Mr. Byrne, Meet Mr. Tembo

While we're on the subject of groovy, African-inspired music from frontmen of groundbreaking pop bands, allow me to offer Damon Albarn's "Mr. Tembo". It's a jaunty little guitar ditty about an orphaned elephant Albarn met in Tanzania. And it's irresistible. It features the Leytonstone City Mission Choir to give it a gospel feel, as well as a sample from the 1959 album Lions by comedian Richard Buckley.

My admiration of Damon Albarn's music has been well-documented on this site. I feel that -- like David Byrne -- he's a pioneer, unafraid to push boundaries and discover new sounds and musical styles to incorporate into his music. And one more similarity: Both Byrne and Albarn are pals with uber producer Brian Eno, who plays synths on Albarn's sublime "You and Me" and adds vocals on "Heavy Seas of Love".

I AM a "Fantastic Man."

Music excited me last night.  After a too late cup of coffee, I was up watching "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" featuring another proud Emmaus High School, alum, Dane DeHaan.  I digress.  The musical act of the night came on after the break.  It was David Byrne, who I always expect something a little left of center.  He was with a backing group called the Atomic Bomb Band.  Well, I was stirred by the funky groove and quirkiness of a song that I never remotely heard before, "Fantastic Man."

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After a little snooping, The Atomic Bomb Band is an all-star lineup put together by David Byrne for a couple of gigs, and that's about it. It is made up of the Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark,LCD Soundsystem's Pat Mahoney, Kele Okerke from Bloc Party, the Lijadu Sisters, and Sinkane. 

In 2013 Byrne put together a compilation of songs from William Onyeabor, a Nigerian electro-funk musician on the compilation Who is William Onyeabor?  Onyeabor made music in the 70's and 80's and then became a born again Christian and pretty much turned his back on the music scene - refusing to speak about himself or his music.  When wanting to put this compilation together, Obyeabor even put up a bit of a fight until finally being persuaded to allow his music to be exposed to groups outside of Africa.

They Atomic bomb Band is only doing four shows.  Two in Brooklyn on May 2 & 3, May 6th in San Fransisco, and May 8th in Los Angeles.