Maybe I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but around this continent we call North America, most bands do not use a likembé. Perhaps your drone/jazz/80s hardcore trio makes prominent use of one, but most of our fine musical groups aren’t pulling out too many likembés. However, everyone agrees that North America is mired in a huge likembé shortage. What are you gonna do? Call Konono N°1, that’s what. The Congo-based outfit will be filling all of our likembé needs by touring all over the fine lands of North America in support of the recently released follow-up to Congotronics (TMT Review) on Crammed Discs, Assume Crash Position. Tune your ears to the sound of the likembé by listening to “Wumbanzanga” over at the Chocolate Grinder.
Now, if Konono is coming to your town, prepare yourself for the countless conversations to explain what exactly a likembé is. Here’s a good way to start: “Bro, it’s kind of like a piano, but, uhhh, like you use your thumbs and…”
Konono N°1 dates:
07.07.10 - Portland, OR - Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
07.08.10 - Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica Pier
07.09-10.10 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
07.13.10 - Quebec City, QC - Quebec City International Summer Festival
07.15.10 - Ottawa, ON - Cisco Ottawa Blues Festival
07.16.10 - Montreal, QC - Festival Nuits D’Afrique
07.17.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Celebrate Brooklyn
07.18.10 - New York City, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
07.19.10 - Chicago, IL - Millenium Park
07.20.10 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07.21.10 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
07.22.10 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
07.23.10 - Floyd, VA - Floyd Fest
07.25.10 - Calgary, AB - Calgary Folk Music Festival
Konono N°1: http://www.myspace.com/konononr1
Crammed Discs: http://www.crammed.be
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