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WHAT I MISS?

April 4, 2015, 1:38 am
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So what’s the deal with airline food? Cue roar of laughter from roar-of-laughter machine It was either that or an exaggerated dramatic entrance – I come in arm wrestling president Putin…on a bear…with the ghost of Jimmy Hendrix playing a guitar solo…on a guitar made from the cry of a thousand hungry babies…that grow up to be accountants…that hate their job’s and secretly use company Wi-Fi to download porn…whose main character is into recycling.
Here’s a random a random list of things that are good about the world – someone somewhere is having medical marijuana and not for his alleged back pain. The fact that among the many gifts God bestowed upon us, here, the greatest gift of all, the ability to fart in stealth mode in a lift, incase those shawarmas are not sitting well. Also the new fatality moves featured in MK. Ladies and gentlemen, excuse my Russian (just go with it) I believe on top of that list should be the fact that…(cue roman war drums) I HAVE RETURNED. After what seemed to be an eternity, I finally figured out a way out of Larry Madowo’s ‘kisogo’. Technically it was the Mathew McConaughey and his team of scientists who found me during their interstellar travels. The gravity up there was fucked up but we figured out a loophole in the space time continuum and after recalibrating the blah blah blah insert made up scientific terms here, a little fairy dust here, a few bong hits there and bam! Here we are.
Seriously, you guys didn't see that?
I had a picture of you, my dear readers, hanging up on the cave walls where I spent my nights, pondering on world peace and global warming, and helping Tupac release albums posthumously. You guys kept me strong as I hoped that one day (unless Larry went to the barber) I would return in pomp and glory, arm wrestling president Putin…on a bear…with the ghost of Jimmy Hendrix playing a guitar solo…on a guitar made from the cry of a thousand hungry babies…that grow up to be accountants…that hate their job’s and secretly use company Wi-Fi to download porn…whose main character is into recycling. But I digress, what IS the deal with airline food.
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March Kenyan Rock Scene

April 8, 2015, 8:28 pm
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 Parking Lot Grass has confirmed their new album will be released this year. The album was scheduled for release in 2014 but due to a couple of factors, such as track changes, they postponed its release to this year. The album name has also been changed. Initially it was supposed to be called “Pembe Mfukoni” as a continuation of their 2012 album “shimo mfukoni”. They have confirmed though that the new album will be called, “Tusk at hand”. However the release date is not confirmed. The band is also scheduled to release a new track called “turn around” from the upcoming album. The song was to be released on the 1st of April, collaborating with the talented Nigerian rocker named Clay. It will qualify as the first time the band have featured female voice in their music.
Last Year’s Tragedy released the official video for their hit single ‘March to the underground” on the 24thof March its up on YouTube, check it out. They also had an on the 28thof March. The event was graced by a good number of rock fans and also featured guest performances from bands such as Irony Destroyed, DEOWA and RASH. The event was held at the Marabou Sports Lounge located in Highway Mall in Nairobi. The event also engaged the skills of DJs Grim, Hughskills and Tumz. 

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UniQuely Kenyan Rock genRes

May 29, 2014, 11:34 am
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The next few posts 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 then 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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HOW TO GET A GIG

March 31, 2013, 11:33 am
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You knew you would have to get your act out of your garage eventually. It’s an inevitable step in the development of any Kenyan rock band. Nothing can quite match the experience of playing in front of a crowd.  This is your chance to get through the mandatory stage fright. Gigs are also a way of making cash from your music and building a fan base. They are a perfect means of gauging which songs to keep in your rapporteur and what audiences like. Gigs also offer great motivation to improve your act. Nonetheless getting a chance to perform live can be an uphill task for a startup band.

First challenge is getting a venue. When getting started you can’t be finicky about where you perform. Anywhere with a crowd will do just fine. At first,you will probably be playing to a crowd of mostly friends and family so a small venue will do. Work your way up from house parties with familiar faces up to clubs and pubs. You might not be able to make a lot of money initially but experience is what counts most. Make a point of playing in clubs with your type of music. It will be easier to get fans that way.

You will also need to work with promoters, managers and venue owners. Every one of these people needs one thing from you above all; reliability. Do not be late, show up with faulty equipment or skip the gig all together. No one will touch you with a ten foot poll if your band is not dependable. They also need a Kenyan rock band that will draw crowds and fill the cash box. Needless to say you need to make a good impression.  Prepare a press kit and demo CD of your songs. It’s also important to be professional and demonstrate your popularity. Sometimes promoters organize festivals. This would be great exposure if you can get in.

Of course you could plan your own event instead. Get in touch with other Kenyan rock bands and venue owners. Mobilize you fan base. Make your friends come with their friends. Plaster posters all over the area. You will probably have to make admission cheap to attract a large audience. Having several acts perform is a definite plus. Make sure you keep your costs low though. Keep the events small at first then build them up over time. Hold them on the same day of the week or month so people know when and where to find you. The band will have to give a decent performance to keep the fans coming.
Speaking of gigs, you can catch Dove Slimme and PLG live on the seventh of April at Choices Baricho Road. And yes, you SHOULD DEFINITELY bring a friend.

 

 

 
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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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Has roCk loST iTs rOll

June 22, 2013, 10:32 am
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Rock music has not escaped the age old argument of old verses new. Is changing the original corrupting the genre or is it simply necessary with time. Well to answer this question we have to look back; all the way back to the beginning. As in all things great, the origins of Rock n roll are shrouded in mystery. All we know is somewhere in the fifties the young generation back then needed a sound distinct from that of the previous.
 Rock itself evolved from the 'corruption' of other sounds. In need of a new sound the young people of early 20th  century took comfort in quirky mix of blues, jazz and folk. This is how rock was born. Yet even then the genre has not maintained a steady form. the Swinging sixties brought with it the Beatles and Psychedelic drugs. Rock became a means of social protest. Some of the best albums of all time came from this period. Pink Floyds darkside of the moon for instance. Several sub-genres also emerged. Black Sabbath's metallic sound marked the infancy of metal.

Still a form of protest, Punk emerged as a means of venting teen angst anarchism and rage in the seventies. Then came the age of the crazy hair a.k.a the eighties. Bands like ACDC and Guns and Roses established images synonymous with rock and roll. tight leather pants terrible hair and heavy metal. U2 and REM also made inroads with indie rock. And who can forget Nirvana and grunge rock in the nineties.Dirty guitar playing and strong riffs marked this sub-genre.
Then came pop rock and the whiny sound so many dread. I've heard the expression 'rock has lost its roll' passed around a few times because of this. But with  rock continuously evolving everyone claims a different 'authentic' rock sound . If you really think about it, what you consider true rock might be someone elses knock off. We at Kenyan rock band have our preferences but ultimately it comes down to good music. As Kurt Cobain put it 
"Rock is musical freedom, its singing and playing what you want ". Perhaps we should stop judging and start listening #JustSaying.
PS: we are now on twitter @kenyanrockband, follow us for the latest in Kenyan rock.
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PLATFORM SEVEN

July 2, 2013, 10:40 am
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It was the 26th of June.The venue was choices Baricho road. Platform Seven was set to showcase the best of Kenyan rock bands. The lineup; Parkinglot grass, Last Year's Tragedy, Koinange street avengers& Mortal Soul. The club itself was a welcome respite from warehouses on the industrial looking street. By two pm the stage was set. Parkinglotgrass and Last Year’s Tragedy were already in the house. I walked up to the bar ordered a drink checked out my surroundings. Dimmed multicolored lights super-sport on the screens; a typical club on a Sunday afternoon. African timing is a bitch and with an audience of two; it would be awhile before the concert started. A lanky spectacled figured lingered around the DJs box. It was Chizi, LYT lead singer. He walked up we struck a conversation and introduces me to the rest of the crew: Diallo, Stan and Mahia. The tight nit kenyan rock band seemed at ease even revealing their playlist. This would definitely be an interesting afternoon.
By 3.30 Choice’s was finally filling up. Ronjey (Parkinglotgrass) psyched up the eager crowd and the show began.Parkinglotgrass opened the stage. This Kenyan Rock Band had to make do without a lead singer. Chweya(lead guitar) and the gang did a great job though. With a epic rendition of ‘etched on my heart’ and ‘coward’, Parkinlotgrass wet the crowds appetite. Enter Koinange Street Avengers. This is the first time I’d encountered this Kenyan rock band live. Antony(guitarist) kicked off with a pentatonic riff then the fun began.  Koinange Street Avengers went on to thrill the audience with their rendition of set fire to the rain and numb. This Kenyan rock band closes off with their own compositions ‘hit and run’ and ’I don’t know’.
By now the audience was either psyched up or drunk enough to get off their bums and move to the music. It was Kenyan heavy metal bands’ turn. Mortal soul entered the stage to roaring cheers by the crowd. This Kenyan rock band’s rendition of Killswitch’s ‘end of heartache’ induces frenzied moshing by the audience. Mortal soul went on to perform breaking the demon by bullet for my valentine. Then finally, the encore; Last Year’s Tragedy took the stage. Despite mild whiplash and  a few bruises from the ‘mosh pit’ Stayingtamu fans cheered wildly. Last Year’sTragedy closed platform seven with their hit Generation Light and Elephant in the room. Chizi screamed himself hoarse. He and the crew gave their fans a memorable show. And on that note platform seven gave way to Choice’s weekly rock night. If you missed it, shame on you.
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COOL ON THE INSIDE; Dove Slimme's new EP

July 11, 2013, 8:44 am
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Dove slimme launched their first EP on the 6th of July to much fanfare at Tree Tops restaurant. Backing up the ensemble were Parkinglotgrass and claymore project. Dubbed Cool on The Inside, the Kenyan rock band says its about state of mind and not forcing issues.

"Live it! Love it!Rock it! Everyone is cool on the inside, you just have to find that place"-Dove Slimme

The EP has an edgy urban feel to it
 The EP has an edgy contemporary rock feel to it typical of Dove Slimme. In relentless pursuit of the 'unkown unkown'Cool on the Inside would not be complete without the experimental mixing of English and Kiswahili as in the track Leo ni Leo. Some ululation is thrown in for good measure. Dove Slimme told Kenyan rock band  they wanted to have fun with the sound as well as telling stories. The six track EP features Dove Slimme's own version of the national anthem, Leo ni Leo, Party at The Barn, Vertigo, Identity and Yelele. Kenyan Rock fans may already be familiar with the hits Yelele and Party at the barn. Leo ni leo was singularly released two weeks ago. This Kenyan rock band is not resting on its laurels though. Dove Slimme is already working on new material to be unveiled soon. An album is in the works with what will go into it largely depending on the response to the EP. You can get your own copy at the Hedgehog Creative at Sarit, Textbook Centre or simply call 0721607177 to have it delivered. Cool on the inside will soon be available online as well. Dove Slimme is planning a  series of gigs and shows to promote their EP so be on the look out. Check out their website doveslimme.com and revebnation page and stay informed.











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MInD yOur moSH Pit MAnNers

August 18, 2013, 6:39 am
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Mosh Pit etiquette fits the definition of oxymoron perfectly: two words that mean entirely opposite things. In the midst of the head banging, hoarse screaming and shoving it’s hard to imagine any kind of order or code exists. Honestly though, some things you do in the mosh pit will lose you teeth. That is someone will knock them out for you. So what are the dos and don’ts of the mosh pit? First and foremost, know what you are getting into. People get hurt in the pit and if you aren’t prepared for that then stay at home and watch TV. Frankly if someone started crying in the middle of a pit I’d kick him in the nuts for the hek of it.  There will be some blood, saliva and sweat involved. It might not necessarily be yours. You should be prepared to get dirty. It is all part of the fun. And speaking of dirt, wear an outfit you don’t mind ruining. Your clothes should be light and comfortable. You might consider losing your spikes temporarily too.

Whatever you do, don’t be a dick. Leave the people in the side-lines alone. They aren’t in it because they don’t want to be. If someone falls help them up. A serious injury is a sure way of ending any concert. Copping a feel in the pit is a as low as you can stoop. Many a mosh pit have broken down to fist throwing, bone breaking frenzies because of jerks who take the fun too far. Do not be that guy. Avoid doing anything that takes away from the music.  It is why everyone is there to begin with. Kenyan metal fans are tight nit group. You should treat them like family.  Mind your surroundings. Keep a look out for other people. If someone wants to hard-core dance alone let them. But by all means shove everyone else on the floor.
Mosh-taliation can be a bitch. Do not start shit in the pit. One wrong move and you’ll be recovering from a broken nose. If however you get on someone’s bad side by accident, there are a number of way to handle it. My personal preference is flashing the horns and mouthing an apology. Of course the classical ‘it wasn’t me’ me approach could work. You need to be pretty convincing though. But most importantly, do not show any weakness. If it comes down to it, defend yourself.

Now Kenyan rock band has had it said that fighting is an integral part of moshing. We agree that some aggression cannot be avoided.  But having been around the Kenyan Rock Scene a few times, we can safely say fighting is a no no.  An unintentional elbow to the jaw won’t kill you. Laugh it off and move on. We haven’t got punched in the face yet . Kenyan Rock band supposes we are doing something right. Mind your mosh pit manners!


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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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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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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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PLG rEpresent Kenyan Rock in Germany

May 27, 2014, 11:38 pm
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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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