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