Subscribe
The Café du Paris was a hot, sweaty mess Saturday (I’d use “sultry” but it doesn’t really work at 1 pm in Naeba), thanks to a spirited set by Barcelona’s Che Sudaka. To call Che “Latin music” would be accurate, but reductive; the sound is more reminiscent of someone like Manu Chau, with elements of ska, dancehall, and other world musics woven throughout; call it “Latin alternative” (“mestizaje music”).
Not to take away from the band’s Latin pride or political content, both of which are more than evident. Singer Leo took the stage shirtless, sporting a rising sun headband, while the longer-haired singer-slash-sorta-MC (there has to be a name for that, right? I don’t know it, though) Kachafaz bounded out a moment later. The two of them traded on vocals and harmonized throughout the set. The band must have been exhausted, having played the Crystal Palace until the wee hours the night before, but they didn’t show it; their faces bore genuine smiles and showed genuine appreciation for the audience’s excitement.
It’s hard to pick a highlight, as every song rebounded off the walls, propelled by a strong rhythm section, the prominent Colombian accordion player, and a general sense of joyful fervour. I’d never heard of the band before, but I did know one song, sort of – a cover of Sting’s Englishman in New York with new, Spanish lyrics and a political message (it’s called “Sin Papeles” and yes, it was far superior to the original).
Che Sudaka addressed the crowd in English, probably the second-most common language between them and their mostly-Japanese audience. The first common language, cheesy as it sounds, was music. The cross-cultural exchange fed the energy and kept both the exhausted band and overheated audience wanting more.
Photo：中島たくみ For more photos go here.
The JoJo Swing Quintet. Can you guess what they sounded like from the name? Yeah, that’s exactly what they sounded like. Can you guess how many there were? That’s right, 5. Wanna know what they looked like?
There’s something about a man with a mustache in full drag. Complete with Goldilocks wig. Singing in a deep baritone. Yes. This is string bean skinny Toby-san. Nice to meet you, how you do?
I was walking past the Ohashi Trio to get to the Cafe de Paris, and very nearly stayed there. That show sounded bloody great. But I had Cassette Con Los circled in the schedule and I persevered. Glad I did.
