***REVIEW*** Cymande - Koko, London (25/09/2014)

My last minute realisation that Cymande were playing just down the road at Koko in London last week saw a swift scrabble to secure a ticket. For the first time since 1974 all the founder members of Cymande were back to play together again for a special London one off show! Must see stuff!





I'd been lucky enough to see a reworked Cymande II at the Vintage Festival several years back on the open air Soul Stage which was a real pleasure. However the show on Thursday featuring the entire 9 piece was truly astounding and the band performed as if the last 40 years apart were irrelevant. It was a pleasure to see such accomplished musicians performing so effortlessly!










Patrick Patterson humbly thanked the crowd for the support that had led to 'The Message' being such a success and had given the group their break. A track which arguably now is a Funk standard. They literally blew the roof off of Koko and had entire venue singing along.



Cymande - Brothers On The Slide

Similarly 'Bra' and 'Brothers On The Slide' also stood out as big crowd favourites with bass legend Steve Scipio holding down the grooves faultlessly.





The group bought the show to a crescendo with a nod towards Bob Marley with a reworking of 'Get Up Stand Up' making this arguably one of the best live acts I've had the pleasure of catching!

Some of today's acts could do well to catch Cymande at Band On the Wall in Manchester on the 10th October. School's in session!