AKALA | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Fri 24 Apr
It’s easy to understand why all tickets, once again, sold out for this show, Akala’s second stint in Cardiff within the last couple of years. First of all, we were treated to a total of three excellent support acts –Turna Phrase, Jugga Note, and Mic Righteous – before a set from the man himself which was over an hour in length. Great value for ticket money, then. And all three supports were great, very professional and accomplished, with fans already in the audience and fans, during the evening, newly made.
Local act Turna Phrase took to the stage first – a young man with a slickness to his songs which would seem more usual in someone at least 10 years older. Jugga Note had a rock/metal edge to them that I found unusual and refreshing. And, Mic Righteous – who will be appearing with Akala in other shows on the tour – was of a similar vein to the main act himself, delivering socially aware, conscious lyrics with energetic, drop-kick energy.
While I enjoyed many of Righteous’ pieces, however, my one criticism of his set would be of his song which repeats the word ‘bitch’. Using this as an insult is normal for many but here, amidst many other, fair-minded lyrics, it pointed to a lack of concern for what the word represents – that is, the normalisation of language which denigrates women. Not that this song was sexist but I, personally, was disappointed by the use of such a word in what was otherwise an uplifting and inspiring set.
Finally, then, Akala took to the stage. His set was just as engaging and invigorating as on his previous visit. A number of pieces that encouraged a crowd response, notably XXL, began things, with the full-to-capacity venue shouting and straining forwards. The energy of these pieces seemed to fuel both the artist and ourselves, but as usual the words chosen by Akala were nothing but thoughtful, intelligent, and questioning.
“If life is a stage then who wrote the musical?” he asked in one of his songs, displaying a spiritual concern which most modern music dare not articulate. A later piece, too, made the statement “Just one more war and then we can have peace.” Peace, love, and questions of God are not the norm these days, but it is honest to express them, as well as courageous. Not that the side-splitting satire of Akala, his punch and power, were any less, but it was clear here that the cleverness was not just for its own sake – it comes from, and has, that thing we call heart.
Satirical and serious by turns, then – and even both at once – Akala certainly questioned social norms, with topics ranging from inequality to the power of monarchy and our colonial inheritance. I was pleased to see a shift he made in persona during his last show had been developed into an actual character, Uncle Pompous Peterson. And I was also pleased by the more hushed moments of the set, where Akala chose to read from his graphic novel: a fine piece of spoken word that had the full-to-capacity audience captivated. No mean feat, in my experience of performing poetry.
Conscious as well as cool; intelligent in addition to angry; empathetic, and also verbally vivifying, this was another awesome show from Akala. If you can catch one of the tour dates while it continues, I strongly urge you to do so.
words MAB JONES