Tonight was a night of trippy world music with Tinariwen & Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever opened. They are from Los Angeles but some of the members are of Cambodian decent. It shows in their music. Most of their songs are sung in Khmer so I had no idea what they were singing. The only song I understood was one about making phone calls and checking email. It was quite appropriate to be seeing them on the night of the Cambodian new year. One of their guitarists was playing a guitar that had two necks one was traditional guitar and the other was an Asian instrument.

Tinariwen got on at exactly 8:00. Tinariwen originally formed in Libya in the 80’s and then relocated to Mali. I won’t go into their entire backstory. Let’s just say they won a Grammy in 2012 which they absolutely deserved. The African style of rock they play comes off as psychedelic. All of their songs are sung in their native Berber language of Tamasheq so I have no idea what they were singing. They also wear traditional Tuareg outfits. Their vocals and lyrics fit the music well and it adds to their mystique. I can clearly hear the influence of a band like Tinariwen in contemporary psych bands such as The Black Angels and BJM. I don’t know if it’s just that African music just sounds psychedelic or Tinariwen take influence from 60’s psych bands. Throughout Tinariwen’s performance the raised curtain seemed to be moving in hypnotic sync with their music. Their music is just so trippy especially live and I can tell that the guys in the band do it without the need or use of any drugs. This concert had one of the most diverse audiences I have ever seen which was great. If this show wasn’t sold out, it was pretty darn close to it. I literally saw all races, all colors, all sexes, all ages, all creeds etc. The show was great and they played for around 90 minutes.

Tinariwen’s setlist:
Kel Tamashek

Nizzagh Ijbal

Chet Boghassa

Tamiditin Tan Ufrawan

Kud Edhaz

Fog Edaran

Chabiba

Ittus

Tamatant Tilay

Talyat

Assawt

Sastannaqqam

Nànnufley

Amassakoul ‘n’ Ténéré

Ma Tenam

(encore)

Wartila

Chaghaybou

Video of Tinariwen

Video of Dengue Fever

Videos courtesy of Front Row Poster