:: Gentlemen in Concert 2007
14 April 2007

Last was the first of a double bill of entertainment at the Braeburn Theatre hosted by Sterling Q entertainment. The idea was that several men considered sexy would sing popular ballads for an audience with some of the proceeds of their exertions’ going to charity. It was quite successful last year when Nimrod Taabu (of NTV), Ian Mbugua (of Phoenix Players), Michael Oyier (of KTN) and Phillip Coulson were MCeed by Fred Ojiambo to some acclaim. It was so successful that concert that I didn't attend. This year, the word was that the main event would be the female event dubbed "Leading Ladies Live". And the "Gentlemen in Concert" was more of a curtain raiser to the women singers on the next day.

Maurice Odumbe

I arrived a bit early. It looked like rain and I didn't want to spend time going up Gitanga Road and sitting it traffic for two hours. I don't like traffic really. It’s started raining again (are they long or short rains I wonder... Now I have a reason to call KBC’s hot weather chic Dottie Okeyo he he) and the traffic situation as you know gets crazy at such times. And the concert which was meant to start at 7pm started late. So you know I had a lot of time to twiddle my thumbs as I waited. Sweet joy!

At this event, I met quite a few people. Off course Michael Oyier was there. He was trying to figure out how to work a huge camera and by the evenings end was taking pictures like the proverbial pro. This dude scares me. Also ran into Misiko Andere Artscene presenter and cover model for True Love EA this month. And there was Ruthie a Jamaican medical student who runs this blog. And there was also this chic were in college with who works for Woolworths but I couldn't remember her name. But there was no way I was forgetting Mary Kingarui who showed up with some of her pals. I also had a chat with the Oyier brothers - Peter and Paul.

Also chatted with some KWAL execs and I told them of my great love for Amarula (they might just have hooked me up with a free bottle see?). I was drinking their offering for the night. The cocktail of interest to me at this point was one dubbed the screwdriver. Its at this point that I must protest. I have seen and read the screwdriver being sold as a really cool drink. And do you know what the contents of a screwdriver are? Vodka and orange juice. You heard me right matie. Yaani maji ya machungwa and vodka. Its too simple. There is nothing like "with a twist of..." in this recipe. No umbrellas. No exotic fruits say limes or even watermelons if things are really thick. Just vodka, orange juice and a slice of orange. Talk about overhype. Tonight’s screwdriver was done with Kibao vodka and it was to be honest really nice. I kid you not. Good stuff. I guess that its just that this drink had been overhyped in my head for too long.

Robert Warobi

In we went with Mary and waited for the Gentlemen to start the show. It begun with the four dudes of the night that were expected. In came John, Tom, Robert and Maurice and they danced the a jig as some sort of introductory dance. They looked slightly disjointed. In spite of this they gave it their all. An A for effort. The performances were not bad at all although Maurice Odumbe is clearly out of his mind. The cricket legend gave a most amusing performance. It was a ballad the fellow was singing but he was wiggling his way on that stage to suggest a different agenda. Robert Warobi who is now back home at Family Radio (who are hiring). His deep voice is NOT a singing voice but he gave his best shot nonetheless. And Tom Mboya was pretty cool too. He was singing with so much passion although a pal will clearly never win a Grammy for best performance. He might win Chaguo La Teeniez though. But fellow who will probably give serious competition to Swaleh for the Teeniz vote is John Allan Namu (or John Allan Tamu as our MC Philip Coulson called him in jest). The Danson Kyavi Kiundi led band was quite good too. It was about 11 pals on violin, drum, guitars - base lead and rhythm- saxophone and more.

On stage was also a young man who had a serious heart condition. And this was why we were all here listening to celebrity singers. It was a really nice evening. Next year for sure. Well done Sterling Q.

>> Related Links
:: Sterling Q
:: The Sunbirds: A very cool musical

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