Mc Solaar @ The Jazz Cafe 08/01/2010

I went on a hunch, I saw it advertised in the e-flyer and thought that could be good and for £15 it was hard not to get a couple of tickets. I didn't know that much of his stuff but having been to a French school I know of his influence.

On the night I was reminded of my dislike of the Jazz Cafe, the venue is fine, its layout, one of its principal features is what irks me. You walk in and have to snake through and around a crowded bar area. Don't bother thinking about checking your coat or bag as the small cramped stairs which also lead to the toilets, through a succession of tunnels.
My other beef with the venue is that whenever I have been it has taken a while for the crowd to get going, I don't know if its the people I have seen or just the night's audience. The fact a portion of the audience are sat upstairs eating doesn't make for too raucous a crowd.

The show itself is pretty minimal and stripped back, just Solaar, a DJ, two MCs though one seems to be more of a hype man and a backing singer, the very French Linda.
The set is a mix of songs from his seven albums and includes, Solaar Pleure, Victime de la Mode and Qui Seme Le Vent Recolte Le Tempo for which the MCs try to get the audience to shout out the "tempo" during the chorus, something it takes the crowd a while to do.

I had hoped to hear La Vie Est Belle from 2003's Mach 6 album. This was his first London gig in 5 years and didn't seem sell out until the day. It definitely feels packed inside and the intimate venue helps create an atmosphere to go with the buzz of seeing such an artist up close. MC Solaar is old enough and experienced enough to not be all bravado and posturing on stage, someone could have told the hype man who poses in his sunglasses and throws in the odd line. Solaar himself takes the pose of a crooner, one hand holding the mic the other holding the mic stand. Linda adds something needed in a female voice and acting out some of the songs.

For someone who has been around as long as Solaar it is a surprise he hasn't picked up more English, the large French contingent allows him to get away with only talking to the crowd in French but it does alienate the non-francophones. Early on he tells the English in the audience to ask the French for translations of his quips, saying it in French means they don't understand and so address to the select few continues.

A seasoned performer he is but his set isn't as long as it could be for someone with seven studio albums, and his encore is well received but still leaves the crowd wanting more. A good gig all round though, a good end to the week and start to the weekend.