Fantastic Negrito in London: Authentic and brilliantly entertaining

Live Review - London, UK

Fantastic Negrito. Photo by Paul Clampin.

By Paul Clampin, Rock At Night London

Live Review: Fantastic Negrito – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK – October 29, 2024

Fantastic Negrito. Photo by Paul Clampin.

I was lucky to catch the multi-Grammy award winner Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz in London this week as he performed under his alter ego Fantastic Negrito.  This guy has a whole backstory history that Hollywood writers would fight for!

He’s the real deal live. Slick band and moves that mixes genre between James Brown, George Clinton and a voice like Messrs Guy & Wolf. Blues fusion it is and he’s brilliantly entertaining. The great bluesman Joe Bonamassa indicated that Fantastic Negrito was one to watch and redefining the genre. That he is  Songs about life, love, loss and everything America. Who could want more on a Tuesday night in October?

ISE. Photo by Paul Clampin.

Well, there was more. Support by the ‘fresh from school’ ISE. An 18-year-old signer songwriter from Holland who’s brittle gravelly voice found a warm audience with a focus on life . Think Marling meets Mitchell and you’d be on the right track. This was her first visit to London and the UK . She’ll be working the road for a while.

Fantaistic Negrito Set 

  1. Run away from you
  2. Working Poor
  3. Bad Guy Necessity
  4. I’m so happy I cry
  5. Oh Betty
  6. I home somebody’s loving you
  7. Chocolate samurai
  8. Scary woman
  9. An honest man
  10. Drifting away
  11. Crooked road
  12. Night has burned
  13. In the pines
  14. Rant Rushmore
  15. My only friend is you
  16. California lover
  17. Plastic hamburgers/ A long long road
  18. The Duffer

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