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OctoBeR KenYaN ROck SceNe

October 24, 2013, 12:25 pm
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Who would have thought? 2013 is drawing to a close.What’s new in the Kenyan rock scene you ask? First off,Murfy’s flaw released their new music video “steal a beat” in September.  It features the band in club setting with well-choreographed dancers in the background. The music of course stays true to Murfy’sflaw mellow style. The song would not be complete without Number Nine’s (lead guitarist) modal riffs.
 murfy's flaw: from the left Punky, Jozie, Vicky , Jojo and Reema, courtesy of get mziki
 Dove Slimme has also been making great inroads in local charts(X FM to be more specific). This Kenyan rock band launched their EP earlier this year. Their single, Leo ni leo made it to X FM’s top 500: Number 29. Leo ni leo also remained on the weekly top 30 for more than three weeks.

ParkingLotGrass is representing Kenya in a German rock festival. 49 metal Zone is going down in Bayrueth Germany from the 24th to 26th October. Kenyan rock band would like to wish them all the best. You can also start preparing for Nairobi Rockfest early this year. It will be on December 7th. South African rock band BOARGAZM will be headlining the event. Kenyan rock bands performing will include, Last Year’s Tragedy, Murfy’s flaw, ParkingLotGrass and Claymore Project. Start saving up, damage is 1000 shillings.
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BetweEn a rOCk aNd a hard plAcE

November 7, 2013, 11:02 am
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Picking up from where we left off on music videos, Kenyan rock band decided to take a trip down memory lane. Its 2010 and social media is abuzz with rumors of a new terror in town. Tall tales caught everyone’s attention. His description: tougher than Chuck Norris, too big to fit in Wikipedia the subject of the boogieman’s nightmares. If he were caught between a rock and a Hard place the latter would get hurt. Ringing any bells? It wasn’t a bird or plane. It was MAKMENDE. This bell bottom donning, afro combing, smile deprived badass took the Kenyan music scene by storm. An invention of the Kenyan band “just a band’, this Kenyan superhero was meant to promote their music video Hahe. It was online marketing at its finest. It took them from an unknown Kenyan band to recognizable brand.
The video itself is a poster child for Kenyan humor.   With colorful characters like Makmende, Abscordita, Wrong Number and taste of Daynja, the video left many in stitches. Makmende was such a hit he even got the attention of the Wall Street Journal.
This single instance underscored the power of the internet in marketing music. The video got more than 20000 views and gave the infamous #KOT(Kenyans On Twitter) something to talk about for a while. More than anything, it had a great effect on Kenyan pop culture. The Afro was once again back in style. And still is (we think lol). Makmende was also Kenya’s first truly viral meme. The jokes were also colorful (Kenyan rock band remembers something about using Viagra for eye drops?) It also showed the extent which a little grit, humor and creativity could do for a Kenyan Band. Anything is possible.
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PLG rEpresent Kenyan Rock in Germany

December 29, 2013, 2:35 am
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Once again PLG is testing the limits and taking Kenyan rock to new heights. This November ParkingLotGrass was invited to represent the country in the 49 degree metal zone in Bayreuth Germany. Read as the band tells Kenyan Rock Band of their European adventure.


PLG lead singer Raphael Sipalla and Guitarists Victor Chweya and Amos Kiptoon performing at Bayreuth

First off, briefly explain what 49 degrees metal zone is all about? When did it start? who are the organizers? how regularly does It happen?
The 49 Degrees Metal Zone was a metal festival organized by the institute/faculty of African Studies called the Iwalewa House at the University of Bayreuth and spearheaded by an amazing lady called Alexandre. This was in essence her project. The 2013 show was the first time and it was essentially a showcase of metal from Africa. It was a 3 day event with the first day being an exhibition on photos by an amazing South African photographer called Frank Marshall, second day included a movie screening on the Metal Scene in Angola and a panel discussion with the African bands and the third day was set aside for the concert. Being the first, we do hope that the organizers were happy enough to make this an annual event.

How did the festivals organizers get to hear about and eventually invite you to perform?
They were referred to us by a friend of one of the organizers who knew about the band and knew our drummer, Ronjey. So they reached out, asked to sample some of our recorded music then the invitation followed when they liked what they heard. We were humbled and honoured.

What about other African bands? What stood out for you about their music? 
There was one other African band. A metal band from Angola called Before Crush. What stood out most is how powerful their sound was with just one guitarist on stage. The band was pretty tight and delivered a strong performance. We'd definitely want to play alongside them again and hopefully can visit Angola or get them to come to Kenya soon.
Aside from the African bands, there were also two bands from Germany. There was Aardvaks and there was Shark Tank. Both amazing guys to watch on stage. Everyone gave the show their best and it was evident in the atmosphere.

So you are going to Germany, what did ParkinglotGrass expect when you got there? How did you guys prepare to represent Kenya in the international stage? Were you nervous?
Yeah, ofcourse we were nervous. It was by all means a great achievement both for us and for the Kenyan scene. We didnt have any pre-determined expectations on what we'd find when we got there. And that made it all the better for us because the experience was fantastic and our hosts were amazing people. They made us feel really at home there and that made all the difference. It would have been harder to do the show by landing one night, playing the next and jetting out. And the organizers probably figured as much. By the time we were playing the gig, we felt like we were around our friends and not strangers in a crowd and that made it a better experience.
Preparation was practice, practice and practice. We also asked other bands to give us any of their merch and music that they wanted us to share out there which we did.
Ronjey, PLG drummer
What was on ParkingLotGrass's playlist at the 49 degrees metal zone?
Our set list was all originals from our EP as well as some material that we're currently recording for our album. At the end of our set, the crowd wanted one more song so we threw in the quickest track that we could do without much practice but that could still get the crowd jumping... "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Every rocker and metal head just has to love that song. And they did.


Audiences at 49 degree metal zone
The audience: how did they receive you brand of music? What would PLG say is the perception of the Continent's rock scene out there?
The audience was VERY accommodating and open minded. At first, we naturally weren't sure what to expect. But once we got into it, the crowd was full of positive energy and that helped us a lot. We'd say it was all well received. We had a chance to speak to the other bands after as well as a lot of the people that attended the show and they were very excited overall. So were we.

We cant really say anything that would cover an overall "perception" about the continent's scene. What we did find out is that there's a lot of interest in the African rock and metal scenes so bands need to get their music out there and heard. We hope to be able to go back to Germany and elsewhere and keep spreading the word about the Kenyan scene for years to come and look forward to being able to do that with a lot more bands from here and across the continent. 

Any moments of comic relief while you guys were at Bayreuth? How did you deal with the language barrier? 
There were lots of laughs. That much you can be assured of. There wasnt much of a language barrier as everyone speaks English pretty well. Some students and faculty at the Iwalewa House even spoke some Swahili which was quite exciting. We took the opportunity to learn some German as well. Some of us more successfully than others. It was an awesome experience all around and we made a lot of friends. Bayreuth was an amazing place.

And lastly, what did the band learn from the whole experience?
Well we learnt a lot about being away from home as the band. Its very different from playing the regular shows at home. Being "on the road" is a different experience for everyone. But now, more than ever, we're sure we want to be doing this for a long time to come. We learnt a lot from the other bands as well that played in terms of stage presence, professionalism, sounds and styles. Another thing we saw is that there's great reward is simply doing what you love. Pursue your dreams and desires and be patient with everything. All things come in their time. The list of lessons overall is pretty long. 

What does ParkingLotGrass have planned for Kenyan Rock fans?
Well we truly believe 2014 will be an amazing year. We're glad to have been a part of the scene for the past 3 and a half years and to have seen the growth that the scene has experienced in that time and before. More bands are recording and releasing good material. We for one, can confirm here that we shall release our full length album in 2014 and it shall be bigger and heavier than the EP. Hopefully, fans will see some growth in the band since our 2012 release. We also hope to do a lot more shows outside Nairobi and spread the culture to places where rock and metal bands haven't played before. So in 2014, Kenyan rock fans can expect to see and hear a lot more from us. We have a few surprises that we hope they'll be happy with. 
But not just for the Kenyan fans, but for our fans from all over the world. 2014 is their year. We do this for each and every one of them that continues to support and believe in us.
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December Kenyan Rock sceNe

January 12, 2014, 8:59 am
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As the year drew to a close Kenyan rock rounded it off in style. First off, the Nairobi Rockfest went down on the 6th of December. The event held at club Ichonic at Ngong road showcased the best Kenyan Rock had to offer. Popular band Murfy’s Flaw, ParkingLotGrass,Last Year’s Tragedy,Koinange Street Avengers, Claymore Project and Moment of Silenceperformed at Nairobi Rock Fest. And to top it all off, South African swine core band, Boargasmheadlined the concert. The band thrilled Kenyan crowds all the while donning pig masks (as is their MO). Prominent DJs such as Gordo the ‘rock guru,’ Knord and Hue also featured on the decks.
Rock takes the street followed on the 11th at changes Pub. Murfy’s Flaw, Claymore Project and ParkinglotGrass performed at this event. Last Year’s Tragedy also launched their EP, Challenge accepted. It features five tracks including Elephant in the room and Generation light. The EP’s main message is:
To inspire mankind to embrace and accept self-enlightenment…
It is a must have for all you Kenyan metal fans out there. Happy new year people. Have great one.
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LYT'S FIRST EP, CHALENGE ACCEPTED

February 8, 2014, 9:51 am
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Last Year’s tragedy is at it yet again. This Kenyan rock band released its first EP at the beginning of this year. The EP, dubbed Challenge Accepted, has been long in the making. According to the LYT, it has been an evolving album ever since the Kenyan rock outfit’s birth in 2006. It has not been smooth sailing all through for the band either. They had to go through 3 studios, overcome gear problems not to mention paying handsomely for the recording. However this Kenyan rock band swears it was entirely worth it. Songs in the EP include the title track, Challenge accepted, elephant in the room, Generation Light, How to kill a Dare devil and March from the underground. In an interview with Kenyan Rock Band the outfit stated that creating a sound that they loved was their top priority.
“We were always going to go for a sound that best pleases us first and then the fans.  We always strive to make music that we love and that we can identify with... ”
If you are wondering about the title, these musicans felt it best represented what their music stands for. The band said it was about facing problems regardless of how daunting they appear. Response from Kenyan metal fans has been positive: Overwhelming is how the band put it. The band is planning a show soon to promote the EP. It’s still hush hush but stay tuned to Kenyan rock band and LYT’s facebook pages for more info. You can get their music on Reverbnation or the Kenyan music site, Mdundo.com as well.

Last Year's tragedy

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MarCH frOm the UndErGrouNd

March 21, 2014, 4:55 am
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The year is finally beginning to pick up for Kenyan rock. Five bands will be showcasing their music at a single venue this coming week. Last Year’s Tragedy will be hosting “March from the Underground” on the 29th of March. Supporting acts expected at the gig include Dove Slimme, Mortal Soul, PLG and Void of belonging. DJ Knord will be in charge of the decks. Beer is at 200 bob and, wait for it….. Vodka shots at only 50 bob!!! March from the underground will go down at the Marabou lounge in the Highway Mall (next to Nakumatt Mega on Uhuru highway). Damage is only sh. 300. Come prepared for five hours of head-banging action from 6pm. Oh, and bring a friend-- or half a dozen.
Till later twerps \m/



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KenYan Rock theSE past few weeks

May 8, 2014, 10:19 am
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It has admittedly been a long time since I posted anything. There are a myriad of good excuses for this but I’ll stick to the music. There is a lot that should have been said one these past few weeks of silence so I’ll dive straight into where I left off.
March from the underground was awesome. Acts that took the stage included, Murfy’s Flaw, PLG, Void of Belonging, Dove Slimme and of course, Last Year’s Tragedy. The MCing was in the capable although admittedly tipsy hands of Murfy’s Flaw’s Nambari Tisa. Void of belonging is a new act on the scene. It’s the first time I have seen them perform live. They did not disappoint. They performed various tracks including an original, recurrent wars. PLG also showcased their new lead vocalist, Dan from another Kenyan rock band, Seismic. The band played tracks like Release, Shimo mfukoni Shine and Let me be. There was talk of a new album to be released this coming June. LYT rounded off the performance with tracks like Elephant in the room; the war has come home; Challenge accepted and March from the underground.
ParkingLotGrass released a new track, theRain man. The track is currently available for download on Mdundo.com. LYT also released a new single, Of villains and heroes. Oh and whilst trolling the net I found this album, Cats Of  nine tails by Lust of a Dying Breed.
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UniQuely Kenyan Rock genRes

May 29, 2014, 11:34 am
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The next few post over the coming weeks are going to be focused on codifying uniquely Kenyan rock genres because apparently no one has done that yet (twits). Any who, here goes genre numero uno: Swa rock. It had been argued that combining rock’s angst filled musical idioms with the unique phonetic rules of Swahili would be an impossible task or at least the music resulting from this unholy alliance would suck big time. Well Kenyan rock bands have been proving sceptics wrong over the past few years.
If you are an avid fan like me than you probably already heard Murfys flawsMakosa.  This album is an alternative rock piece that plays well on the Swahili languages poetic strengths and adds a touch of afro-fusion to give that authentic African feel. And Parkinglotgrass’s cover of Kare, originally done by P–unit, is another example. And my indisputably favourite of all, Tafadhali by Simply Tomas. another example is Yelele by Dove Slimme. Although it does not use Swahili the entire time is still a great example of how Swahili works for rock. I guess for any Swahili speaker it is more personal, relatable, intimate, you get? Plus any linguistics expert will tell you African languages are tonal: you vary the pitch when saying the same word and the meaning changes.  
parkinglot grass
Another uniquely Kenyan subgenre of rock music is Genge rock.This marries rock and the Kenyan rap genre, Genge. I know of one solid example, PLG’s Kare cover. Punk and Genge were made for each other. Listen and agree here. Other artists although not strictly rockers have included rock in some of their music. A good example is Juliani’s exponential potential and bahasha ya ocampo. 
stay tune for more uniquely kenyan genres.
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Uniquely Kenyan rock genres part II: Bengarock

June 3, 2014, 2:40 am
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In my quest to demystify uniquely Kenyan rock genres I stumbled across Bengarock. You probably have never heard of it but it mixes the distinct sound of Benga and metallic sounds of rock. Benga is a musical genre that came in to being between the 40s and 60s. It originally combined modern rhumba and Luo( a Kenyan tribe) music. Some of pioneers include old school music giants like Daniel Owino Misiani and his band Shirati Jazz. It has however moved from its ethnic origins making it into songs from other Kenyan cultures such as music by Jane Nyambura (Queen Jane) and John Kamaru. Basically it is Kind of music your embarrassingly lifist dad listens to. 
Extra Golden performing at Rosklide in 2008


One contemporary band still carries on the Benga tradition. They go by the name Extra Golden. Some of its tracks includeHera manono(freely given love) Ok Oyot (It is not easy))andObama. The Kenyan rock band is made up of three guys, Alex Minoff, Ian Eaglesson and Onyango Uod Omari. This Kenyan outfit I believe pioneered the genre Bengarock by combining Benga’s offbeat rhythms and emulation of traditional Luo sounds with the power of the electric guitar and awesome guitar solos. The tracks are also unconventionally long just like modern Benga music. You can learn more about them at last.fm.

The Band




pictures courtesy of last.fm

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DREAMS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

January 2, 2013, 6:22 am
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So the year is over and your either in a bus full of screaming babies, chicken and a driver with a death wish (I know I am) or hang over on friends couch cursing that last ATM withdrawal (you’re  so screwed by the way). What was I thinking? But the blog is Kenyan rock band not Kenyan dumb ass so that’s a story for another day. . .

In country where musical diversity separates us into obes and the cool people we are doing pretty well. 2012 had more concerts, two rock festivals and lots of great new singles. However we still have a lot work to do. Some people (the missing links I call them) still don’t know there is a local rock scene! There are also lots of up start up acts with great music that haven’t yet gotten rock fans to sit up and take note. It’s about time we dreamt of the impossible people. I see international tours, a movie deal or two, but mostly just music that lasts forever. 2013 should be about making that happen.

From nothing more than the evening’s entertainment at clubs in their home town the Beatles grew to be the best selling music act of modern times. The billion records they’ve sold to date probably seemed out of their reach when they screwed up their first power chord and the crowd jeered at their bashful baby faces. Now I have not seen any bashful baby faces in the Kenyan performances I’ve been to so far. On the contrary seasoned rockers induced head banging, hoarse screaming frenzies in their fans and all without lip synching #ButDoWeSay. It might sound dumb and spacey at first but is it really? 
The beatles


Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get off this bus. Happy New Year twerps.
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KenYan rOck sCene: UP COmiNg EvenTs

November 22, 2012, 6:45 am
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It'll be an eventful couple of weeks starting with Ramps and Amps this weekend. the event will include a battle as well as a guest acts such as Murfy's Flaw, PLG, Claymore project and last years tragedy. if you're an extreme sports fan then the French school next to Yaya centre is the place to be. What's the damage you ask; 350 bob only and al proceeds go to charity. Kosa uchekwe!
Next up we have theNairobi Rockfest on December 8th. The event promoted by the Rumble on STV will be headlined by the Botswanan metal band-- Skinflint. Having released for albums to date and selling 100000 records last year, this internationally acclaimed band has shared the stage with Metallica, Carcass, Wrust just to name a few Metal scene giants. It's understandable if you're air guitaring from excitement. You could always get tickets to the real action atticketsasa.comor at the venue.Local bands backing up SKinflint include Parking Lot Grass, Last Year’s Tragedy, Rock of Ages, Mortal Soul and Absence of Light are the . The organizers promise the most modern stage, lighting and sound effects to boot, all worth the sh 1000 it'll cost you at the gate(of club Ichonic at Ngong race).
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Kenyan Rock online: It is all in the clouds

June 29, 2014, 6:15 am
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Born out of two sound engineers’ frustration at not being able to conveniently share and get feedback on music, SoundCloud has grown into one of the world’s largest online music streaming and sharing communities. With more than 40 million registered users and over 200 million listeners (according to USA today), the German based audio streaming site has clearly become a force to reckon with. 

The best part of using this website is that a lot of its features come free of charge. Once you register with the service you can listen to as much music as you’d like and even download up to 100 songs. Artists registered with the site can also upload up to 120 minutes of audio on to their artist profiles. The websites user interface shows music as a wave form and allows listeners to comment of specific parts of it. It is a great place to get exposure, with more than 90% of all uploaded audios getting played in 30 minutes by at least one user. It allows artists to easily share their music through social media. The website also has a record button that allows artists to produce audios directly from the upload page.
The Kenyan connection
Recognizing the potential for promotion of music, several Kenyan rock bands have begun using Soundcloud. Some of these artists include, Parkinglotgrass, Murfy’s flaw, Koinange Street AvengersDove Slimme, among other artists. The intrigue goes beyond rock. Kenyan rock band even spotted a Mugithi mix somewhere in the Kenyan music search results. You can always sign up to site and follow your favourite band just like on twitter.
Criticisms
The site has however come under criticism from its original users because of changes made to its user interface in 2013. Aiming to increase its appeal and user base, the site introduced a sleeker looking media player and reposting features. Critics say that although it started out as a place for artists to collaborate, this side of things is being neglected in favour of listeners. The comment section for one has been modified and made too small according to some users. Soundclouds CEO acknowledged the site was not perfect in an interview with Forbesbut said that more users are getting on board. Those complaining were only a ‘vocal minority’. 

 
Log on and check out the Kenyan music there some time.
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MDUNDO.COM: Kenyan music online

May 25, 2013, 12:20 pm
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Somewhere between a funny Youtube video and a Mudvayne song Kenyan rock band stumbled on a great website. Enter mdundo.com a Kenyan mobile music store launched in 2012. It provides Kenyan rock bands as well as other local artistes with an inexpensive platform to sell their music. The websites management also give all proceed from sale of songs to artistes. This is supposed to encourage more musicians to join the platform. The illegal music download and piracy are endemic to Kenyan music industry. Mdundo.com provides Kenya rock fans with a legal alternative.  And at 25 bob a piece, music is quite literally going for a song on mdundo.com.
How does it work you ask? Well for starters you need a scratch card. You can get one at piedmont plaza (the brew bistro building along Ngong road) fourth floor. These scratch cards have unique codes linked to particular songs. The cards cost a hundred bob only. Also, Kenyan rock bands can buy cards themselves and distribute them at gigs.
 When you log on to the website you simply key in the scratch cards unique code and you get up to 4 songs. There are no limits however; you could always just log on and buy songs at sh 25. If you just bought a Samsung galaxy music phone you are in luck. You get five days of free music downloads from the website. Mdundo.com management has been busy this year signing several big names on to their platform. ParkingLotGrass was one Kenyan rock band we encountered on the sight. Other local acts include the Villager’s band Octopizzo and Nazizi to name but a few.
So here’s a little piece of friendly “Kenyan Rock Band” advice if you have an internet connection and five minute to spare, check out this website.
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New KeNyan rOck MuSic

August 22, 2014, 7:15 am
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Murfys flaw released a new track a while back titled ‘dare me’. The track features Mukasa from Simply Tomas. The band terms the track as an introspective, atmospheric song that raises the bar once again for Kenyan music. Kenyan Rock Band for one liked it a lot but you can judge it for yourself on sound cloud. 
PLG also released the official lyric video to their track, Naweza. This song is the second single off their upcoming album. Stay tuned for details of when it drops. The video primarily features the use of kinetic typography. The bands track, ‘rainman’ is also continues to dominate the airwaves.
Kenyan Rock Band also managed to catch a new track by Simply Tomas, ‘mpenzi’. It really tests the boundaries of rock and afro-pop but you can still check it out and classify it yourself. It is a good track either way. According to the bands website, Simply Tomas released the track in December 2013. The same applies for the songs video. Simply Tomas is also working on releasing a new album in 2014 with Herbal records. 


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WheRe KenYan tAlents are boRn part 1, Fatuma's Voice

September 10, 2014, 10:21 am
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Kenyan rock band set out on a quest to find where Kenyan talent comes from. While you can always argue that it is inborn in all of us, there are those place that nurture it. So KRB has been up and about, magnifying glass in hand, wearing reliable boots and those khaki shorts. You know the ones game hunters used to wear?
First stop was the Kenyan Poets Lounge. The place is so inconspicuous you would not think it mattered much.  A tiny sign post points to what looks like an average office building. Nestled in Nairobi’s Milimani suburbs off statehouse road, Pawa 254 is a place awash with Kenyan artistic talent.
A story is told of how the idea came to life. Fatuma is a 50-year-old woman who has been dumb all her life. Dumb meaning she cannot speak. Because of this, she cannot easily communicate and express herself. Luckily, people have come to her rescue. Her friends help Fatuma express herself by voicing what she cannot and they do this without expecting anything in return.
This story explains what Pawa 254 and its parent organization, Fatuma’s voice, are about. Organizers intended it to be a platform for young people to express themselves; talk about what is affecting society and possible solutions to these problems. This is art with a conscience. This art is conscious. Pawa 254 gives poets, musicians and spoken word artists a platform to share their work with each other and the world. Each week has a different theme which artists follow in coming up with their various works. The sessions start with a lively debate on the topic at hand.
the pawa 254 audience discussing importance of literacy


If you are worried about the calibre of performers you will find their, don’t. This is no kindergarten recital. The poets especially were very impressive and so were musicians. One, Acouslykimpressed thoroughly at the beginning of September with his fingerstyle guitar.


Of course, some artists struggle. Pawa has been the debut event for several new Kenyan artists and the crowd is forgiving of the occasional blunder. These performers are often just beginning to find their way in the industry. It provides a way of networking and experimenting with sounds and ideas. Hart the Band is one act this place has helped to develop and they intend to help more.


Pawa goes down every Saturday from 5.30 pm. Damage is 100 bob. Check it out sometime.
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As good as it gets

October 4, 2014, 2:58 am
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You'll be getting puctures from last weeks performance at club hypnotic

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As goOD aS IT gEtS

October 9, 2014, 11:17 am
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It was 1800 hours. The chosen site was club hypnotic off Woodvale grove. This is Westlands, redlight district with several notable clubs. The club itself was situated four floors up the Krishna Centre, easy to miss if you haven’t heard of it before. Everything but the stage is thinly lit up by blue light. I’d venture a shade but honestly I can’t tell the difference between periwinkle and navy blue to save my own life.
The concert was supposed to start at 4 pm but if there is one thing, you learn in this country, Kenyan time is very reliable at being unreliable. The music does not start until an hour later. All the while sound checks were on going. Kenyan rock band manages to site a few familiar acts. Claymore project are on stage checking their equipment. The few riffs they hammer out bare a lot of promise of what the night holds. Victor Chweya from PLG has a camera in hand nursing a white cup as we all wait for the concert.
Saidimu Kiereni will be the captain of this boat for the night. A vote of thanks is given and Saidimu introduces the night’s first act. A Kenyan Gospel rock band opens the show. And they are as good as it gets. Rock of ages have to be one of the country’s oldest rock acts. One of those responsible for turning on to Kenyan rock so long ago. They play their own rendition of Barlow Girl’s Never Alone. A bit of Creed and Daughtry follow in quick succession. People are officially paying attention and more is what they want.
Sugar, spice and Saki is made from rice
Saidimu’s own band takes the stage after Rock of ages. Dove Slimme needs no introduction. This popular Kenyan rock band was out to entertain, and entertain they did. Jilian, lead vocalist and resident diva knows how to work her crowd. With a mix of Swahili humor, Japanese pop culture references and wit, she kept everyone laughing all the while giving a great vocal showing.

jilian from dove slimme
True to their 90s kid roots, they kick off their performance with a rendition of the power puffs girl’s theme song. Nostalgic cheering and bashful attempts to sing along fill the club. They have us all under a cackling, half-drunk spell. Next, they play their rendition of Faint by LP and spin my head right round. 
Saving the best for last, they end their time on stage with three of their hit singles; Yelele, Party at the ban and Leo ni Leo. They also did Why you got to be that guy. They did not forget to play their version of the national anthem either. Underneath all that cool, deep inside there’s a bit of a patriot in all slimmeheads. At least that is what we are told am told.

Time has gone well past two hours and it is safe to say the concert had reached and passed its climax. Nothing but bravery was going to get the remaining acts through the rest of the night. Enter parkinglot grass. Led by their vocalist Duncan, PLG churn out a series of their compositions, from naweza, rainman, shimo mfukoni to kilio cha haki. Good music but crowds sometimes…
plg lead vocalist Duncan  

Lastly, Kenya’s own boy band, the claymore project takes the stage. Their preppy, clean cut look definitely makes them stand out. They ended the show with a mix of original songs as well as covers of famous pieces. The crowd sings along to harlequin girl, paper plane and wanderer. And that is as good as it gets. 
claymore project

The concert closes at 11.07 pm.
This deserved to be mentioned separately: Dove Slimme launched a video for ‘Leo ni Leo’ at the concert. If you missed this one, no worries. Sondeka fest is coming on 18thof October.
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WhAt mAkes A gReaT KenYaN RocK VideO?

October 14, 2013, 9:24 am
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In this day and age the music video has become synonymous with great Kenyan rock music. But what makes a music video stand out. Kenyan rock band thought we’d weigh in with our own non-expert opinion.  It’s pretty obvious that you have to be unique. Music videos are a dime a dozen. People need incentive to watch your Kenyan rock video. Offer something different:  a dude in a doggy costume or perhaps a badass with an enormous Afro and an attitude problem. The only limits here are your imagination and budget. 
Don’t forget to tell a story. Take Tafadhali’s (by music to overdrive) video for instance. It tells the tale of struggling guitarist who eventually finds other musicians after misfortune and a few lucky breaks. Also, the Kenyan ROck video should be captivating. It would be a plus if viewers don’t know what is going on till the end. You do not have to match the story with the lyrics exactly. Give yourself a little creative license. Leave a lasting impression. Everyone remembers Just a Band's Hahe and Makmende. While not every video will go viral, it’s a great example of imagination and creativity in a Kenyan rock video. Of course there is the most important part: the music. The video is only an extension of the music. A great Kenyan rock video will do nothing for ear numbing noise. Otherwise have fun with it. And speaking of Kenyan rock videos check the recently released steal a beat by Murfy's Flaw.

What is your opinion of a great video?

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SimpLy ToMas, Unique and DisTInct

December 5, 2014, 9:43 pm
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If you are an avid Kenyan rock fan then you have no doubt heard the song ‘Tafadhali’ by M2o (Music 2 overdrive). There has been some confusion about M2O and Simply Tomas. However, the later has come out strongly to distinguish himself from his other band and create his own brand. His recent single, ‘Mpenzi’ is simply one step toward this goal. The writer of the hit ‘Tafadhali’ tells us more about who he is and his music.

How did it all begin for you as Simply Tomas? When did you start out?
Simply Tomas is a brand that just represents one individual. After my first band, M2O, took a break towards the end of 2010 I had to come up with something to continue with the work we had started. I toyed with the idea of putting together a new team but figured we may end up in the same situation. (Guys getting caught up in other stuff. Work, School etc.) therefore I decided to go it alone because I knew I would be in music for the long haul.

Simply Tomas, how did you pick this as a name?
Good question. I didn’t pick it. It picked me. After deciding to go it alone, I started playing with names trying to rebrand… I wasn’t comfortable at the time using my own personal name because I had always wanted to be behind scenes. I couldn’t find a name that fit so I remember thinking, “Why can’t I Simplybrand myself Tomas” That statement led me to the name.

What inspires your music?
My music is inspired by tunes in my subconscious and around me. I almost always have a beat or bass line in my head. The tunes by their nature then inspire the subject matter of the lyrics.

What’s been the best part of working together with a band?
Well, as much as Simply Tomas is a solo artiste I always have a band when playing live. The current setup is that I have a dedicated drummer, bassist and keyboardist and they are all very talented. Working with a band is amazing because you share ideas, learn from each other and basically connect in ways that other people cant. We speak via our instruments and make music. To me, the random, inspiring, music creation process is the best part.

What challenges has Simply Tomas faced over the years?
Where do I start?! The challenges I have faced are numerous.

1. When we started out we had inexperienced producers because most were used to hip-hop/genge, so any song you’d try to produce was doomed to fail even before you started.
2. Starting out also we suffered from a lack of funds to buy good gear; so musical development was hindered and our live sound was wanting.
3. Untrustworthy and/or disorganized events’ organizers
4. Other commitments (work, school) makes bands stagnate because there’s no time to practice and play gigs.
5. No station would play our music till Xfm came to the scene.
6. Sponsors won’t be caught dead supporting a rock gig (so far). But it can change if we get our act right.
7. A zillion fans! – Always behind their computers – never at a gig
8. Of course, poor promotion of events contributes to point # 7 J
The list is endless...

Summarize the Kenyan rock Industry in 3 words.
Kenyan Rock Industry?

If you could, what is the one thing you would change about the Kenyan Rock Industry?
Industry involves the organized production, distribution, and sale of music in a variety of forms. This is not a definition that can be used accurately with local Rock. That said, if I were to help develop it, it would involve facilitating production, distribution and sale of music on a large organized scale.

Mpenzi was well received, getting air play from local radio. Is there more where that came from? Is there an album in the offing, perhaps a new single? What can Kenyan rock fans expect?
Thank you. Indeed there’s more but I am taking calculated steps to release songs, while at the same time learning from feedback I get from fans and critics alike. This learning process is what delays songs sometimes but I’ll soon get it right and release tracks more frequently.

Where can Kenyan rock fans get your music, or go to here you play live?
They can get downloads viawww.simplytomas.com and view videos on my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SimplyTomasKE
I keep guys posted when I have shows through my social media pages: www.facebook.com/simplytomaskeand www.twitter.com/simplytomaske
  

 
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Rash BanD, brInGIng bAck the oLd sChoOl

December 17, 2014, 12:33 pm
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This five member Kenyan Rock Band has made waves in the relatively short period its been in existence. You have probably heard their single, Darkness and witchcraft on X-FM a few times. The band has also graced various prominent stages from this years Rift Valley Festival to Blankets and wine. This Kenyan rock bands roots go deep, citing old school rock influences such as Pink Floyd and ACDC. The band speaks about its music, the local rock scene and its plans.

You guys and music: when did the love affair begin and when did you guys decide to come together as a band?
-well the love affair began way back in 2012 when Abed (rhythm guitarist) met with Max (lead guitarist) in campus. Max was mesmerised when Abed played a Metallica song on his acoustic guitar and they exchanged numbers and the band was conceived. Apparently Max's brother (Sebas) is a bassist and once the idea was sold to him he was in for it...Sam, the lead vocalist came into the picture when Abed and Max met him in campus and they asked him to help them perform for a campus event. After that event Sam not show any signs of leaving the bunch. He was already in...Gakosh (Drummer) came in handy two weeks to the campus event after the former drummer was not committed...so we came together as a band in September 2013 and we started doing it professionally. That's when Maz came in as our manager 



Describe your style of music.
We play hard rock but our style is kind of old school style...our kind of music was popular in the 80's and its awesome because we are doing it in the 21st century.

Why call yourselves Rash?
Its symbolic of the fact that when a rash makes the skin itch, one can’t help it but scratch the itchy part. In the same way, our music is infectious. Once you listen to our music...you can’t help the fact that the song continues playing in your head. It is that impactful that you can’t ignore it.

What have been the highlights so far for Rash as a band?
Well it has been a long journey and we love the reception so far...we have made a record as one of the first Kenyan rock bands to release several singles in 1 year. We have had opportunities to perform on big platforms such as ‘March from the underground’ where we were the new kids in the block and alongside very good bands. We also did Rift Valley Festival as well as Rocktoberfest and many more just to mention a few...we have been featured on the rocker (severally)which is an article on Zuqka(Daily Nation) as well as the Nairobian. Our second single (LET IT BE ROCK) is currently enjoying airplay on X-FM and its doing well. Position 3 on top 10 for just released tracks 2014 and we going for Position 1. 

What challenges has the band met in the Kenyan rock industry?
They are quite a number, but the major ones are event organizers taking advantage of us because we are new. I mean someone exploits our potential to a few coins and they don't even pay us...we are talking about poor sound during shows but we still manage to pull it off because we really need to sell ourselves. Unity in the rock scene has been an issue but we hoping we (all rock bands) will come around and unite so that we can get better results....
Also, poor organisation of events has really been a big challenge for us because we are afraid to confirm for an event that is managed poorly. 

What can Kenyan rock fans expect from Rash in the months to come?
Music...more music and more music and definitely a music video...we are still discussing which song and most importantly live events where they will experience the real RASH

Where can Kenyan rock fans get your music, or go to here you play live?
They can get our music on SoundCloud. Now they can even get it on Mdundo. You can follow us on Facebook and our twitter handle is @rashband5. As for live events follow us on our social avenues above to be updated on our upcoming events but just to hint we will be playing at the battle of the bands new year’s eve concert that will be happening on the 1st of January 2015 from 8pm

Rash Band in Action
Any resolutions for the New Year?
We are praying and working towards releasing our first album and also videos as well as try to host a few events...keep it #TeamRASH2016 watch the space

How would you say Kenyan rock is fairing and what advice would you give to other up and coming Kenyan rock bands?
It has becoming better by the day but the market is still raw; it just needs persistent creative hardworking and talented lol...it is going to breakthrough...
As for the upcoming guys...they have to be ready to work and of course they should be talented. Also, they should not depend on bands that have at least established themselves to build them...be positive, strategic and have a plan...

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