It's the Afterdark, it's the Afterdark Movement
I’m a bloody big fan of The Afterdark Movement. And a proper lover of collaboration, so I was buzzing me thermal socks off to get on down to Tempreh for an evening of both those things combined. Despite the blustery elements and the early morning call for work – yep, on a Sunday, don’t say we don’t do nothin’ for you – I was ready for a proper good jig about.
I arrived half way through Another Poet’s set. He appeared endearingly nervous, reciting his poetry with an unassuming presence. Despite the majority of the audience arriving during his set, and the inevitable buzz from the bar, Martin Sumner did well to project his despairingly witty words over the hum. Afterdark joined him on stage for his final poem, Fifty Years After Chernobyl and Still No Superheroes, and his poetic flow combined with the lulling ska tempo of the band was a proper winner.
Next up, the ever-fabulous GOA Choir took to the stage – usual glorious get ups as standard. With a set comprising of The Gossip’s Standing in the Way of Control, original track by Honey Williams I Pick Myself, and a beautiful solo-lead performance of The Buzzcock’s Ever Fallen In Love, it was final track Ghost Town that stole the show. Proper reggae rhythms bounced along with The GOA’s intelligent harmonies, and there was plenty of winin’ going on both off stage and on.
Crowd proper pumped, there was only time for a rapid fag break before the phenomenal Yazmin Lacey took to the stage with birthday boy guitairist, Charlie Bone. The effortless rasp of Yaz’s voice floated over the gentle mutter of the crowd, hushing them with the lullaby of Mother Lost. An impromptu ‘Happy Birthday’ sing along interrupted the set, before it regained its composure, and oozed sex appeal with the come-to-bed vibes of Black Moon.
With spirits and mixers now firmly in the grasp of all in the crowd, the night takes a turn for the raucous as Afterdark’s Trekkah switches up the tone with Mr Vegas’ Heads High blaring through the speakers. At 10pm, I hear you cry?! Yep. And not a bottom was still. Guns were out – the metaphorical, finger constructed guns, of course.
The headliners were on, and kicked straight into gear with their brand new track Survivor, Bru-C and Trekkah’s vocals harmonising almost angelically, despite what their joggers might suggest. The band seem to have slicked up their act. They’ve lost and gained members in equal measure, and it’s paid off – no beats were missed, no lyrics garbled. Just proper, on point riddims. From this point in, things get a little blurry. A mess of hip hop/reggae rhythms, all out skanking and a steady stream of pints was the general gist.
Well worth the foggy head this morning.
Phlexx Records Present: The Afterdark Movement & Friends was at Nottingham Contemporary on Saturday 5 December 2015.
The Afterdark Movement website
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