these amazing musicians are gathering to pay homage by playing his songs, speaks volumes. If you are unfamiliar with his music check out Fela Kuti, he was a world treasure and his music can still be heard everywhere from the lowest of dives to the largest of stages. The revolution continues.]]>
