Oh no... not another gig where I have no idea what I'm going to see or hear!

Wednesday evening Owen and I went to the Roundhouse to see Barcelona's own OJOS DE BRUJO. The venue was packed (which I hadn't been expecting) for this collective of musicians who blend the styles of flamenco, jazz and hip-hop with other world influences notably from Africa, Cuba and India.

As enjoyable as it was it was also a bit overpowering - the rhythms were so dense at times and the extended jams so long I wondered would I ever see daylight again! I recognised one or two songs from their album "Techari" that Owen has but on the whole I let the music swirl around me.

They said that they were missing Ramon, guitarist and one of the originators of the group, but they still provided a solid wall of sound and they all had their chance to shine.

We had Marina the lead singer in her gold flecked long jacket, 2 feather boas and dreadlocked hair piled high, Maxwell (not the most Catalan of names - it turns out he is American born in Paris) on percussion and at times almost a human beatbox he rapped so fast, DJ Panko on beats, Javi on bass - now that was some solo!, Sergio on drums, Carlos on congas - great afro, Xavi on tabla and percussion and Paco on flamenco guitar.

Other musicians - brass players, another congas player, an on-stage backing singer as well came and went as needed but they also had two stand out guests.
Faada Freddy had travelled from Sengegal to join them in a "Techari" song he had featured on and to do a great cover version of GET UP STAND UP (finally something the audience could join in with!) - he was great fun bouncing all over the stage, dreads flying.

And then there was Sonia Poveda. She opened the show with the first of several dynamic, fiery flamenco solos that were riveting to watch, none more so than in the number where she trades moves with Marina and Maxwell's vocals - which you can see here through the grainy glory of YouTube.
I have nabbed Owen's fine performance photo as all mine were crap as per.

So all in all it was a memorable experience - only slightly distanced by the obvious barrier of language and the obvious pillar of Roundhouse (see top photo!)