blkjkssxsw

BLK JKS - 2009 Tour Dates (Bell House, KF, Irving Plaza)

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: BLK JKS – “Lakeside”(MP3)

BLK JKS @ SXSW 2009 (maju646)
BLK JKS

South Africa’s BLK JKS have four NYC area shows scheduled for May/June. The first comes Wednesday, May 27th to the Bell House in Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale now.

The next is Tuesday, June 2nd at NYC’s Knitting Factory, as part of that space’s AfroBeat Festival. Tickets go on sale for the show Wednesday, May 6th at noon. Baja is also on the bill.

BLKS JKS then open for Femi Kuti at two Knitting Factory-presents nights at Irving Plaza on June 3rd and 4th. Tickets, including two-night passes, are still on sale for that show. Femi Kuti, it was also just officially announced, is playing a free show in Prospect Park this summer.

Earlier this year, BLK JKS played at least five SXSW shows. Those were preceeded by a pair NYC gigs – I caught one on March 14th at Santos, where the quartet’s jam-heavy set stacked up layers of improv rock riffs over loose dub bass and frantic drums. Drummer Tshepang Ramoba made the band’s frequent time signature changes and transitions seem second nature. Vocals and guitars were loaded mostly with echo and effects and added texture to the swaying grooves. Live, BLK JKS’ dub plus angular rock approach reminded me at time of the Pilfers, not least in the subtle phrasing of vocalist Lindani Buthelazi.

Three SXSW videos of the band, with all tour dates, below…

BLK JKS @ SXSW, NPR day party @ The Parish, Thursday, March 19th

BLK JKS @ SXSW, Mohawk Patio on Thursday, March 19th

BLK JKS @ SXSW, Mohawk Patio on Thursday, March 19th

BLK JKS – 2009 Tour Dates
05/05/09 Berlin, Germany – White Trash
05/06/09 London, UK – Bardens Boudoir
05/09/09 Cacera, Spain – WOMAD
05/22/09 San Francisco, CA – The Independent &
05/23/09 Chico, CA – Senator Theater @
05/24/09 Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Ampitheatre @
05/25/09 Quincy, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
05/27/09 Brooklyn, NY – Bell House
06/02/09 New York, NY – Knitting Factory
06/03/09 New York, NY – Irving Plaza #
06/04/09 New York, NY – Irving Plaza #
08/05/09 Saint Pierre, France – La Reunion – Indian Ocean Party @ Sakifo Festival
& w/ Foreign Born
@ w/ Michael Franti & Spearhead
# w/ Femi Kuti