Blue King Brown @ Metropolis,Fremantle (02/06/11)

Mon 6th Jun, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Blue King Brown. It’s a name that has become synonymous with political, environmental, multicultural and sexual activism. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a cause that the band does not support. Sending their message of peace, love and acceptance through a medium of infectious island grooves, Blue King Brown showcased their considerable talents at Metropolis Fremantle last Thursday, supported by Melbourne hip hop act Diafrix.

Since their formation in 2004, the band have garnered a wealth of international acclaim, as well as supporting some international world music heavyweights including Carlos Santana, Damian Marley, and Michael Franti and Spearhead. The band has begun the Australian leg of their world tour to promote the release of their newest album Worldwize Part 1 – North & South. The chilly winter’s night in the bohemian epicentre of our city provided the backdrop for the WA leg of their tour did nothing to cool the red-hot urban and roots grooves that both bands laid down.

Diafrix began the night with some feel-good, catchy hip hop, though the two-piece was dwarfed by Blue King Brown’s prodigious live set up. Promoting their recently released single Simple Man, the band has already played shows across the country with Blue King Brown. The duo have a simple philosophy for life: party hard. It was a philosophy that the exuberant crowd took to heart, succumbing to the catchy rhythms and jovial subject matter of Diafrix. As their set came to an end the band played the title song from their single to a visibly elated crowd before finishing with their revel-encouraging song Crazy, which saw the audience eagerly participate in the chorus.

With the stage set for the imminent arrival of Blue King Brown; the pit swelled with patrons eager to cavort to the band’s festive sounds, as an overeager smoke machine operator flooded the empty stage with visual effects. Suddenly a siren pierced the eerie silence on stage and the musicians began to take up arms, followed lastly by Natalie Pa’apa’a.

Twisting, shaking and grooving in ways that boggle the mind and slacken the jaw, Pa’apa’a conducted the eager dancers in the pit as her world-inspired urban roots outfit, numbering at a hefty 11 members, played thoroughly enjoyable dance tunes. Taking a moment to recognise the traditional landowners of Australia, the band began to tease audience members with songs from their new album, including the hit Come and Check Your Head.

A quick reprieve was then taken from the energetic dance songs and a small dub jam was had before they continued with Rush. Pa’apa’a remarked: “This one goes out to all you ladies here tonight,” before beginning the highly successful Women’s Revolution, much to the delight of some liberated and slightly inebriated female punters.

Acknowledging her backup singers Rebecca Ari and Lady Nadee, each took a turn to sing a cover of some old classics. Ari covered the UB40 hit Red Red Wine before Nadee broke in to the Outkast classic Hey Ya leaving the crowd pulsing in paroxysms of jubilation. A change back to their originals, including Water soon followed these covers and continued until the end of the night where Pa’apa’a’s heated world grooves provided an excellent insulation as patrons were expelled in to the cool night’s air.