Konono N°1
Date: July 13, 2006 Congo Dance Party With ten straight days of Bluesfest feeling like a daunting task, I took a breather in the middle two days, catching only one band. However, that single set was a noteworthy one, as Konono N°1 delivered a unique musical performance that kept the crowd dancing. Although Konono N°1 has been around for over 25 years, I only became aware of the band after the Bluesfest lineup was announced. The most immediately striking aspect of the group was its instrumentation and equipment. The two well-worn loudspeakers that flanked the stage were an interesting sight before the band even came out; and this concert marked the first time that I've seen a musician ironing his drums before the show. Three of the six players utilized likembés, an instrument also known as the thumb piano. With three different tunings, these instruments seemed to fill roles similar to those of guitar and bass in a rock band. The other half of the group concentrated on percussion, with a lady at the front playing a set of bells, and two drummers in the back, one standing, one seated. The seated drummer's kit consisted of a snare drum and a cymbal seemingly fashioned from scrap metal. Having read about the improvised nature of the band's instruments, I wasn't sure if there would be an array of such pieces, as with an Einstürzende Neubauten concert, but the group actually limited themselves to a single configuration. It soon proved apparent that the band would not need to reach for other musical tools, as their set was an exercise in repeated themes. The band's music was rooted in the framework of trance, unfurling gradually as they added pieces to the mix, while returning frequently to familiar refrains. In fact, they paused only once in the night, making for a two-song set: the first spanning thirty minutes, the latter forty-five. All three members at the front of the stage took turns on vocals, although the bulk of the singing fell to the woman at centre stage and the man to her left. These two also set the tone for the affair, breaking into wide smiles and dancing through the set. With the focus on percussion and rhythm, the Congolese band had everyone in front of the Blacksheep Stage also dancing through the hot night. The members of Konono N°1 spanned a wide age range, with the eldest likembé player staying at the rear of the stage. It was no coincidence that the younger players were the drummers, as the beat was relentless. The stand-up drummer was an impressive spectacle, pounding away on his freshly-ironed drum skins, adding a forceful whistle to the mix, and kicking up his feet when the music struck him. Even when he was struggling to wipe the sweat from his eyes, he never let up on the beat. At the end of the night, he ran back onto the stage at least four times, tipping his hat to the crowd and basking in the applause. While his laughter gave away the fact that he was playing it up for comedy, every bit of applause was deserved, for him and the rest of Konono N°1. <--Prev (Son Volt) | Next (Metric/Fiery Furnaces)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |