East African Retro Pop Comes To Kahilu
It was the last night of their 2018 tour, and Alsarah and her band The Nubatones delivered a mesmerizing performance that had Kahilu concertgoers on their feet—cheering, clapping, and shouting. Their unique “East African retro pop” music might be new to the Big Island, but it was received warmly with aloha.
The Brooklyn-based band features leader Alsarah on lead vocals. The young Sudanese American singer has released two albums along with various side projects. In 2010, Alsarah formed Nubatones with percussionist Rami El Aasser and added her sister Nahid (backing vocals), Mawuena Kodjovi (bass, trumpet, and backing vocals), and Brandon Terzic (oud).
In his introduction, Chuck Gessert, Kahilu’s Artistic Director, explained that he was excited to book Alsarah & The Nubatones after being approached by Konrad Ng, the Executive Director of Shangri La, the Center for the Study of Islamic Arts and Cultures. Ng also addressed the crowd about the Center’s mission of sharing art from different cultures, saying, “The world we live in is filled with artistry that speaks to universal themes.”
One of the great things about the Kahilu Theatre is the variety of acts they bring to the Big Island, like West African guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, who thrilled theatregoers this past March. Last Friday night’s concert was no exception.
Alsarah demonstrated a wide range of vocal skills during the 90-minute performance. Sometimes delicate and hypnotic, she also proved she was a powerful singer. The energetic backup vocals were provided by her sister Nahid, who often encouraged the audience to dance in their seats or the aisles, and many did during the encore.
Alsarah sings mostly in Arabic, with a few songs in English. It’s a mix of Nubian music—both traditional and contemporary—with elements of jazz. Ohio-born Brandon Terzic plays the oud, a pear-shaped stringed instrument with up to 13 strings. Although the instrument is mainly played in the Middle East and North Africa, Terzic’s New York jazz and blues influences often appear. A new song with a working title of “Sudan Song” starts off with Terzic executing a John Lee Hooker-style trill.
Another new tune that shows promise is “Surfer Song” – that’s how it was listed on their set list. Alsarah expressed her love of being near the sea, “It just feels like love, joy, magic, healing,” said the singer, “And sexy kinda of love, which always has an intergalactic vibe.” Nahid kicked it off with some spacey Pink Floyd-type sound effects pre-recorded on her laptop. Rami El Aasser followed with a strong rhythm on his doumbek (also known as darbuka or tabla), with Mawuena Kodjovi adding a solid bass line to the song.
El Aasser also had some fun with the crowd. Near the end of the show, Alsarah encouraged him to stand up and show off his gold lamé (perhaps Elvis-inspired) pants. Afterward, he launched into a call-and-response where the crowd tried to clap along to the beat he played.
Although it was the final date on their 2018 tour, the ensemble was full of energy, and the audience responded with a warm reception for the musical journey they provided.
Set List: Rennat | 3yan T3ban | Habibi | Sudan Song | Albahar | Fulani | Surfer Song | Manara | Nar | Soukura It’s Late | 3roos Elneel | Ya Nas Bando
Encore: Habibi Taal
Photos: Steve Roby
