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This dance group specializes in West African music-- which is somewhat unusual, considering there are no African-Americans in the troupe at all. However, as Ryleh pointed out at the time, you don't have to be Irish to enjoy Keltic music and dance. In the same way, there's really no requirement that only Americans of African descent can play or dance to West African music! He could, of course, be wrong...Besides the drumming, Ryleh also enjoyed Akiwowo for the sheer physical energy and endurance of their show (Photo, above left). From the very start, the entire troupe "charged" into their performance with a wild enthusiasm which easily belied the sullen heat and oppressive humidity of North Texas in August. More impressively, they also managed to maintain that fast, hard-driving pace through every number they played that Sunday afternoon. And there wasn't a single "slow" number in their entire 30-minute show!
Now Hear Akiwowo at Play...
DRUMS OF AKIWOWO This cut starts with a traditional "Call and Response" chant before diving headlong into the driving rhythms of the drums. Sure, they're setting the tempo for the benefit of their dancers--but the beat can't help but set your heart to pounding with them, too! AKWW1.RA (199K).
MORE DRUMS OF AKIWOWO Loud and fast, but with some subtle changes along the way for variety. In the background you can hear the dancers shouting and calling every now and then. These folks really enjoy their "work(out)"!!! AKWW2.RA (194K).
INTRODUCTION A brief sample of a much longer set as the drummers "warm up" the audience before the dancers perform. AKWW1.RM (319K) 1.11 min.
MORE DRUMMING AND DANCING of Akiwowo. Here the dancers first accompany the drums with gourd rattles, then pick up the beat as this fast set takes off. AKWW2.RM (323K) 1.13 min.
DRUMS AND DANCERS A really spirited romp, with the drums racing and the Akiwowo dancers throwing themselves into their performance. This, on a 100+ degree day in August! AKWW3.RM (312K) 1.11 min.
While there were plenty of drums--including a lone bodhran!-- surrounding the Green Man Stage, there were only a dozen or so actual dancers with a single "Master of Ceremonies" supervising the performance. Every so often he reached into his pouch, pulled out a bit of flashpaper, held it aloft and allowed it to combust, spontaneously. The brief "tongue" of flame as it ignited was a very nice touch!
Another "nice touch" was the small, brass bowl set in the middle of the dancing circle. Constantly refreshed from a bottle of rubbing alcohol, the leaping flame from the bowl illuminated the dancers warmly as they held hands and chanted to the music. Ryleh tried to catch some of the "spirit" of the occasion on film--but alas! There was far too little light for picture-taking; and Ryleh was loathe to disturb either the concentration of the dancers or roil the energy flow of their dance with even a single camera flash.
All the chanting, dancing and drumming continued for at least an hour after that. In fact, it would've gone on even longer--but the guests of Hawkwood were then respectfully requested to "have a good night... ELSEWHERE!" Everyone took this sobering announcement in good humor. In fact, many of the drummers and dancers simply moved on over to the patron campground, set up a new drumming circle in the midst of the tents therein and continued their performance onward. Although Ryleh himself left the campground for his room in Denton around midnight, according to the Lady Regina, the drumming continued on unabated 'til at least 5am Sunday morning. Which would explain why some of the patrons looked a tad "worse for wear" later that day...!
Enjoy the Saturday Night Drumjam at Hawkwood Now...
TRIBAL CHANT WITH DRUMS While the drums pound away steadily in the background, listen for the "Chant to the Elements" by the Hawkwood Spiral Dancers! DRUMJAM1.RA (198K).
Ryleh first met Kenny (Photo, left, with a blonde volunteer onstage at Hawkwood's Painted Badger Pub) in the Summer of '94. From the start, Ryleh enjoyed Kenny's music--and his keen (if not downright outrageous) sense of musical humor! Unfortunately, the gig Kenny was playing at soon closed. He moved on to other engagements and Ryleh lost track of him after awhile... So four years later it was with great pleasure that Ryleh found Kenny playing at Hawkwood when Ryleh arrived in Texas!
Kenny is an excellent solo performer, with a wide variety in his musical "pouch" ranging from slow ballads to fast reels--with a little soft rock thrown in for good measure. He really wants to be known as a serious musician, songwriter and entertainer! For instance, he already has three albums available: "Gold of the Autumn"; "High Grows the Barley"; and "Muses"...all of which may be ordered from his website at www.brewich.com/~kklein. However, his sense of humor keeps giving himself away...!
After all, how serious can a man be when he writes the chorus "Hey! Hey! Rigor Mortis!" for his hilarious song, "Dead Gerbils"???!? Or ask him to tell you the "Tale of Twa Corbies" the next time you see him at Faire! Even knowing the "punchline" four years later, Ryleh couldn't help laughing out loud all over again. The man is GOOD, talented and original. Don't miss his performances--and buy his albums: it never hurts to encourage originality!
The Musical Humor of Kenny Klein...
TWA CORBIES - TRADITIONAL The original, Scottish dirge about two crows and a dead knight, as sung by Kenny Klein. CROWTRA.RA (138K).
TWA CORBIES - ACCORDING TO KENNY KLINE The "Unicorn" version of the Scottish dirge, above. Same words (more or less), but a much happier song(???). All Ryleh can say is that Kenny has a wicked sense of humor! CROWUNI.RA (194K).
"DEAD GERBILS" Kenny offers a few hilarious suggestions for disposing of an old, dead gerbil after he/she/it has passed on to that Great Excercise Wheel in the sky. Even the chorus is hysterical! KK1.RM (315K) 1.12 min.
"FIVE CONSTIPATED MEN" Herein Kenny details the trials and tribulations of five well-known Biblical figures in the bad, old days before Ex-Lax was invented. Not for the scatalogically-impaired! KK2.RM (348K) 1.2 min.
BOB DYLAN IMPRESSIONS Would you believe Bob Dylan doing "Nirvanah"? How about "Nine-Inch Nails"???!? Watch this clip, and you will believe! KK3.RM (293K) .55 min.
Talk about your 60's FLASHBACK, Man! Take a dozen or so Freaks (slang for "Hippies"). Give them some pots and pans, an old bedstead, maybe a collander--anything that will produce some kind of sound when it's banged, sawed, scratched, pounded, rubbed or simply played. For that matter, throw in some battered but real musical instruments like guitars and flutes. Then stand back and let them Freaks GO!!! (Photo, above right).And that's not even a close approximation of the wonderous sounds that Spoonfed Tribe can produce from a wide variety of "found" musical "instruments". From fast to slow, improvised to set pieces, the sheer range and variety of their music is downright impressive. At times their music has a touch of Jethro Tull--especially when the lead played the flute! At other times, a Caribbean Calypso flavor. And, of course, there were their drums...!
You can't imagine the "voices" the Spoonfed drummers can coax out of overturned plastic trash barrels, old pots and kettles. At least, not until you actually hear them play! Unfortunately, they only play Hawkwood on Saturdays--but they do four shows that day. When Ryleh was there, their last show of the day was their best: two didjerido players from "Captain Jake's Big Blow" booth joined the band at the "Bottom O'The Barrel" Stage for openers. Then the band ran extra-long on their show, turning half an hour into an hour-long performance or more. Definitely a group to see and hear if you have the chance!
Spoonfed Tribe Does Their Thing...
WELCOME TO HAWKWOOD! Spoonfed Tribe displays their musical versatility--not to mention more good drumming!--in this cut from the opening number of their Saturday show. SPNFD1.RA (191K).
INTRODUCTION A brief sample of the Spoonfed Tribe's opening number at their first performance of the day at Hawkwood. Their music conveys a real sense of the "wild" energy they demonstrated throughout that Saturday at all their shows! SPNFED1.RM (273K) 1.01 min.
SPOONFED TRIBE Another sample of Spoonfed Tribe in action, demonstrating the wide range of their music--not to mention some of the, er, "peculiar" instruments they played to create their own, unique sound! SPNFED2.RM (314K) 1.11 min.
DRUMS of the Spoonfed Tribe. Full "wired" energy in all its frenzied glory! This, alone, was enough to bring Ryleh back again and again to hear them play throughout the day! SPNFED3.RM (309K) 1.10 min.
This group is the same as "Isis and the Star Dancers" of Scarborough fame. Due to contractual restrictions, however, Isis cannot use her name with the Star Dancers at any other Faire besides Scarborough. Go figure! It's the same, great show with a bevy of beautiful bellydancers showcasing their talents to an excellent musical accompaniment (think drums, of course!). Regretfully, Ryleh only managed to catch the last set of their last show on Sunday. Even so, the last dance of the day (Photo, above left) was evocative of this troupe's entire performance: the bellydancer in question not only balanced a sword on her head while she danced--she did so while kneeling, fully prone, with her shoulder blades touching the stage floor. THEN she rippled her stomach muscles in time with the rhythm of the drums. The sword never even quivered!!!If you don't find that impressive, try it yourself some time. Without the sword...!
Now Hear The Sensuous Sounds of the Star Dancers...
STAR DANCERS AT HAWKWOOD Drumming with a Middle Eastern flavor: the "snake charmer's flute" heard occasionally in this cut is a nice touch, too! STRDNCR.RA (199K).
SWORD DANCE An amazing performance by just one of the half-dozen Star Dancers at Hawkwood. Her poise and sense of balance are both simply awesome! STRDCR1.RM (345K) 1.19 min.
MEET THE STAR DANCERS As their show ends, the Master of Ceremonies introduces each dancer--with a big round of applause for the musicians, too. STRDCR2.RM (256K) .58 min.
Standard Disclaimer: These webpages are strictly an *Unofficial* look at the Hawkwood Medieval Fantasy Faire held near Fort Worth, Texas in 1998. The author of these pages is in no way, shape, manner or form connected with the Hawkwood Medieval Fantasy Faire, Past Times Productions and/or any of the sponsors associated with this event. All opinions expressed are strictly this author's own. Unless expressly noted otherwise, all photographs are copyright ©1998 by George Laking.
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