WITCH | Flat Moon | Hutch
Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
July 30th 2024
Zamrock band WITCH bring ample helpings of havoc and happiness to Belgrave Music Hall. Andy Brown shares his thoughts for Louder Than War.
As every self-respecting music fanatic knows, it’s never too late to discover a great band. WITCH originally formed in the early seventies, had a bit of a break in the mid-eighties and got back in the saddle around 2012. Last year they released Zango, their first new album in around forty years. It’s at this point in the band’s impressive career that I finally hop aboard the good ship WITCH. Tonight, original vocalist Emanuel “Jagari” Chanda and Co are bringing their psychedelic Zamrock to Leeds. What’s Zamrock I hear you cry? Well, we’re about to find out.
Leeds-based outfit Flat Moon are the most lively opening act I’ve seen in some time. The six-piece alt-funkateers simply ooze enthusiasm. In fact, guitarist/ singer Jacob Kendrew may very well have more energy than I’ve had in my entire life. It takes me a few minutes to acclimatise but the band work hard to make sure everyone is along for the ride. The rhythm section provides a tight, flexible groove as the rest of the collective bring the noise.
“I’m dizzy!” they repeatedly chant on the appropriately titled Dizzy. It’s no surprise really, they’re definitely gonna need a little lie down after a set like this. Group vocals, wild guitar solos, swinging sax and at least one track about a chicken. What’s not to like? One song is accurately introduced as “a dirty bastard of a tune” while Too Drunk Too Funk might very well be the best song title of the entire night. It’s going to take more than a few pale ales to stop Flat Moon’s fervid funk.
It’s a noticeable change of pace with tonight’s second act, Hutch. The Brighton-based trio delivers a wonderfully woozy set of dream pop. Floyd-like harmonies punctuate songs about rainbows, snails and playing in a river. While nature certainly plays an important part, the band can make just about anything sound dreamy. “Slide the window” they swoon as the gorgeous Radiator Centre gently blows through the room. Probably the sweetest song ever written about an overly warm shop assistant.
Imagine King Gizzard playing Galaxie 500 with lyrics written by Howard Moon. It all makes sense when you find out that they’ve made a Mighty Boosh-inspired cartoon called Mark Monsoon and the Children of the Sky. Sounds like essential viewing to me. The band balance their melodic tendencies with a knack for kaleidoscopic instrumentation. As far as I’m concerned, some of these songs could keep going indefinitely. Let’s hope there’s a 20-minute psychedelic opus in the pipeline.
Without a word, WITCH slide into the racing, heady funk of Thou Shalt Not Cry. Hypnotic bass, swirling psych guitar and a sprawling tune that genuinely seems to get more exciting by the second. A few songs in and the track Introduction helpfully introduces the band. This evening’s generous helping of rhythmic revelry comes courtesy of Patrick Mwondela (keys), Jacco Gardner (bass), Nico Mauskoviç (drums), Stefan Lilov (guitar), Daniel Tieman (guitar), Hanna Tembo (backing vocals) and Charles Garmendia (percussion). Oh, and the legendary Jagari on vocals, cowbell and good vibes.
For the uninitiated, Zamrock is an eclectic fusion of styles that first emerged in the early seventies. Tonight, the band deliver an absolute masterclass. Zambian grooves are merged with funk, psych and Sabbath-like riffs. Lazy Bones is a great slice of psych-pop while the bluesy Evil Woman is the kind of song Peter Green would have written if he’d grown up in Zambia.
It’s not just the incredible musicianship but the crazy amount of energy that makes it all so electrifying. We’re only a couple of songs in before Jagari is excitably leaping in the air. He’s in his seventies and still clearly giving it his all. The whole band is on fire; lost in the rhythms and the sheer, unfettered joy of making music together.
During Toloka, Jagari carries out an impromptu audition as he tries different audience members out with a cowbell. I mean, you can never have too much cowbell. “Can I join your family, so I don’t have to apply for a visa every time I come?” he jokes in a momentary lull between songs. Based on the reaction the band are getting, I’m sure he’d get plenty of offers.
Highlights come thick and fast. By The Time You Realize is a revelation; a spine-tingling fusion of the bands many influences. Chifundo effortlessly switches between desert rock and a thrilling, psychedelicised groove. It’s a song to soundtrack a heroic ride into town, all guns blazing. The synthy, Tembo-sung Unimvwesha Shuga is so cool it should come with a warning.
The show ends in ecstatic style with Flat Moon and Hutch joining the band on stage for a James Brown-inspired jam. This promptly turns into a full-on stage invasion with members of the crowd dancing, singing and doing the funky chicken. The band have a long history but this is music for living in the here and now. This glorious chaos is accompanied by a cathartic chant, “hey hey! I feel alright!” Encores can sometimes feel a tad perfunctory but this is something else. Appropriately enough, the band’s name is a backronym for We Intend To Cause Havoc. Tonight, WITCH delivered ample helpings of havoc and happiness.
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WITCH can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.
Flat Moon are on Twitter/ X, Instagram, Facebook and Bandcamp.
Hutch are on Facebook, Twitter/ X, Instagram and Bandcamp.
All photos by Jim Mumby. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War here.
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