[Wadabo_updates] Konono No 1 @ The Middle East!

[wadabo_updates at wadabo.com]

Hi all -
WONDERFUL live show coming up in just 2 short weeks . . . Get your tix now!

Konono N°1 (from Congo)
Sunday May 6, 2007
The Middle East Upstairs
18+
$15adv/$20dos
Music at http://konono.calabashmusic.com/

Come on out and dance! They played Somerville Theater last year, but 
there was no room to dance. Now, at the Middle East, there is no excuse. 
See you there!

Konono N°1 is a musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the 
Congo. They combine three electric likembé (a traditional instrument 
similar to the mbira) with voices, dancers, and percussion instruments 
that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard. The group's 
amplification equipment is equally rudimentary, including a microphone 
carved out of wood fitted with a magnet from an automobile alternator 
and a gigantic horn-shaped amplifier. The group achieved international 
renown beginning in 2005, with its DIY aesthetic appealing to many fans 
of rock and electronic music.

The group's full name, as seen on the banner in its music video, is 
L'orchestre folklorique T.P. Konono N°1 de Mingiedi"; "T.P." (short for 
tout puissant, or "all powerful") is an homage to the band of the 
legendary Congolese musician Franco, which was called T.P. OK Jazz. It 
was formed by Mawangu Mingiedi, a likembé player and truck driver now in 
his 70s. Mingiedi is a member of the Zombo (or Bazombo) ethnic group, 
whose homeland is located near the border with Angola. He adapted for 
his likembé ensemble Zombo ritual music that was originally played by an 
ensemble of horns made from elephant tusks.

Dates for the group's formation vary: Crammed Discs, who released Konono 
N°1's Congotronics album in 2005, places the group's formation around 
1980. However, the group was in existence at least as early as 1978; in 
November 1978, an ensemble called Orchestre Tout Puissant Likembe Konono 
N°1 (All-Powerful Likembe Orchestra Konono N°1) recorded one track, 
"Mungua-Muanga," for the compilation album Zaire: Musiques Urbaines a 
Kinshasa. The group has exerted an influence on many other Congolese 
popular musicians and groups.

The group has achieved some renown in North America and Europe, and has 
toured both places. The Dutch rock band The Ex has covered one of their 
songs.

The group recently finished collaborating with Björk on her new studio 
album, Volta. They will also accompany her on her promotional tour for 
the album.

Artist Website: http://www.crammed.be/konono/

Press Quotes: http://www.crammed.be/craworld/crw27/press/press.htm

Promotional Video: http://www.crammed.be/craworld/movies/konono_promo.htm

Myspace Website: http://www.myspace.com/konononr1