The buzz around me tonight augured something special. The audience - who had come from across the UK and beyond - were really looking forward to seeing Fantastic Negrito. They said that he was fantastic, so I waited in anticipation to see and hear his set, open minded and willing to be entertained and enthralled!

But first on stage as support were The Too Bad Jims, a London based North Mississippi trio formed in 2023. Little Victor Mac on lead vocals and guitar, Son Jack Jnr on vocals and guitar and Nick Simonon on drums, were a total surprise and delight to me. The raw Roots Blues, energetic tonality, honed vintage sounding, guitar fluency, including playing slide, was compelling, as the crowd around me, as well as myself, swayed with the trio's superb deep raw hypnotic vibe. Indeed, we were collective souls captured by their intense guitar grooves!

These guys also know their guitars and how to play them, with Son Jack Jnr using both a Harmony Rocket and Teisco SSL4, while Little Victor preferred a Harmony H62 with p13 pickups and a Kay Galaxy. Between them they both used Blues Jr amps and no other pedals, other than a tuning pedal. Their set list was sublime, including 'Poor Black Mattie', 'Miss Maybelle', 'Long Haired Doney', 'Peaches', 'Over the Hill', 'Going Down South', 'Alice Mae', 'So Worried', 'Jumper Down the Line', as well as 'Skinny Woman', which was dedicated to all the ladies tonight at The 229, which made me smile. Little Victor’s American stage narrative made their set even more authentic, and their album 'Over the Hill' is now on my play list! Yes they were that good! The trajectory of The Too Bad Jims is upwards, so make sure that you check out their album or catch them next time, or indeed both!

It was then to the headliner - American three time Grammy award winner, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Fantastic Negrito. From the moment Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz aka Fantastic Negrito appeared, he was electric! His stage presence, expressive and intense performance, echoed shades of Prince and James Brown in sound and style. I’ve been lucky enough to see both of these late great artists, so I can testify first hand! Prince in terms of the guitar playing performance and musical groove, as well as James Brown in terms of his funky soulful voice. Indeed, Negrito is the 21st century explosive composite of both these legendary artists, overlain with his own masterful originality.

His music has everything - Soul, Funk, Afrofunk, R& B, and the Blues from the soul. His compositions are autobiographical, his backstory has shaped him and enabled his creativity. From busking - his words - to his fractured family relationship with his Dad. To growing up on the gun, gang and drug moving streets of The States, to bad love, a near fatal accident, becoming a father and fighting toxicity. Indeed, introducing 'Bullshit Anthem', Negrito wisely preached to us to “take the bad shit and turn it into good shit“, of which this chorus line from his catchy song is arguably a life zeitgeist anthem.

His set drove his band hard. I loved his talented female bass player's cool assertive look and deep Funk bass lines. James Small also had a ball on drums, along with Fantastic's skilled guitarist and keyboardist, successfully keeping pace and moving with his energy. A long and explosive set included 'Scary Woman', 'Working Poor', 'Night Has Turned to Day', 'I Hope Somebody’s Loving You', 'Living With Strangers', 'Hump Through Winter', 'Honest Man', 'California Loner', 'Lost in a Crowd' and 'She Gets What She Wants'.

Searing social commentary, his masculine take on love, plus Negrito's mantra in his song 'Chocolate Samurai - Eat Less Sugar', all enveloped his set. His multi-talent, from raw deep edged at times, to more soulful sounding vocals, as well as his keyboard, guitar and harmonica skills, held me spellbound. Negrito describes himself as a “recovering narcissist“, and it is that showmanship in him - slick and yet so raw - plus his messaging for the wider planet, as well as his positive musical voodoo, that makes him a must see artist!

Fantastic Negrito was indeed Fantastic!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester