Kaki King is the only female artist seen as « god of guitar » by Rolling Stones Mag… I mean EVER! Where’s my beloved Gabriela from Rodrigo y Gabriela?? Pffff… Anyways, never heard that much about her before… But one day, a friend mentioned « u’ve seen? Kaki King’s coming to the AB! ». Actually didn’t need much more to get my ticket, after all, if it’s has a good discovery than Pascale Picard was, im all for it! So Guitar Time, talent on the small stage of the AB Club (saw The Black Kids there), get ready to dive into a world of sounds and sonority that will make you travel far… and having thousands thoughts crossing your mind…

So here I was, at the AB Club, waiting for M’am King (yes, she’s 30 but I call her M’am :p) to come on stage. Arrived early. (I swear, the « Rachael Yamagata incident » will never happen again, ever. And yes, I’ll keep on saying that to really make it happend this way). On my left, a typical scene of why I love Belgium so much, 2 people (one lady, one man), obviously fan of Kaki King -saying to someone who was trying to take all the pedals on the floor in pictures- « you know, if you’re looking for the one from Kaki, it’s the other one there » « yeah, i’ll see her 4 times…. yesterday in the Netherlands, today here, then Paris… »

And a Belgium guy comes in to get to close to the stage, and obviously everyone starts to talk alltogether « yeah, i’ve seen that band, was really cool and have you blablablabla ». The interesting part is when the Belgian guy says « do you want a round of drinks on me? ». See. That’s why i love this place, people are nice here, chatting, talking etc etc (yes, i’m playing the « i just hate paris » card here)

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

In a previous post, I said that most Flamish Artists where actually singing in English, probably easier. Well, tonite proved me wrong. Tom Pintens is actually singing (and talking, and joking) in Flamish, weird for once to really go to a concert, not knowing any songs, but even more just not understanding anything he’s saying at all. I just got sentences like « in charleroi » -charleroi being the name of a Belgian city- because it was the chorus of a song… hehe ^^ well. Weird, but fun! Time to wait for the small cute brunette with fingers that speak for themself.

I got to confess I didn’t expect her to be so short (rumor has it 5′1″/ 1.52m), she makes a nice gesture « ok guys, just before starting, can you make all the short people come in front » so i look behind and someone is actually trying to cross the crowd « there you go, thanks, I just wanted to do that before starting ». And so the concert starts. Her sitting on a chair, plugging her instrument (that is not a guitar per say, it for sure as a way more technical name but I can’t say which one).

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

And so the magic starts to come. Music, but less « gimmickish with a strong chorus » than what i’m used to see, here, it’s very deeply technical, loads of lyrical high moments. You just have to dive into the music, and just imagine… keep your thought making you leave for somewhere else… I’m really impressed by all the emotions that came along that nite, sadness, then joy, remembering faces, moments, people, small looks I could have seen, little attentions from someone to another one, all those small things are just melting at the same pace than the tracks…

She’s on stage with a drummer and another guy, the drummer is just really good, damn, the other guy is trumpetist, and also having another weird modern trumpet (best way to describe i’d say). And they are all playing with notes and tunes in a confy mood. You know, the one that just makes you feel happy to be here.

Well, once again, I got to admit that on some parts of her gig, she lost me on the way, once again, technical, impressive, but not into it for me (a little bit like an ex who was fan of Dreamtheater, na, really not for me at all!). Over all, the t shirt showing her left shoulder, the fingers flowing on the guitar, the smiles, the quietness and contemporary of some songs.. I’ve think a lot during this hour, weird, Nostalgic as much as realising what went through the last year and a half…

Maybe not all what I expected, might should have done or say stuff when I wanted to, but overall, I don’t complain, I never complain, just the way I am. Kaki on stage will taste the Stella Artois that the Ancienne Belgique gave her « ok.. This is like… sooo not good » -crowd shouting obviously- « no, really I mean c’mon, it’s like…. Budweiser of Belgium!.. I want the beer made by the monks you know.. where only like… God has the receipe ».

A shame the friend that told me about her couldn’t get tickets (and i warned him but well…). Over all a nice nite, even got an autograph at the end, going in my bathroom with all the other posters of bands I have seen…

Thanks Kaki, ’cause you made me think, now it’s time to go further in those thoughts, even if it will probably never be doable per say, but at least I might have tried.

And as usual, the whole Set can be seen on Flickr.

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In My Ears : Les Cowboys Fringants -Les Hirondelles- ♫ « L’image que l’on donne/ N’est pas toujours la bonne/ Volent, volent les hirondelles/ Même les beaux plumages/ Peuvent être une cage » ♫