Zimbabwean Roots Rock Guitar Party!

When a country is in a state of emergency, I always wonder what is happening to its musicians. Now that Zimbabwe is in complete disorder for example, I am thinking about how the Bhundu Boys, the Four Brothers or Thomas Mapfumo are trying to survive…

Here’s one of my favorite Zimbabwean tracks: "Mombe Youmai", a song that I first heard on a Zimbabwean import record called ‘Tonosangana Ikoko’ by PATRICK MKWAMBA & THE FOUR BROTHERS. This vibrant record was released on Gramma Records in 1984 and also features the great hit “Wapenga Nayo Bonus”.

If you want to hear more scintillating sounds from Zimbabwe, check out the 3 essential Zimbabwe Frontline compilations on Earthworks.

Let’s all hope Zimbabwe will soon arise out of the chaos and that the music scene will revive consequently!

Two great shows last week at the mighty Pit’s! On Monday, BEATBEATBEAT played some dirty ass punk rock & roll; somewhere between Johnny Thunders and The Users. With members and friends from likeminded bands as The Carbonas and Gentleman Jesse, the five some treated us on some great & wild covers from The Zeros ("Beat Your Heart Out"), The Kids ("Do you wanna know") and "River Deep Mountain High" (The Saints version of the Ike & Tina chartbuster). After the show I had a nice chat with singer/guitarist Warren who raved about his The Kids obsession and the soul singles collection he recently found at a backyard sale. He told me to check out this unknown soul hero called King Floyd. I surely will! Great people & a ferocious wild live band!

Last Saturday, STINKY LOU & THE GOON MAT with LORD BENARDO proved again why they are the best blues band in the world these days. It’s hard to describe the band to people who haven’t seen this trio but I think the best way to introduce them is by describing them as a hardcore juke joint blues band. Their debut album on Beatman’s Voodoo Rhythm Records doesn’t really do them justice (it’s not a bad album but a bit too mellow for my taste), but live they are a very wild & merciless experience! Talking about a blues explosion indeed!

For what it’s worth, here are my favorite shows of the year as of today:

1. Eli “Paperboy” Reed (21/11 – Charlatan)
2. Stinky Lou & The Goon Mat with Lord Benardo (29/11 - Pit’s)
3. Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics (22/3 – Turnhout)
4. The Hex Dispensers (23/5 – Pit’s)
5. Psychedelic Horseshit (2/3 - Pit’s)
6. The Carbonas (9/4 – Pit’s)
7. Carolina Chocolate Drops (21/3 – N9)
8. Toby Dammit & Jessie Evans (3/4 – N9)
9. The Mean Devils (22/3 – Turnhout)
10.Beat Beat Beat (24/11 – Pit’s)

I also enjoyed the Whiskey Daredevils (12/5 – Evergem), The Seatsniffers (16/5 – N9), The Sonics (12/7 – Gierle), The Monsters (12/7 – Gierle), Black Lips (17/9 – Trix), Horace Andy (30/10 – Vooruit) and probably some other shows I forgot about already…