PLATFORM SEVEN

It was the 26th of June.The venue was choices Baricho road. Platform Seven was set to showcase the best of Kenyan rock bands. The lineup; Parkinglot grass, Last Year's Tragedy, Koinange street avengers & Mortal Soul. The club itself was a welcome respite from warehouses on the industrial looking street. By two pm the stage was set. Parkinglotgrass and Last Year’s Tragedy were already in the house. I walked up to the bar ordered a drink checked out my surroundings. Dimmed multicolored lights super-sport on the screens; a typical club on a Sunday afternoon. African timing is a bitch and with an audience of two; it would be awhile before the concert started. A lanky spectacled figured lingered around the DJs box. It was Chizi, LYT lead singer. He walked up we struck a conversation and introduces me to the rest of the crew: Diallo, Stan and Mahia. The tight nit kenyan rock band seemed at ease even revealing their playlist. This would definitely be an interesting afternoon.

By 3.30 Choice’s was finally filling up. Ronjey (Parkinglotgrass) psyched up the eager crowd and the show began.Parkinglotgrass opened the stage. This Kenyan Rock Band had to make do without a lead singer. Chweya(lead guitar) and the gang did a great job though. With a epic rendition of ‘etched on my heart’ and ‘coward’, Parkinlotgrass wet the crowds appetite. Enter Koinange Street Avengers. This is the first time I’d encountered this Kenyan rock band live. Antony(guitarist) kicked off with a pentatonic riff then the fun began.  Koinange Street Avengers went on to thrill the audience with their rendition of set fire to the rain and numb. This Kenyan rock band closes off with their own compositions ‘hit and run’ and ’I don’t know’.

By now the audience was either psyched up or drunk enough to get off their bums and move to the music. It was Kenyan heavy metal bands’ turn. Mortal soul entered the stage to roaring cheers by the crowd. This Kenyan rock band’s rendition of Killswitch’s ‘end of heartache’ induces frenzied moshing by the audience. Mortal soul went on to perform breaking the demon by bullet for my valentine. Then finally, the encore; Last Year’s Tragedy took the stage. Despite mild whiplash and  a few bruises from the ‘mosh pit’ Staying tamu fans cheered wildly. Last Year’sTragedy closed platform seven with their hit Generation Light and Elephant in the room. Chizi screamed himself hoarse. He and the crew gave their fans a memorable show. And on that note platform seven gave way to Choice’s weekly rock night. If you missed it, shame on you.