Nov 18, 2009
BREAKESTRA, DINGWALLS, LONDON, 17TH NOVEMBER.
Last night at Dingwalls in Camden, Breakestra did something I’ve never witnessed before. They played a storming, electrifying set to a packed house. For two. Straight. Hours. You know what? That’s pretty impressive, but it gets wilder. Not only did they play a two hour set, they didn’t actually stop playing for the whole two hours.
The hardcore Breakestra fans among you will know of their ‘Live Mix’ series of albums, in which the LA purveyors of funk get down and dirty with a selection of original breaks and timeless covers. This is exactly what their performance was last night - a vibrant mashup of original Breakestra material, and covers of songs that any self-respecting vinyl junky would go ape over (Bob James’ ‘Nautilus', to Quincy Jones’ ‘Summer In The City’, to The Meter’s ‘Hand Clapping Song’). And just like a mixtape, Miles ‘Music Man’ Tackett and his 6-piece band continually segued song into song. No breaks to sip water, or to chat with the audience (any interaction was voiced over a band instrumental). In short, Breakestra are funk machines. That’s the only way to describe them. Mirroring the band on stage, the crowd was wired. With every neck-snapping drum break, it roared and jacked its collective body.
Breakestra, without doubt, are a live force to be reckoned with. While the entire band was musically very tight (with Miles himself frequently switching between bass guitar, guitar and cello), the drummer, Jason Pipkin, deserves special props. Pounding away tirelessly at the kick and snare non-stop for two hours - this guy was truly the backbone of the night. Afrodyete too, who was on front-woman duties in Mixmaster Wolf’s absence, injected a raw energy into proceedings. Watching her throw shapes on stage, quite frankly, made everyone’s already incredible night. The whole show was one of warmth and good feeling, and Breakestra lovingly brought a slice of Californian sun to a miserable, cold, London night.
Photography by Charlie Whatley.
