Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro
Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro come on in suits looking like they're fresh from the set of some cartoony gangster movie. Japanese funksters like to get serious with their outfits. But MMK are also wearing big cheesy grins and swinging with their instruments, having a jolly good time.
The 6-piece from Saitama have clearly listened to the Meters before. Almost everything they play shows a heavy, heavy, heavy influence from the old Louisiana legends. But the Meters never had horns. MMK have a trumpet and sax and they're rocking an almost-full Crystal Palace tent with super-tight, deep funk grooves. They're about the tenth funk act this weekend but the crowd aren't tiring of it yet.
For a finale, the guitarist and bass player turn their backs to the crowd and keep the insstrumental groove going with their axes behind their heads. This is a band on the rise and you'll see them back on a bigger stage before too long.
Reported by Don Coglione (2008.07.27 / 15:01)