Santigold brings Brooklyn to Paleo

Nyon, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Not Fancy but Funky, Funny, and Fun. This was a summary of the Santigold show Saturday night at Paleo.

Santigold, a Brooklyn, New York native, has discovered what those other kings of kitsch from the borough, the Beastie Boys, found out 20 years ago; chutzpah is cooler than gangsta’.

Her entourage, including a guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and two “of the baddest bitches you have ever seen” on backup vocals and dance moves, came on stage laughing and dressed in theatrical thrift store getups.

Santigold herself wore  a black and white striped cat suit that looked more Marvel Comics than Hip-Hop/Funk queen (as we know it). And that’s exactly what made this such a good show.

Santigold dancer showing her "moves" - Photo, Jared Bloch

Like her dancers’ moves, Santigold’s music is clear-cut, without pretense and that makes it all the more fun to shout along with. Two songs into the set, the singer pointed to audience members saying “I see some of you tryin’ these dance moves out, you should know, this is complicated stuff.” In fact, the “moves” included extended periods where the dancers stood stone faced and frozen behind their microphones, leaving us wondering if Santigold was playing at us or with us.

Wherever the The Jaipur Maharaja Brass Band appears, a party, or at least a spectacle is sure to ensue. In addition to playing traditional and classical Rajasthani music at Paleo on Saturday night, the troupe included a dancer and a fakir, transforming the musical performance into a mini carnival under the Dome tent.

Fire eating fakir with Jaipur Marharaja Brass Band - Photo, Jared Bloch

What began as a simple water jug stunt got considerably more interesting as the fakir proceeded to balance the jug on 4 glasses, while dancing first on a bed of nails and then on upturned machete blades, not bad for a starter… He then went on to dance his way through a literal trial of fire including fire eating, and running torches up and down his body, while the band incited the crowd with their caffeinated dixieland sound.

I will always think of Tracy Chapman as my parents probably do of Bob Dylan, in spite of the fact they haven’t bought one of his albums for the past 30 years; everyone knows the words to her biggest songs and has their own story of life’s trials played out to the soundtrack of this American icon.  Chapman easily held the Paleo audience captive for one-and-a-half hours last night as she played old favorites and new material including “I did it all,” a folksy reminiscing of life’s follies, in the style of “My Way.” If anything, her beautifully rich voice has gotten stronger over the years. Still having seen Chapman’s understated live performance several times,  I couldn’t help but fantasize that somewhere deep inside, there lies a hard-core, nail spitting, Tracy Chapman that I will get to see someday.

See GL’s Paleo Photo Album and the rest of GenevaLunch’s coverage of the Paleo Festival.

Jaipur performer

Indian fakir stepping on nails

Paleo Festival Santigold

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