First off, while you read this review you should really push that little mp3 play button, just to get you in the mood. It was a night of good vibes, dancing, jumping, whooping, and a few really stinky people. But what else can you expect at a world music event, am I wrong? In my opinion, Nectar Lounge brings in some of the best (if not THE best) lineup of world pop music acts in Seattle. And Nectar didn't fail me this night either with Delhi 2 Dublin, the Vancouver-based quintet that blasted the crowd with a little hot energy in an otherwise blustery Sunday night.
But before I talk about D2D's performance, I first have to mention opener Off The Grid, a dub/reggae, feel-good jam band from Portland. This type of languid music is always a little debaucherous to me, especially watching people move to it. Not that that is a bad thing. Watching the members of Off The Grid reminded me of watching a jazz ensemble, constantly relying on each other to move the music forward through different key changes, new rhythms and solos. Though not generally a fan of jam bands, I rather enjoyed this group and thought they started off the evening well. A couple of songs ended a little awkwardly, but overall the flow was smooth and satisfying.
Then Delhi 2 Dublin--or rather, the most good-looking band I have ever seen--stepped onto the stage. Flashing their sparkling white smiles, Delhi 2 Dublin literally jumped into their first song, and an instant dance party started. It being the first time I had seen these guys, I knew it was going to be fun, but I had no idea how energetic and choreographed they would be. They even had synchronized dance moves. Such songs as "Supafunkadholic" and "Celtic Dub" are impossible to stand still to even for the most firmly-footed concert-goer. It didn't take long for the members of D2D to get nice and sweaty moving at a feverish pace underneath the hot lights and playing their instruments with such a passion I was scared they might burst into flames.
The name alone describes Delhi 2 Dublin's special brand of music. Theirs is a fusion of bhangra beats, Sanjay Seran's punjabi vocals, and a fiddle laid on top of throbbing basslines mixed by Tarun Nayar. Andrew Kim took care of both the electric sitar and guitar; Ravi Binning stole the show on the dhol; and the petite Kytami--the only female of the group never to be outshone--gave a rambunctious performance on the fiddle.
Not only hardworking performers, Delhi 2 Dublin makes it a priority to connect with their audience. Taking pictures with fans, jumping into the audience, pumping up the crowd, and consistently making eye contact with fans made everyone feel on the same level. If they could, you just know they would be just as happy playing and dancing in the crowd. They also talked about their not-so-crowded first experience at Nectar a year previous and then their subsequent successful appearance at Bumbershoot last summer.
The only minor drag of the evening occurred when two women decided they preferred my spot at the front in order to show everyone how to properly hump the monitors lining the stage. I normally don't mind sharing dance space, and I could have even made it past the medusa-rivaling hair, but for the love of humanity, please use some deodorant if you are going to gyrate all over the place. Especially while in proximity to me.
If a bad smell is the only complaint of the evening, then it was definitely a successful evening of music. Provided that Delhi 2 Dublin keeps this type of energy up, and world music continues its slow yet progressing appeal, their audiences should only grow larger, and the dance parties should get even more vibrant. Stinky people or no, I will be there to cheer them on.
