FrancoFolies: Alpha Blondy & The Solar Systems @ Metropolis

Alpha Blondy, also known as “the Bob Marley of Africa”, an Ivorian reggae singer, performed on June 15th at the Metropolis in Montreal. He had The Solar Systems backing him up and jammin’, jammin’ for their lives. The group included three guitarists, three trumpet players, three lovely women supporting his vocals, two keyboardists, and a drummer. Not too bad to fill up the house! He sung mainly in his native language of Dioula, but also in French, English, Arabic and, as I recalled the only lines I had memorized at my bat mitzvah, I realized that Alpha Blondy was speaking in Hebrew too. Props to those who know all his lyrics!

Though “Jah Rasta” will always be my number one, I enjoyed seeing a variety of songs from him -specifically a jazzy funk style of “Super Powers”. Of course Metropolis was booming when Alpha performed his classics “Cocody Rock” and “Sweet Fanta Diallo”. I could picture my parents snapping, clapping, and sidestepping to the beat along with the older crowd lingering in the peers. They were contrasted by the rowdy rasta kids rejoicing in the pit. There wasn’t a still body in the place, including Alpha! He was in the zone: walking back and forth around the stage in between the beats. It was surprising he could see where he was going; he sported a tan hat pulled barely above his eyes. But who says he needs retinas when he’s got such a vision… you know what I mean! Follow Alpha on his world tour going on now. He hit Montreal by storm, good luck to the rest of the world!

-DJ MissChief hosts Greedy Graffiti on Thursdays from 1-2pm