How did I almost forget that one? On Monday I went to the State Theater in St. Pete and saw Gogol and the crew. Or maybe they ARE the crew…dunno. A lot of the time there was 9 people on stage in a theater was meant for punk music and moshing. My friend Jason’s first show at that venue, back in the day, was Bouncing Souls.

Gogol put on a great show, for sure. We almost didn’t get in, because they ran out of tickets, and then were accepting cash for no ticket, so I had to run across the street in a halter top that was not meant for boobies jiggling. I had a line of punkrockers/retro/50’s dressed people looking at me. Anyways, found an ATM. Got in. Sweet. The beer was pretty cheap, too, only 3 bucks for a Miller Lite. They took their sweet ass time coming on though. 45 minutes between the openers and Gogol. My buzz was gone.

Do I have the setlist? Hell no. No idea what they played. I can tell you that I WORE PURPLE, and I got that whole song on video….not on my camera. They played Alcohol, returning from their break as an encore. And, my friends decided to go out back and try meet them, and they did! Me and the boyfriend hit the road. I’m not much for trying to meet bands and such, I never know what to say…”Hey man, ….how’s….work?”

Cool, eh? Lots of sweat, wine, and people on stage. Kickin’ show. can’t wait to see them again.

I have no idea how I found out about Dikanda. Perhaps one of those serendipitous moments, where the internet throws something in your face, and you run away with it. I did find them on the internet, through their website. How I got there I don't know. But it was a beautiful thing. I've been listening to them for over a year now, and decided to share with you. 

You know how you can ask someone, "What kind of music do you listen to?" And they'll promptly answer "A little bit of everything". Well, I think this falls under 'everything'. A band like this reflects my varied musical taste, although I am not ignorant anymore to the idea that one who listens to 'everything' really only listens to what they like. I can tell you what I don't like, and what I do, and here is something I do like, tremendously.

I don't know much about Dikanda, other than what I learned on their Biography page from their website. They are Polish, experiment in music of the East, are named from an African term that means 'family', and consist of 5 members, and have released 3 albums. Biographies don't typically interest me anyway; music is the main deal for me. 

I've got some sample of their music up here, downloaded from their website. Check out their website and all about them, and if you are caught like I was after listening to their groovy stuff, buy an album.

For a short description: bellydancing, chanting, howling, mad percussion and Eastern, exciting stringed instruments. All in another language, and beautiful. Enjoy.

Dikanda Official Website 

MP3S:

Dikanda - Bieda

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/bieda%20-%20dikanda.mp3]

Dikanda - Jakhana Jakhana

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/jakhana.mp3]

Dikanda - Sokolmi

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/sokolmi%20-%20dikanda.mp3]

Dikanda - Ketrin Ketrin

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/ketrin%20ketrin%20-%20dikanda.mp3]

Dikanda - Lazito (short)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/lazito%20-%20dikanda.mp3]

One day I came home from work, or some other place I went and came from. Wade beckoned me over to the computer, to show me some videos on YouTube. Typical guy.

I suppose it was a serendipitous accident, because as he was searching for musicians, he found a band called Tommee and the Neighbourhood.  He was impressed enough to show me, and I was impressed enough to remember the band for over a year. Now that I've got my kickin' music website, I knew I definitely wanted to feature them. Turns out, though, that the band has…disbanded, and Tommee has a solo act, which is fine with me, because he is still exceedingly awesome. 

After some investigating at Tommee's website, I found that he is from a village in Indonesia, and uses a wide range of indigenous and contemporary instruments to create his super-chill sound. His website even features them, with pictures, explanations, and audio samples, that made my boyfriend's mouth water (he has a thing for world stringed instruments).

Tommee's music is pretty crafty. It's relaxing, but with message, and is oddly simple and intricate at the same time. It has some reggae-island grooves, and a good, organic sound.  

He has two solo albums, Kachampo, and Get On So Well. He is currently touring Europe. Hopefully I'll have an interview pretty soon, but for now enjoy these MP3's and keep checking back for more Tommee goodness.

 See What Got Us Hooked

Links 

Tommee Official Website 

Buy Kachampo

Buy Get On So Well

 Music

 Cengaa Aruziki MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/04%20Cengaa%20Aruziki.mp3] 

Get On So Well MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/03%20Get%20On%20So%20Well.mp3] 

No Reason To Cry MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/04%20No%20Reason%20To%20Cry.mp3] 

Io Ariku MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20Io%20Ariku.mp3] 

 Tommee's On Tour