an upcoming psychedelic guitarist from the west African nation of Niger. He says he was inspired by the late Eddie Van Halen but his style is more modern psychedelic with some regional Saharan musical flavorings. He is outstanding, and innovative. He'
s getting some media attention in the
rock press. His shows are filling up the clubs. His lyrics are often in his language Tuareg, but his
CD lyric sheets are translated into English for our benefit. His lyrical themes are generally about life in the western Sahara, the struggles that the Tuareg and other ethnic groups face in the region and his Islamic faith. He is a 'third
world' musician that Peter
Gabriel seemed to have overlooked.
1. In 2019 I went out to a Mdou Moctar show in my city. I got to meet him and his band, the joint was packed to the max and we were thrilled! The set was short but
sweet, he had only ONE
CD out ('Ilana the Creator') and I have a copy. He also was selling DVDs of a movie that featured a Tuareg version of the 'Purple Rain' soundtrack. I didn't buy that one because my computer doesn't play DVDs from the west Africa time zone, just like it won't play German DVDs. Rats!
2. During the lockdown, Mdou Moctar and his band made a new
CD 'Afrique Victime'and released it last year to universal acclaim. Rolling Stone magazine gave it a four-star rating out of five. Check it out.
3. I was saddened when I heard Van Halen on one
rock station in my car and the
DJ said 'we'll be back after commercial break'. I then heard Van Halen on another station, then another and it was deja
vu - just like when
Prince died. All over the dial. I thought, 'Oh shit! Eddie'
s dead.'. I had seen Van Halen years before and another musical icon of mine had died. Eddie was a major guitar
hero but there are two now that we need to know. Tom Morello of RATM (I saw him subbing in at a Springsteen show and he is
WHACK!) and there'
s Mdou Moctar. Check them BOTH out.
Rock'n'roll forever!
4. Mdou Moctar being a Nigerien is a black man and he plays guitar left-handed just like a famous Black American guy, uh hhh- uh, lemme think! Who'
s that guy? C'mon, it'
s on the tip of my tongue! Uhh, can somebody tell me???? ; )
