Public Opinion Afro Orchestra@ Becks Music Box, Perth(26/02/11)

Tue 1st Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, hit the stage at Beck’s Music Box on Saturday night and everyone who witnessed the grand spectacle of the Fela Kuti influenced 18 piece band will agree that it was a glorious night of boogying, soaking up the cultural vibe and celebrating Perth’s International Arts Festival – well worth it.

The prediction of dancing and sing-alongs taking place in the latter half of a band’s set is usually an accurate one, but the movers and groovers were down on the dance pad when the contemporary African funk band hit the stage bang on 8pm. Not that they had anywhere else to go – all plastic seats, comfortable cushion chairs, stands and walkways were crowded with classy couples, hipsters, families, hippies and fans of the afro-beat.

A loud cheer erupted from the dance pit when the band’s three striking chorus ladies danced onto stage. It was the beginning of an entertaining gospel styled choreography from the energetic and happy trio. There was no time wasting, with Nui Moon jumping straight into a bongo solo and the horn section (consisting of two trumpets, two saxophones and a trombone) delivering a snap-happy introduction to the jazzy rhythms that flavoured the band’s hour and a half long set.

Two Sides of the Truth featuring The Poet MC Tumi combined quick, deep sax rhythms with some unique hip hop emceeing and high energy dancing from the colourful satin-wearing chorus. The interspersion of the occasional keyboard solo added to the lively, unpredictable tune.

The Bob Marley look-alike who incited the crowd with a pair of mini bongo drums slung over his shoulder, was responsible for lifting the already highly energetic atmosphere into a whole new realm of enthusiasm. Long-limbed and chipper, he threw his arms and legs about the stage in an inventive, animated frenzy mirroring the buoyant sounds of the drums for the duration of the set.

He introduced System, telling the dehydrated, semi-boozy crowd that the tune was about the systems we involuntarily become apart of in the world. Make of that what you will. The booming trumpet solo was enough to set the dance floor alight as all members of the band began jiving soulfully to the sassy beat.

But it wasn’t just the band cutting loose and chorus ladies wiping the sweat from their foreheads, hands were in the air, Becks bottles were raised and the jiving in the semi-spacious mosh began. This wasn’t the usual dancing one would witness at any pub grime floor, this was playful and carefree frolic. Grown men were mimicking the African-styled choir choreography taking place up on stage, bouncing, shimmying and even adding the occasional lifted open-armed ‘Hallelujah’ movement to their routine. It was refreshing and comical.

A distraction from the main action was the beaming slide-show of advertisements bouncing off the towering building located directly behind the stage. No one needed to be thinking about Nova’s Nathan And Nat or sumo wrestling when a glorious, cultural experience was taking place in the heart of the city. But this didn’t seem to bother the peeps down on the front line, jumping about and embracing the happy vibe.

The band’s current single Future Africa was a big hit amongst the crowd. Recorded and mixed by Andy Baldwin in New York and featuring the vocals of NFA and 1/6th, the political hip hop sounds floated up into the warm night sky but what was perhaps the most attractive part of the tune was the upbeat African funk melody and chorus contrasted with the dark lyrics “suffering, suffering, happiness, happiness, bitterness, bitterness… aggression, self depression.”

The title track of their album Do Anything Go Anywhere was an inspirational, uplifting tight tune to conclude the fine evening with the main emphasis being on the lyrics “Do anything go anywhere, do nothing, you go nowhere.” A relatively long-winded track, short attention spans were catered for with numerous individual instrumental solos scattered throughout the song.

A rapturous applause of praise, love and genuine appreciation erupted as the band concluded their set for the evening, smiling, boogying and waving at the crowd. But that wasn’t all, the real wrap up came after the climatic and highly appropriate encore How Long it Go Take which saw all heads nodding, feet shuffling and eyes on the mammoth ensemble.

The buzz didn’t die down at Becks’ post performance; excitement was brewing for the infamous Norman Jay to hit the decks a little later. Another hot night of cultural goodness at Becks Music Box that left everyone feeling happy and appreciative, not to mention, relieved to not be part of the gigantic sweaty queue building outside Perth’s favourite summer venue.