Yoyo’s in Nottinghill Arts Club is the only place to be on a Thursday night, and has been for years now. They always have a stellar line up, and plenty of music artists and industry guests coming to see and support the live acts. Last week Shireen Fenner headed down there to check out Clement Marfo + The Frontline and Mikill Pane, other acts that performed were a five piece band eclectic band mixing up soul, urban and rock called Warehouse Republic and Mike Delinquent played a set after all the live acts.
Clement Marfo + The Frontline rocked onto the stage and it was clear that they had many fans in the audience. The seven members from South London began the show with the band playing an intro showing us what they’re made of, with Clement Marfo emceeing and Kojo singing. After the second song Clement interacted with the crowd asking, ‘London how you feeling? You guys feeling good?’ They then moved onto the next track ‘Survivors,’ which is a song dedicated to Clement’s friend who died 5 years ago, with Clement and Kojo taking off their sunglasses to show emotion and respect. It was time to move onto the songs everybody knows starting off with ‘Champion,’ and the sunglasses coming back on. Clement then announced how he had played at YoYo’s four years ago, and how different the set up was back then and how much his circumstances had changed. ‘Overtime,’ was up next with no appearance from Ghetts, but we did have a surprise on the last track of the night, “Mayhem,’ with a surprise performance from Kano and the crowd going wild.
Now it was time for a break to grab a drink and have a chat about the performance before. The headlining act was now due on and Mikill Pane graced the stage in his collaborative Dope Chef t-shirt. The agenda for tonight’s gig for Mikill was to showcase some new songs from ‘The Morris Dancer EP,’ including ‘Kings,’ and ‘Cut Back FFWD,’ featuring Little Bear. Xo Man joined Mikill next for their joint track, ‘Follow Fashion.’ A live band now joined Mikill Pane for the last songs of the night from the ‘Blackcurrant and Guinness’ EP including ‘Golden,’ and ‘I Can Feel It,’ joined by singer Ben Clemo. Mikill then asked the crowd, ‘Whose going to see D’Angelo?’ Then the song started to play and we realised why he asked the question, as he delivered his lyrics to ‘The Return of Mister Pane,’ over the classic D’Angelo track ‘Lady.’
The three live acts were over, but there was another surprise in store as Mikill Pane left the stage and Doneo and Lethal B jumped on. Confusion struck, but then they announced, ‘everyone who wants to be in our new music video come up on the stage.’ I watched them perform and film the video for their new song,’ Not A Saint,’ safely from below. This Thursday Rita Ora will be preforming her first London show (if you don’t count her appearance on DJ Fresh’s set last night) at YoYo’s. If you’re a fan get on the guestlist and check her out.
Review by Shireen Fenner
