CHRONIXX ‘CHRONOLOGY’ TOUR UK @ THE 02 ACADEMY, BRIXTON
CHRONIXX ‘CHRONOLOGY’ TOUR UK
@ THE 02 ACADEMY, BRIXTON
(Chronixx)
The landmark Grade II listed Art Deco style building that that is the 02 Academy, Brixton (formerly ‘Brixton Academy’) played host to Chronixx and The Zincfence Band on Sunday, May 28 2017 for the last leg of the hugely successful Chronology Tour (UK)
What a la la when a last minute treat for fans was announced: the living legend that is Mr Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James OD would be opening the show on all six dates throughout the tour. This was initially revealed live by Jammys himself on Queen Elise Kelly’s ‘Easy Skanking Show’ – ‘Heart, Mind and Soul to Soul’ segment and some days later via social media. Jammys’ was also joined by one of his sons – Jammy James – more popular known as Jam2.
The 02 Academy has a 5,000 capacity and every ticket was sold. Yet it was just a few short years ago on August 10, 2014 that Chronixx appeared at a much smaller venue up the road on Acre Lane: The Electric, Brixton. That show also sold out with 1,500 dedicated fans travelling from as far away as Italy and France to see The Odd Ras on stage.
My breddrin Heartical, co-host of Inner Gold Show on The Beat 103.6 FM had messaged me earlier to say the place was already lively and thronging with fans eager to get inside.
Even so, I still had no idea what to expect upon arrival. Chronixx was scheduled to arrive on stage at 12:15pm and I arrived in plenty for around 9pm and Heartical was right – the venue, in fact the whole area was lively and busy and very much had the vibe of a street dance going on outside. Hundreds of patrons were pouring in from every corner, eager get in and find the best spot to set up for the night and enjoy the concert.
I headed around the side to the stage doors and pick up my photo pass. What struck me immediately once I was in, was the eclectic and diverse crowd. And I’m not speaking here in terms of ethnicity alone. I mean the extremes from stylishly dressed young fans in their late teens to more mature patrons who could easily be your favourite Aunty or Grandad. For me, I found this really fascinating and a true testimony of the far reaching extent of the reach of the artistes music.
London DJ, Allan Brando preceded King Jammys and started off the evening playing crowd favourites including ‘Heaven in her Eyes’ by UK’s very own Gappy Ranks which had the audience singing along word for word.
By now, I was beside myself with excitement with the anticipation building up in me like hot lava to see the King himself. As a kid growing up in St.Ann, Jamaica, my father had a set – ‘Supersonic Hi-Power’ – what you would call call a ‘country sound’ and what he would call his pride and joy. He would play the set at his bar ‘The Red Barrel Club’ as well as various districts around the parish.
I tell you this because the iconic blue and white label of a King Jammys
7 inch or LP record was a familiar sight in Dad’s collection from the mid ‘80s onwards. And he could only dream that a big ‘town’ sound like Jammys could ever play at his little bar.
Yet – here I was, long after Dad passed on, standing here in London with the legend himself about to appear in front of me. It was a real moment for me.
Joining Jam 2 on stage, King Jammys pulled all the rabbits out of the hat. From the archives we got Johnny Osbourne – ‘Buddy Bye’ on the seminal Sleng Teng Riddim, ‘What a La La’ on the classic (and my personal favourite) Stalag Riddim and keen ears would recognise the vocals of current reggae artiste D’medz dropping vocals for a heavy dubplate ‘Nuh Falla (Bad Company) Dub’ on the unmistakeable Real Rock Riddim. Of course respectful homage was paid to the late great Frankie ‘FP’ Paul with tracks like ‘Run Come (every posse get ready)’ from his 1989 – Live and Love LP
It was at this point that Jammys drew for his final, fantastic dub: Chronixx ‘Odd Ras’ (nah follow nobody)’ from the song of the same name released back in 2013 and the fans went wild with excite
“If unuh love Chronixx mek mi hear yuh say yeahhhhh – ohhh!”
It was now coming up to midnight or thereabouts – but by now I had completely lost track of time so don’t take my word on it…
It was only a brief wait as The Zincfence Band set up their instruments and found their positions before Chronixx, stylishly dressed in all black and an olive green jacket leapt from stage right bouncing like an antelope into the air and back down to earth chanting in a call and response to his fans:
In what I liken to the Biblical ‘Feeding of the 5,000’ I have paraphrased Matthew 14 13-21:
Chronixx gazed out to the people and felt overcome with a deep feeling of love for the multitude before him.
As he looked into their faces,he knew they needed a new leader, a teacher, someone to reignite the flames of their dying faith.
Immediately he spoke to them in a powerful voice and sang:
“Walk with the Prince of Peace / Selassie a the Leader / Praises be to the Kings of Kings / Alpha and Omega…”
And so Chronixx introduced himself to the 5,000 strong crowd in Brixton with the first track off ‘Dread and Terrible’ Project– Alpha and Omega
This was followed by ‘Eternal Fire’ also off the same project and then ‘Roots and Chalice’ off the ‘Roots and Chalice’ mixtape. The fans were now a massive choir singing each song word for word at the top of their lungs. At one point there was a group of young men who were thrashing around and bouncing off each other so hard – for a moment I felt like I could’ve been in a heavy metal gig!
At the end of the track Chronixx faced the crowd and said:
“London! This. Is. Reggae. Music!”
Now, the Academy is effectively a massive room with very high ceiling. This can make the sound overwhelmingly bass heavy and somewhat distorted which can be aggravating. But if this was a problem to any of the fans you would have never known as they were caught up in what I can only describe as an almost religious rapture while he was on stage.
Song after song followed old and new – a mixed bag from songs like Smile Jamaica which saw several Jamaican flags being flown back and forth, to tracks from Dread and Terrible, Roots and Chalice and his soon to be released album: Chronology
For a set that lasted for almost two hours, it’s difficult to pinpoint what could be a favourite song – there are just so many. However there were a few standout moments.
One is a statement Chronixx made around the last 20 minutes or so before the show ended. If anyone was unclear about his musical heritage and the direction his current sound (the message remains firmly unchanged) is taking, then he reminded us that this music is ‘revolutionary music, ‘evolutionary music’, that:
“This is dancehall.
This is the sound of Jamaica.
This is the sound of Africa.
This is the sound of the people.”
“Dancehall music was created by Rastafari so that revolutionary music could survive…”
Next most memorable moment of the night or I should say wee hours of early Monday morning – was Chronixx calling out his bandmate Hector Lewis in the most beautiful, energetic and exciting dance.
The walls of the venue shook as the voices of the fans rumbled up and around the room in waves of cheers. What an amazing sight to see such public, brotherly togetherness. It’s something I will never forget and am thankful that I witnessed it and recorded it for posterity.
As I walked out of the venue into the bitter cold night rain and into the sweet smoke wafting from the jerk pans line up on the sidewalk, I paused look around me before I jumped on my bus. I saw bald head, rasta, white, black, Indian – every type of person filtering out with happy faces, reliving the recently passed hours with friends old and new. And I felt so privileged to have shared in what I can only describe as a collectively, heightened and enlightened experience.
I also thought about the fact that it was 40 years ago, right here in London, that Bob Marley and The Wailers performed their legendary show Live at The Rainbow Theatre on their ‘Exodus’ Tour . I feel that there were elements of Chronixx’s show which echoed the format somewhat, a respectful nod maybe to the greats who helped pave the way?
But who knows, all I can say, for a few hours,
I forgot my troubles and danced.
I forgot my sickness and danced.
I forgot my sorrows and danced…danced to Jah music!
We wish him and his team all the best as they continue on to Jamaica and then on to their US Summer Tour before the album launch in June. Also kind thanks to Daddi Barnz for graciously allowing access to this event.
Except for show poster & song lyrics – report and photos – lizzy brown / aka eye and i / @iameyeandi / disyahreggaemusic.tumblr / www.eyeandiphotography.com
*Chronology is scheduled for release on June 30, 2017
Please visit www.chronixx.com for all tour dates and current information on the artiste.
For more social media reactions to very special night see below:
I know #Chronixx has performed in bigger venues than O2 #Brixton..but can we talk about how this 24 y/o is doing bits without opening acts?!
— Nadine White (@Nadine_Writes) May 29, 2017
Full house for @chronixxmusic in Brixton on Sunday 🇯🇲 #chronixx #zincfenceredemption #outdeh https://t.co/9okEZCtxHW pic.twitter.com/OvKT5FFYot
— Al Fingers (@djalfingers) June 1, 2017
Chronixx got every auntie in Brixton out the house last night. Big up.
— Haich (@___haich) May 29, 2017
Chronixx in Brixton 28.05.17 🔥 https://t.co/TqnbNg68fs pic.twitter.com/5kWt3CuaNN
— Al Fingers (@djalfingers) May 29, 2017
About Author
