Femi was just awesome. He knows how to engage the crowd while remaining an ambassador for the injustice and shortcomings of this world. Speaking about the problems of the world especially the African continent and relating them to the people of the western world has always been one of his great strengths. Lyrics and vibes deserve a top A rating!
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About
Those who have followed his career and have experienced his music know this for a fact: Femi Kuti never felt just satisfied with being the King's heir. He freed himself from his father's legacy in '85 by putting together his own band, The Positive Force, and thereby working to find his own voice. He became, during the '90s, a renowned artist in his own right with a distinctive, colorful and balanced style.
His records tell the story: After a short spell at Motown, he took
on the Afrobeat sound with his first international album in 1998 («Shoki
Shoki»), before rubbing shoulders with the modern urban style of his American
peers such as Mos Def and Common on the album «Fight To Win».
Returning to Lagos
he worked on rebuilding the new Shrine and released an unbelievable live
project recorded in the heat of the moment in his own venue («Live at the
Shrine», MK2 / 2004).
Finally his first studio record only came about in 2008, having found
inspiration in Paris.
This unanimously celebrated release («Day By Day») was his most successful one.
What was there left for him to accomplish from now on? To complete
the cycle, Femi felt he needed to go back to his roots, to the origins of this
burning feeling inside him which had fired all his work, and going back to the
studio where he had produced his first recordings with his father and his solo
album «Shoki Shoki».
Decca Studio, soon to become Afrodisia Records in the '70s, was the
experimenting ground for most Nigerian masterpieces of the time, including
those of Fela. «It was a very important historical place for Afrobeat and the
place have those mystical vibrations that Femi felt», recalls Sodi, his
longtime travelling buddy, and Parisian producer, who made the trip to Lagos to be a part of it.
«We knew the studio was in a bad state, with old mixing desks, ancient
equipment, we all knew the gear would not be up to the test, but we wanted to
take up the challenge. Because everyting is different in Lagos. The city is such a monster; it has an effect
on the way musicians play. The trick is to capture the Lagos stress without yielding under it
yourself». And Femi gives us further insight : « Between the power cuts and the
dysfunctional AC, we were sweating like pigs. I was playing with Sodi, pretending
to complain: We could be in a comfortable place right now, what are we doing
here? It was madness, but that's what we wanted it to be».
This record may be less carefully produced than the former one. However this was not unintentional, but rather a conscious artistic choice, i.e. not to polish the finishing touches and keep this afrobeat rough in its purest form..... « Aggressive is the word that Femi uses the most when talking about the album. This familiar Punk energy you hear is no surprise therefore even spiced up the African way! Here, the words echo the music perfectly. « Bad Government ». Never has Femi been so vindictive. Or his words so concise. « Nobody Beg »: « But never has my people's condition been so serious» he justifies. As did his idols from the 60s, Coltrane, Parker, Gillespie, his militant spirit sometimes carries a jazzy jab that doesn't however lose any of its intensity. « Politics in Africa ».
More than just a simple musician, the 48-year old composer has become a true African Ambassador, in its most honorable sense. Indeed the album recording had to be arranged around his busy schedule. For example, Femi was in Johannesburg to sing for Africa the opening ceremony for the Football World Cup. There he sang one of his hits « Beng Beng Beng », and took the opportunity to meet a few of the anti-Apartheid heroes. Shortly after, he was heading off to New York to see the famous and very successful Broadway musical about Fela, where he also got to appear on stage, invited by the actors at the end of the show. «It's truly extraordinary, they really understood my father's struggle and his mindset This show has got to travel the world, and come down to the Shrine», he says naturally.
Will we see Femi carrying out this project throughout the world? Maybe. In the meantime, his Shrine still carries the torch week in week out, so much so it has become one of the only last dynamic temples for live African music. Erykah Badu, Damon Albarn, Hugh Masekala have recently made appearances, as have the Lagos Police, who regularly raid the place, picking up and frightening off the local crowd, as they try to close down this highly regarded resistance venue.
Rating: 5 out of 5by Anonymous on 1/28/13Webster Hall - New York Rating: 5 out of 5 Great show!!!
by Lady3 on 1/28/13Webster Hall - New YorkFemi always put on a great show!!! The energy is amazing!!!
Rating: 4 out of 5by Max78 on 1/28/13Webster Hall - New York if you didnt dance through this, you were dead ! Cant wait to see Femi and The Positive force again
Rating: 4 out of 5 Femi Is the best
by Stewed1971 on 1/28/13Webster Hall - New YorkI saw Femi Kuti back in 2000 and he knocked me out with his musicianship and energy. Twelve years later he's still got it. Keep in mind that he's no spring chicken anymore but that doesn't mean he's not as energetic as he used to be. The other thing that makes his shows so incredible is the diverse crowd. From the young black hipsters to the older white retirees all grooving together, the crowd is a testament to the power of Femi and his backing musicians in delivering a powerful entertainment experience.
Rating: 4 out of 5by Anonymous on 1/28/13Webster Hall - New York The show was great but the phone screens everywhere were a real annoyance! People should not film while other people are trying to watch, thanks, J Leduc
Rating: 4 out of 5 Fan---tastic
by Afriki on 1/25/13Paradise Rock Club - BostonGreat performance from Femi and his band ... I recommend this brother to anyone who loves Afrobeat
Rating: 5 out of 5 Femi Kuti & The Positive Force=TRUE entertainers!!
by Amarachi on 1/25/13Paradise Rock Club - BostonThis was an EXCELLENT show! The opening act, Uhuru Afrika was really high energy and the drummer was interactive with the crowd which was really fun. Femi and his band though*whew* PHENOMENAL! Their energy and sound really touched your soul and I'm pretty sure everyone there danced for the 2+ hours they performed. Femi of course showed his expertise on the sax, trumpet and keyboard which was great. The dancers were GORGEOUS and really tied the whole performance together and was a nice reminder of the style and feel of the late Fela. I will definitely see him again if he comes to Boston, or wherever I happen to be living in the future. It will be very hard for any performer to top this show, personally. If he's coming to your city, GO SEE HIM! You will not regret it!
Rating: 4 out of 5 Femi Kuti brings the energy
by Deliman2 on 1/25/13Paradise Rock Club - BostonIn his usual style, Femi Kuti brought his big band to the Paradise in fine style. He has energy and enthusiasm. Plus his band is very tight and well rehearsed. Not to be missed are the 2 backup singers/dancers. It is hard to take your eyes off of them. He limited his preaching to a minimum and that is a plus. The percussionist is excellent and the horns were great.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Energetic, authentic, africa's best
by Lumiee on 1/25/13El Rey Theatre - Los AngelesFemi's saxophone skills, catchy beats, mesmerizing dancers...left me wanting more...the two hours of performance was well worth it!!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Femi Kuti forever
by RobbEnjoysFemi on 1/21/13El Ray - Los AngelesAmazing night. Femi and his band, Positive Force, are just that, a positive force. We danced the whole time and will be getting tickets every-time he is in my area. Thank you Femi!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Fantastic
by Benjswen on 1/20/13El Rey Theatre - Los AngelesI am a huge Fela fan. I hadn't even listened to Fema but figured I would check it out, hoping the fruit wouldn't fall tooo far from the tree. Fema rocked it. The music just gets under your skin and makes you shake your booty. The musicians are so so good as are the dancers/back up singers. The ONLY way I would have enjoyed this more is if Fema would have played one of his father's songs.
Rating: 5 out of 5by deb30 on 1/20/13El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles Powerful experience! Will definitely do that again!
Rating: 5 out of 5by Anonymous on 1/20/13El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles CLASSIC...HE IS LEGENDARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..LUV TO SEE HIM AGAIN IN L.A.
Rating: 5 out of 5 A positive force
by Peekaboog on 5/15/11El Rey Theatre - Los AngelesPerspective. After all the concerts I have seen in the last year, Thursday night I got a huge dose of it. Seeing a man so passionate about his music is a beautiful thing. Plus, it makes you want to dance and dance we did. Femi Kuti & The Positive Force swept over the crowd with exactly that. Music about struggle and passion with hope always shining through. It was an amazing energy from a man that I can now say I respect. Gonna be chasing this one for a while.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Femi Kuti put on an amazing show!!
by SolRebel on 5/14/11El Rey Theatre - Los AngelesFemi and the Positive Force are truly carrying the Afro-beat torch. The energy of this show is unparalleled. Driving rhythms, powerful horns, & Femi's own incredible playing and conducting of this band are incredible.
Rating: 3 out of 5by Treize on 5/11/11Variety Playhouse - Atlanta Would even have been better if there was an opening act or 2nd artist to complement the night.. In 2009 when i had first seen Femi Kuti, it was a 2-artist night. King Sunny Ade and Femi Kuti.
Rating: 4 out of 5by Anonymous on 5/8/11Variety Playhouse - Atlanta The show was all the way live!! However, it didn't start on time.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Wonderful Show!
by aesiovwa on 5/7/11Variety Playhouse - AtlantaSuch a vibrant and energetic show, I will definitely recommend it to everyone. A very nice mixed group of people as well and everyone seemed to have so much fun!
Rating: 5 out of 5 WOW
by Gauchito on 5/3/11Music Hall of Williamsburg - BrooklynFemi has such an amazing energy, positive views, and "will have you dancing non-stop the entire show" kind of music that is imposible not to be amazed by it. If taht were not enough, the band and dancers really knock you off your socks. EXCELLENT!
Rating: 5 out of 5by SeeWhyDoubleU on 4/30/11Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn 2.5 hours of electric music through the night... The energy was jaw-dropping. I don't normally dance at concerts, but Femi, the groovy gents of the Positive Force and the luscious, bootylicious dancers kept me going the whole night!