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Kid Creole and the Coconuts (Barbican, London)
The Guardian, Friday 23 April 2010
Article by Robin Denselow

August Darnell must be delighted, if bemused, by the continuing success of his cool, conceited and sexist alter-ego, Kid Creole. After all, the Kid is a product of Darnell's upbringing in the Bronx, where he listened to salsa, funk, reggae and pop – yet it was thanks to a run of hit singles in the UK in the early 80s that he achieved international stardom.

Darnell is now based in Sweden, but tonight he was back in the UK, headlining the opening night of the La Linea Latin festival. His show mixed pop nostalgia and brave musical fusion, with the music mostly more interesting than the theatrics. Darnell is 59, but he hasn't allowed the Kid to grow up. Sporting his characteristic flashy and colourful suits and hats, he sang and danced with impressive energy, surrounded by his latest trio of long-legged female Coconuts, who managed four costume changes but proved a disappointment when it came to singing or to providing the necessary foil for the Kid's more outrageous tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

The backing band was driven on by Bongo Eddie, Creole's sidekick for more than 30 years, along with the versatile guitarist Mark Anthony Jones and a powerful three-piece brass section. They switched between funk, Latin and Caribbean influences and blues (an excellent Sweet Home Chicago from Eddie), and revived the hits, from Stool Pigeon to I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby.

Tours

Eddie remains an integral part of Kid Creole and the Coconuts. For tour dates take a look at www.kidcreole.com.

Details of any special solo performances will be posted here.