SEUN KUTI AND THE EGYPT 80 @ Metropolis

By Luca Petryshyn (aka DJ Spooky) - West African Hour - 07/13/2008

When I told some friends I was going to see Seun Kuti and the Egypt 80, they all wondered how he could fill the shoes of his late father Fela Kuti. Since Fela’s death, Seun has taken up the reins of the Afro-beat by playing with Fela’s old band in a orthodox style. With Fela’s old band and musical style the question was unavoidable: could Seun bring something new to the table or would he end up being a cheap copy cat riding the international fame that Fela inspired? Well, anyone who was at that show knows that seeing Seun Kuti play is bombastic and the best way to experience Afro-beat live in the 21st century.

The show started with the Egypt 80 showing off their musical skills, getting the audience grooving before introducing their front man. After one song, the audience was dancing, and when Egypt 80 finally introduced the powerful onstage presence of Seun Kuti, his entrance inspired cheers. He did not disappoint capturing centre stage with remarkable energy and passion. A self-taught musician in the community of his father, Seun Kuti can sing Fela covers to great effect. It was also treat to watch as he grooved and shook to the music. At one point, he got too hot and stripped off his shirt spending the last half of the set topless. However, new front man or not, the Afro-beat sounds of The Egypt 80 are fantastic and they played a rich set. The band played two Fela songs with the engaging Seun, dropping dance bombs on the audience. Most of the songs played were from their new album, Many Things, released this summer. They only managed to perform about eight songs, as each song plays over the ten-minute mark and is packed with long instrumental improvisations. The sound at the metropolis was great, although they managed to cut Seun’s microphone by accident when he was trying to explain one of his songs. The audience was really into the music and you could tell that almost everyone there was a fan of the Afro-beat style.

Everyone who came to see if Seun lives up to his father’s legacy could not have been disappointed. The band played orthodox Afro-beat, never deviating form the standards that Fela set in his musical career. Apparently, sticking to the formula is important for Seun, who has said that the world is still catching up to his father’s innovations, and that afro-beat needs no changes stylistically. All in all, seeing Seun Kuti continue the legacy of his father is to see the best Afro-beat band in the world play.

Check out DJ Spooky Luke on The West African Hour every Wednesday from 12pm-1 pm