Alive Band carry folk to fantasy-land

Jan 16, 2003

The guitars are strummed harder. Possessed by the music mania the eyes roll white. A fist shoots in the air: “Yeah, wao...” roar the crowd at Just Kicking in Kamwokya as the Alive Band rock Kampala.

By Titus Kakembo

The guitars are strummed harder. Possessed by the music mania the eyes roll white. A fist shoots in the air: “Yeah, wao...” roar the crowd at Just Kicking in Kamwokya as the Alive Band rock Kampala.

While dancing to the tunes, the foursome swing their feet in air. The lead vocalist/guitarist, Sam, shuffles his feet like scissors. Then Lyton kisses the atmosphere with her velvety voice, sending waists gyrating wild. It is rock and roll on the stage.

Soon the audience can resist no longer and join the dance, singing along while others are perched on the edge of their seats. Feet tap as fingers click with satisfaction.

Then the thrilled crowd is infected by Robbie William’s music fever. As the night gets older, patrons pump torsos to Abba, Rod Stewart and Freddie Mercury’s hits. For sh5,000 patrons have a long menu of treats ranging from Hard Rock to Shania Twain’s Being A Woman.

You have seen wild rock musicians pluck guitars to shreds, breaking instruments as the hit climaxes: That’s how it is. This is the mood brought all the way from UK, courtesy of Castle Lager and Just Kicking management, for the Christmas season.

In the carnival atmosphere, I see patrons with rivers of sweat energetically jump to the thunderous drumbeats. They then swing elbows back and forth to the ABBA tunes. Pretenders, Brown Eyed Girl and Where The Streets Have No Name were the best sellers.

Alive has been performing as back up for international tributes to Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams and Fred Mercury. The success story stretches from UK, New Zealand to Dubai and now Uganda.

Amidst the flood of special requests, it clocks 10:00pm and the miniature floor is filled to capacity. The joint is graced with petit teenage girls and big-bodied boys flirting with movie-perfected accents.

“Hi babe, have we met before?” a suitor clad in faded Jeans and a baggy T-shirt asks a girl he is jigging with. Later on they cuddle in each other’s arms doodling lines on their faces. With every sip taken, the night-time revellers here fall deeper in love with strangers. With perfected accents patrons make promises to marry, fly to the USA in summer or build mansions.

“I will do any thing for you,” and “give me a second chance,” are the phrases I overhear from lonely hearts in the madding crowd. For sh5,000, Just Kicking is all yours. Beer goes for sh2,000. The guest list comprises tennis star Magona, chairman Flower Exporters Association Mohammed Hudda, tourists, CEOs, expatriates and a sprinkling of locals.

If you love hard rock, Just Kicking is the place to be in addition to the customary Al’s Bar and Capital Pub. The dress code is casual. You get African shirts in stiff competition with the T-shirts. Faded jeans and sneakers are a must for most club revellers. It is hard to identify perfumes when the mingle with sweat after a hot song.

Located somewhat out of the city, the joint is lively and ideal for a break from the hectic urban lifestyle.

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