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Kobo Town
audiostreet.net/kobotown
Home Town: Toronto, Canada
Genre: World/Folk
Posted By: MusicDish
Joined On: November 13, 2007
Page Views: 2,710
Song Plays: 50
Current Rank: 4,041
Highest Rank: 140
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Albums
Independence
Similar Artists
Roaring Lion, King Radio, Eddie Grant, Jolly Boys, Manu Chao, Barbarito Torres, Steel Pulse, Yellowman, David Rudder, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mutabaruka, The Orishas, Mighty Sparrow, K-os
Group Members
Drew Gonsalves, Robert Milicevic, Stich Wynston, Ravi Jadoonanan, Derek Thorne, Linsey Wellman, Roger Williams, Cesco Emmanuel, Osvaldo Rodriguez
Instruments
cuatro, guitar, drums, dholak, percussions, congas, flute, saxophone, clarinet, bass, violin, piano
Musical Style
Calypso, Roots Reggae, Dub, Mento
Influences
early Trinidadian calypso, Cuban son montuno, Jamaican mento, French Antillean zouk, old school dancehall, roots reggae, Brazilian forro, Crucian scratch band music, Venezuelan pasillos, Colombian parranda, Haitian kompa
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Global Rhythm Magazine
By Matt Scheiner
June 11, 2007
The members of Kobo Town are a complete cross-section of the Caribbean islands where their musical influences stem from-composed of Trinidadians, a Cuban and a Jamaican (as well as a few Canadians), the group fluidly meshes their West Indian roots to form a new reggae/calypso carnival party. Bandleader and lead vocalist Drew Gonsalves has a perfect reggae voice (more authentic and passionate than either Mishka or Matisyahu), and the group's lyrics tackle Trinidad's turbulent past and present-a subject he's experienced firsthand. Taking cues from Jamaican mento, reggae, and calypso (which was born in Kobo Town, Trinidad), Independence is packed with traditional instrumentation and a joyous vibe. "Sing Out, Shout Out," "Corbeaux Following" and "Blood And Fire" are the key tracks, mixing inventive horns, congas, cuatro and contrabass, led by Gonsalves' energetic and smooth patois.
| Blogcritics Magazine
Jon Sobel
October 5, 2006
Toronto-based reggae-calypso band Kobo Town, brainchild of Trinidadian singer, songwriter and bandleader Drew Gonsalves, is named for the old Port-of-Spain neighborhood that birthed traditional calypso. Though the band's sound is best described as pan-Caribbean, its inspiration and subject matter have firm roots in the history of Gonsalves's native land, of whose turbulent history he speaks with poetic specificity and force.
In "Trinity" he looks down on the land from an airplane: "Her clothes were torn, and her shirt was all tattered/Her eyes downcast, every hope and joy scattered/Dream of my past, bright memory shattered/but I adore her still 'cause I know that all that don't matter." In other songs ("Abatina," "Beautiful Soul") he focusses closer in, examining the lives of individuals. And in "Blood and Fire" he casts his eye on the wider stage of the whole suffering world: "From Gaza to Jaffna, blood and fire/Soweto to Rio,... Read entire review »
| The Live Music Report
Tony Shivpershad
June 9, 2007 - Luminato Festival, Lula Libre Stage, Distillery District. Toronto
On a beautiful warm spring night on an open-air sound stage in the heart of Toronto's beautiful Distillery District - this is the way to see Kobo Town. The occasion was Luminato, the Toronto festival of arts and creativity. It was there, between the historic buildings, at the end of the big cobblestone road, that Kobo Town seemed larger than life.
The band executed their unique blend of Calypso, roots reggae and a splash of jazz with effortless precision. The crowd was receptive and appreciative. During their first song a two-year-old baby danced a solo game of Ring around the rosie on the riser in front of the stage, entertaining the audience and causing guitarist Cesco Emmanuel to crack a smile. Soon that solo baby would turn into a mob of dancers.
A quartet of young teenage female hip-hop dancers popped and locked amongst the other Kobo Town... Read entire review » |
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