Bushwalla [LIVE] in London

4/11/08 - upstairs at the Roebuck, The Great Indoors Show

November 10, 2008, 10:15 PM

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He wears ear-muffs, with a hand knitted scarf, and very soon he will balance a guitar on his face. The well-mannered Bushwalla thanks me kindly as he returns his empty tea cup to the bar and politely ascends to the stage.

I knew a little of Bushwalla before our interview this evening, and although now I know a lot more I don’t think anything could have prepared me for what lay ahead – as I said, this guy is about to perch a guitar on his face and free style rampantly, yes, t’was a night to remember. First came the music…

A song called 'Brown'' kicks us off – I say ‘us’ because I learn quickly that this set is going to be something we all partake in. “This song was written.” The man says and starts to sing. He orchestrates it gently, effortlessly and somehow, 30 seconds into the set, a room packed full of people are singing– “I (I I I I), I look forward to brown eyes (eye eye eye eye).” A few ambiguous spots, a few laughs, this is fun.

We hear some beat boxing on the next number, 'The Key of Funk', then he ropes us in again for a tune called Acoustic Rhymer. It goes down a treat and we enjoy making some funny sounds (I’ll leave it at that, you gotta to be there). His voice is reminding me of some of the old crooners like Dean Martin or Nat King Cole.

Self-Deprecating Hip Hop features the lovely ‘Paul’ on trumpet (aka ‘Flautist Reaction Trombone Boy’ by Bushwalla). The tune has a nice laid-back feel and cool lyrics. Everyone’s relaxed and super attentive. Bush keeps the humour coming in-between the next few songs, which offer more cool melodies, beat boxing and some super original rhythmic lyrics.

Then for something completely different, 'Mayhem is Beautiful'. It is simple and ever so sweet. Bushwalla croons, a group of pretty girls to my right swoon. Smiling and singing softly, they know all the words, as do a stack of people at the front.

Soaring through a few more classics, In The Future, Psycho Killer and I’m a Ghetto Blaster with another great solo by Paul, to name a few. He’s a trouvere gone hip-hop! This guy is the anti-cliché and I’m not the only one enjoying it. He reassures us, ‘it’s ok to be vocal!’. I can’t see many people holding back and I’m in the rowdy back row, we certainly don’t need encouraging!

Soon he invites the young and ever so charming Ed Sheeran on stage to freestyle. They exchange a few verses over Gangsta and suddenly Bush is leaping over chairs and juggling. It’s cracking everybody up - where is this going? He told me that when he plays a gig he’ll just "surrender to the evening". It’s nice to be part of one where the artist invites us all to do the same.

All over it was a great night.

Did I mention Bushwalla’s playing one more show in London, next week on Wednesday 19th at The Enterprise Camden, 2 Haverstock Hill, Camden, London NW? Well I thought I might. Get in quick people.

http://www.myspace.com/bushwallamusic

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