Rap it up for the common good
Let us enlist the neighbourhood!
East London doesn't dance. Maybe an overstatement, but rarely do nights out here compare to the sweatbox clubnights of Brighton, where the pounding of feet on the dancefloor cause the records to skip and jump as the needle struggles to keep up. The news that NYC's ultimate party band Tom Tom Club are playing live again may be the saving grace, as it's IMPOSSIBLE to listen to Tom Tom Club without finding your limbs taking on a life of their own.
Having struck their first funky chord in 1981 after starting out as a side-project by Talking Heads husband and wife founders Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, their big hits 'Genius of Love' and 'Wordy Rappinghood' have long been a staple at house parties and nightclubs and soundtrack all manner of frivolous fun. What first drew me to Tom Tom Club was member James Rizzi's colourful, childlike artwork that appears on their LPs and videos and underpins the band's aesthetic, as the bright, busy scenes of palm trees, dancing figures, stars and musical notes call up the pure joy of their sound and style.
Now at the grand old age of 30, their birthday celebrations will take place in London at the Jazz Club on the 15th, 16th and 17th July. They also have a new record out, 'Live at the Clubhouse', so if you're on your summer hols when they visit you can still have a TTC party in your room!
Genius Of Love:
Wordy Rappinghood (Chicks On Speed cover):
The story behind Wordy Rappinghood, told by Tina and Chris:
No comments:
Post a Comment