I caught Psyco on da bus, the new band of Tony Allen, who was Fela’s drummer and musical coordinator, the other night. If you dig Fela, check out the opening band, Antibalas, who were simply great. They played all the notes, jammed all the jams. Antibalas is not a cover band, but the a bit of the same musical charge that followed Fela around is carried by Antibalas, a debt they aren’t slow to acknowledge.
Psyco is more interesting, and less likely to get you to shake your booty. They’re more experimental, using electronics and inconsistent beats to organize the tunes. But by the end of the night there were still a lot of us shaking and singing along. Allen is a fine host. And he can really play the drums. Just seeing him is worth the price of admission.
It probably won’t change your life, and they may not be the world’s greatest party band, but Psyco on da bus is a real groove you should try to catch if you can.