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Gig Review: Bonobo Concert at Hi:Fi Club, Leeds - 19 Oct 2006
review
Marilyn, Alice and I arrived in Leeds at 9.30pm feeling really cool – off to ‘Hi Fi’ - a big city night club and WE are on the ‘guest list’. The ultimate in sophistication and a real late night start for the two elders in the party. Imagine how our egos deflated when we arrived at our destination and the club wasn’t even open. It didn’t open its doors ‘till 10pm and we were standing outside in the deserted street!
“But we’re on the guest list” we pleaded to no avail.
“We don’t open the doors ‘till 10pm” - And he was MUUUCH bigger than I was.
So we wandered down the street where worldly Alice knew there was a nice cafe restaurant bar.
We were looking round for a seat and trying to decide what might be the appropriate drink of the day for country bumpkins like us from rural Holmfirth when there was a squeal from a big table at the other end of the room. How embarrassing! But next thing we had Sophie Faricy – the new lead singer with the famous Bonobo Band, who we had come all this way to see, hanging round our necks. The entire band and all the crew were in there having their pre-opening-night meal and observing the strange scene with some amusement! That re-inflated our damaged egos just a little!
“When you get in, can you stay at the back?” she asked “You would make me sooo nervous at the front.”
10pm became 10.30pm and when the band decided to make a move we thought it time to get back to ‘Hi Fi’ and join the audience. From being a ‘dead end street’ with just 3 of us outside pleading to get in, the scene had changed to a heaving mass. The place was completely sold out with people queuing outside. But hey man - WE were on the ‘guest list!’.
“Who invited you?” said the MUUUCH bigger man.
“Sophie Faricy”
A quick check on the list.
“Gerard Faricy (uncle) Marilyn Faricy (Aunty) and Alice Faricy (cousin) – no problem, in you go”
We jump the long queue - the egos get bigger.
The tension mounts, the audience is clapping rhythmically in anticipation until eventually, at 11.30pm (way past my bed time, but who cares) the 7 members of the band wander in - keyboard, drums, guitar, base guitar (band leader Simon Green), electronic percussion, tenor/soprano sax and lead vocalist. Sophie sits down at the side of the stage and the rest of the band launch into a cacophony of sound – great stuff – excellent sound - rapturous applause from devoted followers and apostles – polite applause from the Faricy clan (dutifully standing at the back), waiting for the next number.
“OK – can I introduce a new member of the Band…….SOPHIEEE FARICYYY”
Nerves? What nerves?
She looked stunning and instantly commanded attention, without being flamboyant or overbearing. Arms aloft and she was soon in full flow. The voice blended superbly with the band (I would have had more volume on her mic’ but I don’t suppose they cater for many 58 year old slightly deaf people at Bonobo concerts, and perhaps I was biased anyway).
If you think Jazz is a dead or dying musical form think again. Call it what you like but this was great jazz with strong rhythms and with a young audience hanging on every note.
As the night developed Sophie’s confidence grew and grew and by the end she was in full control of her music and the audience.
Half way through she stared out into the glaring stage lights and shouted “Where’s my family?” 200+ people shouted back “here” – waving their arms frantically in the air. But we knew. Egos are now bursting at the seams.
And so it went on. Sophie sang in roughly every alternate number through the evening till the last number at around 1am. The best number of the entire set with Sophie now bereft of any nerves, knowing it had been a remarkable debut and her voice sounding stronger and better than ever.
More rapturous applause as each member of the Band was introduced to the faithful. When Sophie took her plaudits you got the real sense that the dedicated followers of Bonobo had accepted her wholeheartedly as an integral part of the band they so obviously love. You also got the sense, as they walked off, that the band members were well pleased with the debut performance of their new member.
There was no ‘back stage’ at The Hi Fi Club. The band simply mingled with the audience after the show. We chatted with the members, got signed copies of their latest album and acted as ‘sophisticated’ as we could in the circumstances. For some strange reason a young lady insisted that I sign her ticket. I tried to tell her I was a nobody but she wouldn’t have it – my ego was busted by then so I gave in and signed.
As we left I simply asked the band leader and musical maestro, Simon Green “How did she do?"
“Spot on” was his instant reply.
“Spot on” I kept thinking as we drove home, car full of ego. “Dead right…………… Spot on”
