Kongos

Bogart’s, Cincinnati, Ohio

Review by Zen Wild

Photographs provided by Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography

Gallery Link: http://jamsplus.smugmug.com/TonyVasquezPhotography/Kongos/

Friday, August 22^nd, in Cincinnati, OH, at Bogart’s, and Kongos are here to rock, along with opening bands, The Chakras, and The Black Owls. Both opening bands put on energy-filled sets, with The Chakras leaning more toward metal, maybe leaning a bit towards Evanescence due to the lead female vocals, while The Black Owls heavy riffs are more of the rock/blues variety. During sound check, because of their name and some of the bits that are being played on guitar, I wonder if The Black Owls are going to be similar to The Black Keys. Whatever way you classify their music, the each band definitely has the crowd pumped and moving. It’s obvious, though, from the chatter all around the venue, and out on the patio, that most people are here to see Kongos.

From the beginning, one of the coolest things that can be seen about Kongos is the inclusion of an accordion, played by Johnny Kongos. It’s an instrument that just isn’t seen too often, although, I can say that I have seen it recently when I saw the Mahones. Besides the accordion, you can also expect to see some keyboards, drums/percussion, guitar, bass, and lap steel guitar. Another thing that’s pretty amazing about Kongos is that the band consists of four brothers, Johnny, Jesse, Daniel, and Dylan. Having seen the inner turmoil of The Black Crowes (with only two brothers), it is an impressive feat that the band seems to get along well in their musical endeavors. I’m sure most people would classify them as rock, and they certainly are, but it’s easy to see that they have other worldly influences that have an impact on their music and continue to shape where they’re going.

Now, I’m not well-versed enough to name off all of the song titles that Kongos play throughout their set, having just heard a bit on the radio and on an IPod on the way to the venue, but their stage presence is solid, and from the time that they start playing, people are waving their hands in the air, singing, and dancing. In my opinion, if you’re getting people to sing along and move their bodies, then you have to be doing something right.

Kongos are    definitely doing something right. I certainly recognize their big hit, “Come With Me Now,” when they play it, and as they do, the crowd is singing it back in almost equal volume as the band is with their microphones, but one of the highlights has to be when the band does a mashup/medley of The Beatles’ “Come Together” and Dr. Dre’s “What’s the Difference?” It’s such a good groove, and I can’t deny the fact that I’m dancing, too. It’s one of those things that a band starts to play, and you don’t ever want it to stop. I’m not sure how long it lasts, but I’m sure it’s not long enough to justify stopping.

So, like I said, this is my first real experience with Kongos, but if you’re in a city that they’re coming to, I would definitely suggest checking them out. I don’t think you’ll come away disappointed. Right now, I’m planning on getting more familiar with all of their tunes, so that next time they come around, I can be singing along with the rest of the crowd, too.