Total originality, explosive energy and plenty of brain power have all played a part in the rapid rise of Boo! to South African stardom, writes Andrea Burgener
For a rare few seconds, Princess Leonie’s tight-as-a-tourniquet drum rhythms are still. Chris Chameleon, lead singer and self-proclaimed resident polysexual of Boo! is remonstrating with the cheering, applauding (and frankly crazed) audience in his trademark falsetto gibberish.
Ampie Omo – keyboardist-trumpeteer- trianglist and general whirling dervish – helpfully translates for us: she (onstage Chameleon is always an unnamed “she”) does not appreciate cheering and clapping folks; in fact the only thing that gets her going is loud screams of Boo! The audience give it their all, though it takes a few reminders to train even the initiated, what with our preprogrammed palms itching to do the more usual, time-honoured thing.
The somewhat perverse otherwiseness of forcing their audience to scream “Boo!” as though it were the highest of accolades, epitomises the trio perfectly. Their mission is grounded in delicious contradiction, from the lyrics themselves (lyrics which, Boo! tell us on their website, are so deep that the only place to send them is up) and the way instruments are used, to the implosion of gender.
The Boo! universe has been alive for audiences since their seminal gig at Roxy’s in October 1997, and now, just a year-and- a-half later, the Gauteng-based trio are one of the most talked about live acts around. There’s a damn good reason for that, and it’s not just Chris Chameleon’s legs (although in fairness, that would be reason enough). An explosive level of energy, total originality, and a goodly supply of brains are all key players. An infectious sense of humour is as much a part of the success: after so much angsty “complaint” rock, it’s only natural that rock fans are more than ready just to get down and boogy, laugh and indulge.
Their sound remains difficult to describe. Post-techno pop perhaps, ska-infused funk rock maybe, “syncopated chaos” in their own words. Realising themselves that they could never be described by any terms so far known to humankind, they’ve come up with their own genre, monki punk.
While pandering to no one, their music is curiously accessible – tuneful as a lullaby, almost ridiculously catchy, and of course undeniably poppy at times. But hold on, don’t go down that Spice-Girls-pop train of thought. Boo! come with that all- essential side helping of gray matter, and a much better dress sense.
Both are evident in Chameleon’s cross-dress performance. It’s not – yawn – just another camp drag act. Rather, it’s as though he’s playing a part; that of an otherwordly creature beyond gender. In snug frock and a little too much lipstick, he oozes charisma through every pore; at once diva, geisha girl and sinewy man-boy – a chameleon indeed.
His voice is just as mutable, with an astonishing vocal range and style, and he cruises from falsetto to baritone, from bizarre vocal gymnastics and sound effects to almost parodically stretched operatic notes that have both gals and guys swooning.
Who would have thought such beautiful singing could occur with a tongue planted so firmly in one’s cheek?
Their recent CD release (pynapple flava, a.k.a the boonapple album) is garnering rave reviews all over the place, though in licking the production slick, the energy and texture of certain tracks is sadly lost. I still prefer their first release – the Boonana cassette – a live, obviously rawer recording, that seems somehow less “safe” than the CD.
Gigging like men possessed since their inception and tireless to the point of insanity, they’re now on tour – self- managed, nogal! – first doing the Aussie thing, then off to get the Brits’ knickers in a knot at the Astoria in London. But never fear, indigenous Boo! worshippers – come April, they’ll be home, setting fire to Natal and Egoli, as well as the Cape a few months down the line.
For juicy Boo! info (gig details, kiekies and such) check out their Website, , or send messages of devotion to [email protected].