Live review from Summer Festival 夏日大派對 2023:
1- WE ARE THE CAPTAINS
2- GOOD MORNING
3- MITSOENAWO
4- KEEP IT UP
(2 Covers by Nicky)
5- KILLING ME SOFTLY
6- TURN YOUR LIGHT DOWN LOW
7- MAZE MAZE
8- CRITICIZED
9- AMANDE
10- Closing with Anthem ”WE ARE THE CAPTAINS”
Dressed in army outfits and ready to party, General Achlin Achlino and the Captains rocked up on the stage. It was their first performance, but there were no signs of nerves or teething problems as the seven-strong collective delivered the kind of polished performance that is becoming increasingly rare in Hong Kong.
Achlino himself held down the show with the confident rhythm work he has become famed for; opener We Are the Captains was tight and bright with a ripping congo solo. From the off, the band’s professionalism was evident in their effortless vocal harmonising and the flawless melding of all seven members. The percussion, especially, was nothing short of astonishing, and all elements shone through on a well-mixed soundstage.
By Misoenawo, everyone in the room was dancing, and the energy levels kept up throughout the show as the band spun afrobeat and reggae into a kaleidoscopic mix. The highlights were covers of the Fugees version of Killing Me Softly with His Song and the Bob Marley and the Wailers/Lauryn Hill track Turn Your Lights Down Low. For these songs, singer Nicky shone under the spotlight; her husky vocals, switching from soul to rap, triggered goosebumps and drew gasps and cheers from the room.
Amande, which followed the story of a pirate, was a sweeping summery track. Then the General thanked a lot of people whom he knew in the audience and then serenaded us all with a spur-of-the-moment Bob Marley’s Redemption Song which clearly moved the audience. Their closing anthem We Are the Captains was the perfect parting shot. Although the Captains’ set was slightly long for a festival, incredible musicianship and onstage charisma made for a performance that will linger in the memory for a long time.
– EL JAY