ShiMo mFukoNi

The night started out rainy and gloomy but nothing could dampen my spirits. Having bought the advance ticket for the ParkingLotgrass EP launch nothing was going to stop me from enjoying the best of this phenomenal band. The venue was The Mall’s rooftop at Westlands and I was itching for some live head banging rock.

I arrived fashionably late (by about 30 minutes) .Things hadn’t picked up yet and it seemed like they hadn’t finished setting up. The stage was already set and members of the band seem to be getting an interview on it. Behind the stage hung an epic graffiti background bearing the band’s name. I continued to the audience tent where only a hand full of people had arrived and was beginning to wonder if I could catch a little of the Chelsea vs. Liverpool game. Nonetheless I looked around for some company instead; to while away the time.

All the while water was massing on the tent covering the stage and all the equipment on it. I remember joking that it would be like something out of a cartoon if that bulbous mass burst and soaked everyone and everything on stage. Well, the joke was on me. They kept trying to safely get rid of the water but the rain just kept pouring until the tent finally ripped and trust me it wasn’t funny.

It was a gruelling 5 hour wait before the concert began. In that time I made lots of friends and an enemy or two but that is a story for another day. Rock of ages (who were also supposed to perform ) were a no show and Dove Slimme arrived 3 hours late .Everything seemed to be going wrong but somehow the organizers pulled off a micro miracle and ParkingLotGrass started revving up their guitars at twelve. The concert practically started the next day!

I’m not complaining though the wait was definitely worth it.  ParkingLotGrass opened the stage followed by Dove Slimme. The latter performed  a kick ass rendition of DJ Guetta's bulletproof as well as their hit single Yelele . The head banging began in earnest (still have whip lash from that) as the audience sung along . The Claymore Project a relative newcomer on the scene also took the stage. Although the guitars slightly drowned out the vocals at first, this band sounded like something to look out for. 

Shimo mfukoni, Speed chaser,Coward, Etched on my heart were all performed by ParkingLotGrass that night. Ruff, the band's lead vocalist even free-styled after incessant requests from the crowd. Perhaps he was a rapper in another life hehehe .It was an impressive show of talent and versatility, proof of the mile stones Kenyan rock has made. 

ParkingLotGrass is well on its way to greater things and like I said before, this is only the beginning

This is just the beginning

Rock for me began as a distant echo, something undefined yet mysteriously pleasing, emotional, poetic, magnetic . I cant pinpoint exactly where or when I first encountered it but my interest was peaked by soundtracks from various series' sound tracks especially smallville ; I guess this was my burning bush.In pursuit of more music like the stuff I heard on TV I eventually discovered the fuse (capital FM) and strangely a rock show on radio Waumini (hosted by one Nandika Awamatieku if I'm not mistaken). There was no turning back from that point onwards: my world would never be the same again.

To a large extent rock was a marginalized genre back in the day.It was never interspersed with other types of music:always isolated (if allowed to show at all) in the airwaves, the leper of the music world. either you knew it or you didn't . The infamous devil worshiper or creep tag always a lingering companion of misunderstood rock-heads.

That's all in the past however . Rock has made great strides since capital FM first played it in Kenya back in 96 . Elements of rock culture are seeping into several aspects of Kenyan society  take root and asserting themselves. The number of rock fans has snowballed over the past few years. Sick of the constant cooing and ululating of Rn B singers and the likes Kenyans are opting for something more meaningful relevant and expressive. Where once it was practically invisible, rock can be heard intermittently wherever loud music blares. Even those not fond of it( at least not yet) find themselves swaying to the insistent ,coaxing but pleasant sound of rock. maroon 5, Linkin Park Script ,are but a few bands drawing the masses.

Rocktober fest's appearance five years ago also gave an aveneu for ROck lovers to express themselves. IT indeed gave both rock bands and rock fans a way out of the shadows and into the public's eye. We were here unashamed and unafraid to assert ourselves. its attendance has been growing gradually over the years and 2012 will definitely be the year to watch.

From lingering notions in the mind, dark back alley studios, school auditoriums to dingy pubs and rock head haunts 2012 has proven to be the year of the Kenyan rock band. Murfy's fLaw, Parking Lot Grass (PLG) and Dove Slimme have all featured in X Fm's just released top 10 chart with PLG dominating it for over 5 weeks. All three have also been featured in Zouqka a pull out of the Nation newspaper. This is a great stride considering how hard it has been getting local media attention for local talent.

Bottom line is "tumetoka mbali" and its it is undoubtedly our time to shine. Watch out people rock is coming to get you.