KONGOS with Ascot Royals at the Velvet Underground

On Saturday, KONGOS played for a sold out audience at The Velvet Underground in support of their latest album, Egomaniac.

Ascot Royals served as the opener for the evening’s crowd. During their energetic 30 minute set, vocalist, Jimmy Chauveau, divided the crowd into two parts and conducted them into background vocals. Though their presence on the lineup was not announced until three days before the show, at which time tickets were already very much sold out, the crowd was acquainted with and very receptive to the Brantford, Ontario band.

The four Kongos brothers, Johnny, Jesse, Daniel and Dylan, each armed with their respective instruments, took turns on lead and backing vocals throughout the evening’s set. The crowd was treated to tunes from the newly released ‘Egomaniac’, including current single ‘Take It From Me’ as well as selections from 2012’s ‘Lunatic’. “This is a song about playing in a hot sweaty club, and this couldn’t be a better example of that,” Dylan shared to the crowded room before launching into ‘I Don’t Mind’.

Two Beatles covers, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Come Together’ also helped round out the 19 song setlist. Rather than simply performing the classic tunes, the band presented a reinterpretation of the song, complete with their signature rhythms and pair of rap verses delivered by their stage manager Moe Gordy. The night’s encore also contained a cover of ‘Tokoloshe Man’, originally written and performed by their father, South African singer-songwriter, John Kongos.

If you weren’t able to snag tickets to this sold out show, KONGOS will be back in Toronto, at The Danforth Music Hall this October.