Bays Tour: Fat Freddy’s Drop. LONDON

LONDON: O2 Academy Brixton. Friday 25th March presenting “Fat Freddy’s Drop“.

A sold out gig, the second night of two it was such a buzz here in London. Slave got the party totally cranking with the entire Academy jumping to the beat, Hopepa (Happy Birthday by the way…!) dressed slick and gangster style in his tux re appeared half way through in what I can only describe as something totally unique… A visual story to behold! A mass of pink sparkle! Charging onto the stage and standing by the wind machine, it was simply hilarious! Pink tinsel flying all over the place, sometimes totally blocking out his frame entirely with just these long pieces of sparkle going crazy in the wind and the occasional hand or arm coming through. I could give you an entire album of images of just this one outfit, but have tried to pick out just a few for you. A girl in the front row took off her red bra and threw it Dallas during the set! It got passed around the stage amusing the guys! Hopepa totally owned the stage and threw himself into the audience a few times charging to the left and the right so he didn’t miss anyone, keeping the security guards on their toes!

With the launch of their new album Bays, the hit single “Ten Feet Tall” filled the arena with some powerful lyrics and much needed NZ grounding for us in London. Other favourites such as “Black Bird” and a brilliant delivery of “This Room” that was met with such a huge roar of approval from the crowd it was over whelming. When the gig was finished, the cheering…it was so so loud. A truly humbling moment for the Freddy’s. Dallas a little lost for words while he and his band stood there watching his fans loving every second begging them not to go yet. Returning for an impacting encore, the atmosphere inside the O2 Brixton Academy was totally alive and fulfilled with such a electrifying and stimulating performance by Fat Freddy’s Drop. 

The stage lighting was excellent. The attention to detail simply top class. Toby Chang on Trumpet, Dallas on vocals giving that amazing familiar tone and sound that is so loved, MC Slave giving it every thing he’s got really coming from the heart, Hopepa on Trombone and vocals and fashion that totally blows you away…! (Everyone needs a Hopepa in their life, so we thank you for that!) Flash on Saxophone, DJ Fitchie, Iain on keys, Jetlag Johnson on guitar. An absolute pleasure to photograph. Each one of these guys so massively talented in what they do. Musicians that are quite simply ‘music’ themselves. If there is one thing that we know we always have, that is synchronicity and unity through music. Thank you. Have fun in Amsterdam and the rest of the tour. Until next time…Fly!

Photos © Gem Rey