Morning:
10°c
The Evening Standard demands an end to the practice of burying children and babies in mass paupers’ graves
More...
It’s Day’s night, and no one is going to spoil her story
A Sentimental Journey
Film
This is a shocking, replenishing film, not to be missed
Green Zone
Restaurants
It is great that Bruno Loubet is back — and at prices that are eminently fair
Bistro Bruno Loubet
The action and direction are superb and the acting good, but the plot is so pathetic it defies belief
Wonderful - beautifully acted and gloriously funny, particularly Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw
Probably the most important photography exhibition london has ever seen
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
Description: Funk, R&B and soul fusion trio.
Phone: 08700 600 100
Website: http://www.islington-academy.co.uk/listings.php
Email: louise@academy-music-group.co.uk
Electronic soul trio Unklejam have got the names (Tyson, Bobby and Adonistar), the juddering dance skills, the gutsy harmonies and the razzledazzle sunglasses to suggest they’re fully poised for superstardom.
Admittedly, they remain poised – but this headline show, prior to next month’s overdue release of their self-titled album, deserves to get things moving again. After all, Unklejam’s bravely OTT support slots for the likes of Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado earlier this year demonstrated they could command considerably bigger stages than this one.
If pop music involved such a thing as ‘logical progression’, then Unklejam would have steamed to No.1 by now. It’s true that they’re tricky to market – they’re a boy band aimed at grown-ups, or possibly robots – and it hasn’t helped that their material has emerged slowly.
Fortunately, the album still sounds like something to get excited about and the trio promise an even sassier, more whoop-inducing spectacle in the flesh.
Boldly flaunting their inspirations (they’ve adapted their name from a Funkadelic album), Unklejam’s goodies include the stupendous single What Am I Fighting For?, Outkast-style ballad Daddy Genes and the epic r’n’b electric shock of The Touch, where they croon about ‘digital traces in my bed’.
Heaven knows how you’d get those stains out – but Unklejam are the most entertaining freaks of the week.
Arwa Haider Tonight, Islington Academy, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street N1,
7pm, £6. Tel: 0870 771 2000.
www.islington-academy.co.uk
Tube: Angel
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I went to this gig... and, for a Monday night the place was full to capacity. They've got a very loyal and rapidly growing fanbase, a fanbase that happily is rainbow hued... all colours, all creeds, all sexualities, all ages! Isn't this just the act the music scene needs right now? Not one that segregates, but one that binds our differences together with vibes of love, harmony and soulful electricity! There's really no other band quite like them, so no you can't stick them in a neatly labelled little box as you guys tend to do and they're all the better for it!
I've been waiting months to see them live, didn't think they'd disappoint... but better than that they blew the Academy apart. A strong celeb presence was felt too. No sorry, definitely NOT a boy band, but a quality Electro-Soul/rock band, one that outclasses many live acts today - both vocally and physically. Can't speak for robots, but for us flesh and hotblooded fans they certainly deliver the goodies.
- Cazzb, Brighton, UK
