I was in a boozer the other day when a fellow customer approached me, admiring my T shirt. For someone whose has a somewhat challenged fashion sense, this is not a regular occurrence, but any praise, I suppose, is better than none. It turned out not to be a reference to the quality of the T shirt itself, but what was written on it, Lack Of Afro. Most people do not have the first idea of who and what Lack Of Afro is, but this bloke in the pub certainly did: one of the best soul and funk acts I have ever seen.
Lack Of Afro is Adam Gibbons, who is according to Wikipedia “an English musician, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Exeter, England.” Yeah, that’s him. He has been making music under this name for nearly 20 years and he has decided that his current tour will be his last. I saw him last night at Bristol’s Thekla and, knowing that he is calling it a day, my deep joy gained from the brilliance of his music was tempered by the knowledge that he won’t be doing it again, probably permanently.
Last night’s set represented the best gig I have been to this year. Despite clearly struggling with a flu like virus, Gibbons played brilliant bass, saxophone, drums and congas while his incredible band, comprising of a drummer, keyboard player, guitarist and lead singer, a saxophonist and a trumpeter provided stellar support. Mainly self-composed songs, but with interludes of the Average White Band and Pitbull, the show was perfect. The Thekla, basically an old boat, was rammed and there was an overwhelming feeling in the room of love. I have rarely felt anything like it.
At the end, people were standing around stunned, when they weren’t chatting to total strangers about how good Lack Of Afro were and are. And wonderfully, as he did at the Fleece a couple of years ago, Gibbons came to the merch table to chat and sign stuff. Sad fan boy that I am, I chatted to him, basically begging him not to stop making great music and asking him whether he felt all the love in the room. He certainly did. Despite the lurgy, a woman went to hug him, something I felt like doing myself. He explained he didn’t want to give her the lurgy. “I don’t give a fuck,” she replied, smothering this most talented, and I have to say good looking, of men.
I got chatting to a few people, one of whom saw the show in Cardiff earlier in the tour. “Cardiff was good,” he said, “But this was off the scale.” And it was off the scale. I am still, as the kids say, buzzing.
Do yourself a favour and give Lack Of Afro a try. I bought his new album Love Dealer – signed, obviously – last night and haven’t played it yet, but I do have the brilliant Square One record and if you want an example of just how great it is, listen to Loving Arms.
Lack Of Afro were simply brilliant last night and I shall continue to follow Adam’s career with great interest. If you love funk and soul, why weren’t you there, too?
