Hedon, Zwolle, Sunday 24 - April - 2022
Banji, I had not heard of this band before the Hedon meeting of April, but they were looking for a bartender for this evening so I decided to give it a try. I did google the band first because I didn't want to end up at a hip-hop concert, that would be the worst, for me. So I looked at the results and the band photo which are very funny, and have that 90's feel. This is very weird as these guys are young, but it was what piqued my curiosity. Also, the band was compared to The Dandy Warhols and Beck, the latter is not my cup of tea but I do like The Dandy Warhols. I also saw mentioned and I was like, no, I hope it is not that.
I haven't properly introduced myself, so hi, I am Irene, a music fanatic since 1987, and bar volunteer, since 2017 at Hedon Zwolle. Twice a month you will find me behind the bar pouring drinks for all the guests. I prefer all things loud, and I enjoy the smaller productions where you may find your new favourite band, those little pearls. Last Sunday, it was behind the bar at the Banji concert. Banji took with them as support act Kees, in Dutch this is a male name, so I was kind of surprised that it was a girl.
Support act: Kees
I did not know that there would be a support act as well for this evening so it came as a nice surprise. And it was a nice surprise, you never know what is coming, I thought this was very cute. Even though the name for Dutchies is very confusing, when you hear Kees you don't expect a woman to walk on the stage. The funny thing is that she also jokes about this, saying: "You can find me on Instagram as "WieisKees" if you search for just Kees you will find probably a whole lot of plumbers." You go, Kees, rock the plumber's name ✌🏻.
I have to say, I like Kees's music, she makes Dutch language pop music. Lots of samples, loops, synths, and beats with a little touch of guitar, as you can tell from the pictures. Yes, I'm in favor, it may not be completely innovative yet, but especially lyrically it is very unique, with a nice dose of humor and down-to-earthness. Wonderfully recognizable situations set to a nice tune, I thought it was something. Definitely keeping an eye on her.
The main act: Banji
I think my title needs a bit more explanation, Banji was a special mix of hip-hop, pop, and funk, with a touch of rock. Some songs reminded me a lot of Chef's Special's work, but where Chef's Special sounded very cheerful to me, I thought Banji sounded a lot more serious, but also a bit more relaxed. As you can see, I find it difficult to place bands in their corners of the genre mess.
I especially liked the last 2 songs, they rocked like crazy, but songs like Dogbreath, for example, I thought were a lot less interesting. Dogbreath has funk vibes, but in general, is a little slow which is not for me. Don't get me wrong, this band certainly has a lot of potential, and it was really good, but it's just a matter of taste.
It's funny that I think this band sounds more serious, while if you look at their amazing album art, and probably also if you listen carefully to the lyrics, this band is not that serious. It just sounds a bit heavier, with a dark undertone, perhaps with a whole lot of sarcasm.
Who knows? In conclusion, Banji is the upbeat tunes of Chef's Specials mixed with the dark undertones of Twenty One Pilots. A band to put on your watch list.
Comments