Tocky Vibes Lands Flat While Alexio Shines

So talked a bit yesterday about the Mafikizolo show which featured Oliver Mtukudzi, Alexio Kawara, Tocky Vibes et al at Harare International Conference Centre.

We concentrated yesterday on the really piss-poor organisation by the hosts, Simmad. Sure they made a lot of money but at what expense. Thankfully for them very few people in Zimbabwe boycott promoters with a bad rep. Such is the absence of sophistication of our people. They blame the artist not the organiser.

Anyway the big discussion has been about the performances. Someone who got a lot of positive reviews was Alexio. We have seen him grow and it is not often he has been given that sort of stage but when he came on, Friday night, he brought everything and if he is smart, this is his chance to launch himself into the frontal lobe of the Zimbabwean consciousness. Fans are that fickle so if you are going to make something off them you have to strike that iron while it still has a crush on that heat. Smack it.

Then after hours of the crowd chanting for Tocky to come on, he provided a quite frankly horrible experience. The crowd quickly cast ballots with feet and they were gone. Said one person, Tocky adzosera nyika kuvaridzi vayo.

Seh Calaz came on and tried to help him out but still, it didn’t work out.

A bit disappointing really, especially given the fact that some people had quickly raised him to premium level. It shows that there is a difference between having a dope song on radio and being awesome on stage.

Perhaps he should have done the whole backtracks thing until he was ready because at the moment, erm, well… no. He makes good studio music but it is what it is. So in as far as that live act is, it is complete and indefatigable NO from us. We don’t think the young man understands music enough to be able to lead a ban.

Some things need experience which means doing your 10,000 hours. There is reason for these things.