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Jupiter & Okwess, Congolese fusion funksters, preview new album with the sizzling ‘Congo Blinders’. – Backseat Mafia
They may be veterans of the tight Congolese street music scene but Jupiter & Okwess have always thrived on going beyond these roots. Formed by Jupiter Bokondji in 1990 the band’s popularity spread when they climbed aboard Damon Albarn’s African Express adventure in 2012. Support slots with Blur, recording on Albarn’s ‘Kinshasa One Two’ album plus sets at WOMAD and Glastonbury all followed before they released their debut ‘Hotel Univers’. Since then, Jupiter & Okwess have become world music big hitters, touring internationally and building their catalogue with two fine albums 2017’s ‘Kinsonic’ and ‘Na Kozonga’ from 2021. Afrobeat drive, earthy Congolese funk, sultry Soukous and some rock muscle have…
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Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds with Kim Salmon, The Republic Hotel, Hobart, 24/04/2024 – Backseat Mafia
I was with a couple of friends at the iconic Republic Hotel in Hobart who had never seen Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds live before. I felt a certain level of envy about what they were about to witness for the first time. I recalled the first time I saw the band around ten years ago – it was a spontaneous decision at midnight during a white hot Sydney summer and ended up being, to this day, one of the best gigs I had ever witnessed. I didn’t know what to expect at the time – I had seen Kid Congo Powers perform with the iconic line up…
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Music is the vice – we chat to the legendary Kid Congo Powers about danger and excitement and being an alien. – Backseat Mafia
Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds are in the middle of a tour of Australia and I caught up with the irrepressible Kid Congo Powers on the the day before he ventured to the deep south to play in Hobart. Born Brian Tristan, Kid likes to be called Kid – even my sister calls me Kid. I asked him about how much of Brian Tristan is in Kid Congo – is this a persona or the real thing? Powers laughs: A lot! Very much so. That was kind of the key to performing that I learned, since I’ve been in the Pink Monkey Birds. I was always the guitar…
