Tuesday 19 April 2016

On Stage: Vaudou Game @ Paradiso Tolhuistuin

After seeing Vaudou Game play a hot show in the woods at night at the Into The Great Wide Open festival, I was hoping for them to play my town some day soon. It took a while but finally I'm able to see them again and they brought a special guest.

Vaudou Game at Paradiso Tolhuistuin Amsterdam, April 17 2016



The band fronted by the charismatic Peter Solo are off to a slow start. Solo has a passionate but quite long introduction about "vaudou music" and the story behind the band's name. But then they start playing and the seventies style funk sound, mixed with afrobeat are taking over. It doesn't take long for the band to warm up and the temperature starts to rise, igniting the crowd. Solo has a contagious way of playing, sometimes looking concentrated but mostly with a big smile on his face.



The band are playing tight funky grooves backed up by sizzling percussion and horns. It's no secret African music and funk mix well together and Vaudou Game create an explosive blend. Solo may talk a lot in between some songs, but when an artist is so excited and passionate it is forgiven. He introduces the special guest, Roger Damawuzan also known as "James Brown from Lomé". Unmistakably do we hear the band play funky James Brown inspired tunes, where Damawuzan uses some of Brown's trademark screams but also has his own style. Positive vibes radiate from the singer who, like Solo, is smiling throughout the show.



When Solo and Damawuzan connect on stage, positivity explodes and the audience responds. By now the room has turned into a tropical dancing party and both crowd and band are having a good time. 'Pas Contente', the song where Damawuzan collaborates on, gets an extra long version to keep the party going. After a big roar the band returns for an encore and receives a well deserved long applause at the end of the set. This band is guaranteed to turn the heat up on every party just like their wonderful album Apiafo will.



All Pictures

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