REVIEW: Manu Chao
- Posted on October 5, 2007 10:52 AM
- 0 comments
Manu Chao
Brixton Academy
4th October 2007
- Audrey Deheeger
Yeeees! Manu Chao is back in town! Me being French, he is very special to me because I’ve grown up listening to his Mano Negra songs. For the little trivia, Manu Chao is half French half Spanish and is already a legend in France, Spain, South America and he’s starting to be quite famous in Africa too thanks to his collaboration with Amadou et Mariam. I have always been surprised that he was not as well known in the UK but hey… you can only congratulate him to manage to make it big by conquering the non-anglo world first! It was a matter of time before he would make it big in the UK too and selling out 3 nights at Brixton Academy is definitely a sign that the British audience has opened up quite a bit!
Anyway let’s tell you all about the gig last night! IT WAS ELECTRIFYING!! I first saw the Mano Negra when I was about 13 and well well well 16 years later, the man is still a human battery and still performs like a kid who has had too much sugar and runs everywhere! It’s a bowl of energy, one I’d like to take every morning for a big dose of super fuel and happiness! As far as the set is concerned, Manu performed songs from all albums but if you have not seen him before, be ready for a completely different sound from whatever album you may have listened to! All songs turned into a melting pot of very groovy reggae and alternative punk with sometimes – and actually it was the case yesterday – some powerful Spanish guitar tunes! The audience was well up for it too last night! I think Mr Chao tried to leave a few times but we were far too good and he could not leave the stage….I think I heard about 4 ‘Thank you Brixton’ before he actually left the stage only to come back very eagerly for an emotional (for me!) encore! Well known for being a pacifist, he ended the concert with the Mano Negra ‘Sidi H’ Bibi’, thrilling sitar rock tune sung in Arabic as a glimpse to what’s happening in the Middle East. I just didn’t want this evening to end! I felt like a 16 year old jumping the whole time on all songs, meeting up with great people from all over! Some Mexicans in front of us, some from Barcelona on the left, me French in the middle and finally surrounded by loads of converted British friends! A fabulous night, a beautiful crowd…
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