Walking into the Hi Fi Bar on Thursday September 25th I didn’t really know what to expect. Even though I’ve been a big fan of like-minded Kiwi reggae-dub musos such as Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub, and of course, Kora, I had yet to experience any of these bands live and in the flesh. Little did I know that some seriously funky sounds were lying ahead!
Just before start time fans began to make their way towards the stage for a little taste of local Melbourne hip-hop crew Illzilla. Fronted by MCs Mantra and newest member 1/6, this 6-piece got the crowd going with their lyrical prose, funky guitar riffs and keyboard mastery by no other than local reggae maestro himself, Mista Savona. Mantra and 1/6 took turns rhyming and keeping the flow steady, while Savona and fellow band members J-Zilla (drums), Bobzilla (bass) and Tommy Gunn (guitar) kept the melody and rhythm funky. Illzilla have a unique live sound that puts another tick on the map for Australia’s underground hip-hop scene. At this point, the crowd was starting to move towards the dancefloor, and when Mantra asked if we were ready for Kora, the whole room went wild!
After a short intermission the four Maori Kora brothers – plus one “token white guy” – came barreling out onto the stage and picked up their instruments. Within seconds, a steady sound of synth with drum & bass beats started to flow. The band are no strangers to the stage, that’s for sure, and the Kora crew eased into the Hi Fi vibe instantly. Kora’s eclectic mix of keys, samples, electronic drumming, bass and vocals create an incomparable sound, blending reggae, dub, rock and funk. It didn’t take much for the crowd to start bouncing and singing along to every lyric. Oh, I can’t forget to mention the sweat. Ah, the sweat! It didn’t matter, though, as Kora’s funky tunes are worth every sweaty dance move.
Kora’s stage presence was energetic, upbeat and entertaining. The members switched instruments and vocal roles, all while keeping the crowd pumped. In between basslines and electro-dub beats the occasional rock jam managed to creep in, as Laughton Kora’s Mike Patton-esque (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, et al) vocals sent a haunting chill down the spine. Francis Kora’s roaring vocals kept the crowd going with his energetic rhymes and rock-like bellows, and Dan McGruer – aka “the white guy” – jumped between bass and keys, holding his ground well. He was probably the least energetic of the bunch, but no less talented. Finally Stuart Kora’s guitar playing and backup vocals added that extra touch of rock n roll, while drummer Brad Kora’s hard hitting was the glue that held it all together.
The hour and a half set consisted of crowd-pleasing tracks from this year’s self-titled release, such as Skankenstein, which sent the crowd into a frenzy as everyone chanted the lyrics, “That’s just not me girl!”. Other mentionable tunes were Burning, which showed Kora’s mellow reggae-side of the musical spectrum, and Skool Yard, the cool instrumental track that seemed to put the crowd into a hypnotic dub trance. It was impossible to tell that the band hadn’t jammed in over a month, as Laughton decided to reveal it to the crowd between songs. To finish up the night, Kora came back out for an encore with the super catchy Politician. Once again, the crowd took over the vocals, chanting along “Poli-Poli-Poli-Poli-tician… Can you make a right decision for all of us!”. The band members were all smiles as they high-fived the front row and departed the stage.
These five Kiwi boys certain bring a new element to the dub world. Make sure you go check out their live show next time they cross the pond, and don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes and get ready to rock. Until next time, Kora!
