South Africa's Die Antwoord made their US debut at this year's Coachella Festival and was by all accounts a polarizing and eye-opening experience. Several months later the Hip-Hop trio were causing jaws to drop at the Treasure Island Music Festival on Saturday. It's hard to know how seriously to take Die Antwoord but judging by their performance I would say VERY seriously. Band leader Nija definitely has the flow of Eminem and the conviction of N.W.A. His rhymes are as outrageous as they are confusing. His foil, Cape Town's version of a "hood rat", is the pre-pubescent looking Yo-Landi Vi$$er. She matches Nija's moxy spitting verses with a tone that can only be described as child-like.
Yo-Landi Vi$$er in action...
Her performance in a half-shirt and gold lames skin-tight pants was downright NASTY! It was so disturbing to my buddy that he felt guilty watching it and I suggested maybe a shower was in order when he got home. The beats are supplied by DJ Hi-Tek and are as inventive as any DJ's in the game. The strike a balance between minimal and otherworldly. The South African "culture" the proudly boast presenting was certainly not the one FIFA wanted highlighted in this year's World Cup. It will be interesting to see if Die Antwoord has staying power or if they will be relegated to a curious side-show on the 2010 music landscape. Below are some vids to give you a better idea of what all the fuss is about.
Parisian Trio Jamaica play island music...photo by Robert Celli
When one hears the word Jamaica it is easy to imagine being transported to an island paradise. A place where tin-roofed shantytowns keep a quarantined watch on the pampered tourists below enclosed in their Club Med encampments. One thinks of Bob Marley, bobsledding, Red Stripe, ganja, and escargot? You may have to readjust your definition of Jamaica to include a trio of Parisians. Jamaica, the band, made their San Francisco debut this past Saturday at the Treasure Island Music Festival. Hailing from Paris, France, with a debut record No Problem due out sometime in the near future stateside, the three-piece tore through a tight forty-five minute set. Their music has hints of fellow countrymen Phoenix in it's pop-meets-dance sensibility, but owes as much to the French electronic music duo Justice in its hard-hitting bite. In fact Justice's Xavier de Rosnay helped co-produce their album. Jamaica's songs are at once nervy and polished, with plenty of muscle delivered by the syncopated playing of rhythm section Florent Lyonnet (bass) and David Aknin (drums). The piece de resistance for me is vocalist/guitarist Antoine Hilaire. His easy vocal delivery is contrasted perfectly with angular riffs and some downright HEAVY guitar squalls.
Live the band has an easy charm with plenty of confidence in its material. There was a formidable French contingent in attendance and everyone, band included, dealt with the arctic conditions as the wind whipped off the Bay, by bouncing in place. It was also the first time since a U2 video that I saw a drummer play in a parka. I look for this trio to be popping up at festivals all over the world next year. Jamaica are also known to do DJ gigs in addition to the more traditional RAWK set-up. Their single "I Think I Like U 2" is a sure bet for many remixes in the coming months. Below is some video I took with my trusty FlipCam. I apologize for the shaky parts but shivering will do that.
