It was 1800 hours. The chosen site was club hypnotic off Woodvale
grove. This is Westlands, redlight district with several notable clubs. The club
itself was situated four floors up the Krishna Centre, easy to miss if you
haven’t heard of it before. Everything but the stage is thinly lit up by blue
light. I’d venture a shade but honestly I can’t tell the difference between
periwinkle and navy blue to save my own life.
The concert was supposed to start at 4 pm but if there is
one thing, you learn in this country, Kenyan time is very reliable at being
unreliable. The music does not start until an hour later. All the while sound
checks were on going. Kenyan rock band manages to site a few familiar acts. Claymore
project are on stage checking their equipment. The few riffs they hammer out
bare a lot of promise of what the night holds. Victor Chweya from PLG has a
camera in hand nursing a white cup as we all wait for the concert.
Saidimu Kiereni will be the captain of this boat for the
night. A vote of thanks is given and Saidimu introduces the night’s first act. A
Kenyan Gospel rock band opens the show. And they are as good as it gets. Rock
of ages have to be one of the country’s oldest rock acts. One of those
responsible for turning on to Kenyan rock so long ago. They play their own
rendition of Barlow Girl’s Never Alone. A
bit of Creed and Daughtry follow in quick succession. People are officially
paying attention and more is what they want.
Sugar, spice and Saki
is made from rice
Saidimu’s own band takes the stage after Rock of ages. Dove
Slimme needs no introduction. This popular Kenyan rock band was out to
entertain, and entertain they did. Jilian, lead vocalist and resident diva knows
how to work her crowd. With a mix of Swahili humor, Japanese pop culture
references and wit, she kept everyone laughing all the while giving a great
vocal showing.
 |
| jilian from dove slimme |
True to their 90s kid
roots, they kick off their performance with a rendition of the power puffs
girl’s theme song. Nostalgic cheering and bashful attempts to sing along fill
the club. They have us all under a cackling, half-drunk spell. Next, they play their
rendition of Faint by LP and spin my head right round.
Saving the best for
last, they end their time on stage with three of their hit singles; Yelele, Party at the ban and Leo ni Leo. They also did Why you got to be that guy. They did not
forget to play their version of the national anthem either. Underneath all that
cool, deep inside there’s a bit of a patriot in all slimmeheads. At least that
is what we are told am told.
Time has gone well past two hours and it is safe to say the
concert had reached and passed its climax. Nothing but bravery was going to get
the remaining acts through the rest of the night. Enter parkinglot grass. Led
by their vocalist Duncan, PLG churn out a series of their compositions, from naweza, rainman, shimo mfukoni to kilio cha
haki. Good music but crowds sometimes…
 | |||
| plg lead vocalist Duncan |
Lastly, Kenya’s own boy band, the claymore project takes the
stage. Their preppy, clean cut look definitely makes them stand out. They ended
the show with a mix of original songs as well as covers of famous pieces. The crowd
sings along to harlequin girl, paper plane and wanderer. And that is as good as
it gets.
 |
| claymore project |
The concert closes at 11.07 pm.
This deserved to be mentioned separately: Dove Slimme
launched a video for ‘Leo ni Leo’ at
the concert. If you missed this one, no worries. Sondeka fest is coming on 18th
of October.
