It turns out that the funky and fiery JK, the frontman, singer and songwriter of Jamiroquai, is quite a talkative character. Not that communicating with the audience is a bad thing, of course. He did much better than the usual “Are you having fun?” that most bands manage, but too much of a good thing … well, you know.
The concert at the spacious Dome in Johannesburg started off well enough, with a massive crowd smothering the bars and food stalls until the band came on. JK bounded on to the stage wearing a rather impressive hat consisting of metal spikes sticking up like feathers in a Native American’s headdress, with the stage lights reflecting madly off the gleaming surfaces. The first half of the show was upbeat and energetic, with the funk-pop sound of hits such as Cosmic Girl and Little L supercharging the dancing masses. JK’s moves on stage – he certainly proves that white men can dance – are addictive. You can’t help but bop along. The other band members, while certainly skilled in playing their respective instruments, literally fade into the background. JK, for all purposes, is Jamiroquai. He has the spotlights, the moves, the lines and the looks.
Then came the second half and it all fell a bit flat. Songs in the second half often lapsed into long, drawn-out, jazzy meanderings, with JK scatting a bit here and there between a smoke or two and the crowd quieting down and wandering off. Even the impressive finale, with a stylish sequence of moves by JK segueing into the strains and beats of Deeper Underground, couldn’t quite bring back the fervour of the first half. And of course, there was the talking. Between every song JK would go on about something, often something inaudible to anyone apart from those at the front nearest to the speakers. More than once I found myself wishing he’d just get on with it and play some funky music, white boy.
Though the sound wasn’t always crystal-clear, the lighting was dazzling. The stage had a starry backdrop looking like the viewscreen of the Enterprise on Star Trek. Other lights swirled, changed hue, split beams of colour and shined magnificently.
I left the concert with sore feet and glad to have finally seen Jamiroquai live, but less enchanted than I thought I’d be. Maybe I set my sights too high (or maybe 5fm’s overpowering and incessant promotions made me expect more), but I will certainly be less excited next time the man in the hat comes to town.