Blk Jks: Whelan’s August 20th

The Internet likes to call the South African outfit Blk Jks “afro avant noise rock“. This is pretty ridiculous labeling and it’s also very confusing. But I can see how it came about as Blk Jks’ sound has aspects of all these tags. This pretentiousness though completely fails to convey the pure revelry of the funky racket they notch up live. Last night I caught them peddling their groove at Whelan’s as part of their European tour.

In my shameful ignorance of African music I had no idea what to expect, but what I was greeted with was a complete surprise. It was incredibly dense music, constantly changing rhythm, tempo, language, mood and tone to create a whirlpool of sound. It defied all my preconceived notions of African music. It certainly sound like rock music, and there was also an obvious heavy western influence. Yet it also had a unmistakable otherness to it, an Africanness, something exciting, invigorating and alien.

It was a complete medley of genres. This was reflected even in their stage presence and stances. Linda Buthelezi, lead guitarist and vocalist, cut an angular figure, with violent punk poses and reckless thrashing, while to his left bassist Molefi Makananise seemed to be straight out of a seventies funk band. Contrastingly, rhythm guitarist Mpumi Mcata’s jumpy grooving completely suited his clipped reggae style, and at the back Tshepang Ramoba’s ecstatic drumming and solos put me in mind of a free jazz player. Yet although they all seemed to be from different bands and different genres, hell even different eras, they gelled, the music worked and it resulted in fantastic show.

Blk Jks’ Mystery EP is out now.