WINACHI — NJ Cartner

Winachi @ Blues Kitchen, Manchester 27/10/22 – ‘Unfinished Funky Business’

The funk collective, WINACHI, are back headlining on home soil, their first gig in Manchester since May 2019. That’s not to say they’ve been quiet, far from it. They are one of the most hard-working and prolific bands off the stage you’ll hear of… if you count flying to and from LA as work.

The US has taken to WINACHI’s unique blend of electro, soul, hip hop and dance with open arms, with LA being the base for their creativity to shine. This year, their reach has stretched to Atlanta, Georgia where they headlined the ‘City Spring Theatre’ for the International Singer Songwriters Association (ISSA) red carpet event, where they won 2 awards for Best International Video (for Funky But Chic) & Best International Band. They’ve also been in LA filming the video for upcoming single ‘Heaven In Hell.A’, and headlining the iconic ‘The Mint’ for industry night Hunnypot Live.

Unfinished business in Blighty is the remit now, with the plan already in place having supported the Fun Lovin Criminals in September at the O2 Academy in Liverpool. Their show at Blues Kitchen, Manchester was supported by three acts, all suited to WINACHI’s distinctive musical eclecticism.

Unfortunately, due to parking issues on an unusually car-busy Manchester Thursday evening, I missed the first two support slots. Opening was the son of WINACHI percussionist, Inder Goldfinger, Silverfinger Singh, who warmed the early birds with an interesting and experimental blend of fast tempo Hip Hop, Indian fusion, R&B and Drum & Bass.

Following him were seven-piece Manchester group, San Pedro Collective, who twist and turn through a multitude of genres, from electro and synth, to 90s dance music, to rock and punk. By all accounts both acts were exceptional.

Riotous and rowdy band, Shed Project were up next, entering the stage to NWA’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’. This was music born straight outta Bolton (and Darwen) and the North of England in general. They thrust us back to Manchester’s heyday with an attitude befitting of the icons that made that era so captivating, refusing to let it die without a fight.

The music is influenced by a few of these Mancunian giants from the 80s and 90s. The groove and witty lyrics of Happy Mondays merges with some of the more ballady Stone Roses anthems to remind us what we’re missing from that glorious period. With lyrics about drugs, life in northern towns, and trips to Amsterdam, as portrayed in ‘The Day in the Dam’ they capture our unique culture and humour perfectly.

Up next are the main guys, WINACHI. Their Molotov cocktail of contagious, funk-soaked dance anthems is highly anticipated by their adoring fan base. From the off they’re typically vibrant, oozing coolness and hypnotic swagger. Inder Goldfinger’s tribal-like percussions are quite prominent, giving the tunes a different dimension as well as being a real spectacle to witness live. Antony Egerton behind the decks conjures up the enigmatic electronic beats which are multi-layered and keep the groove ticking over to ethereal effect. Frontman, Liam Croker, provides the vocals that switch between high and dreamy tones, to something a little raspier, but either way he’s full of charisma as the band’s focal point. The musicians blast their way through a number of hip-shaking tracks, like ‘Transition’ and ‘For You I’d Kill’ that are drenched with class, style and verve, never relenting on their capability to keep a crowd engaged and dancing.

The first release from their long-awaited debut album, ‘Heaven in Hell.A’ has some delicious basslines, thumping beats, striking guitar work, and mind-altering course changes. The video has recently dropped and was filmed in LA (of course), and co-stars producer John X and Frankie Clarke from LA punk band Frankie & The Studs. The single is backed by remix’s from FAST (Fun Lovin Criminals), Danny Saber & upcoming producer Northern Edits.

The final three tracks are ones cemented in WINACHI funklore. The uplifting ‘Funky But Chic’ drips with stylish rhythmic guitar and mesmeric electronica. The effervescent, foot-tapping, ‘Time For Love’, is a real crowd pleaser, fit to be played at any club night at peak euphoria. They close the evening off with, ‘Yeah Fool’, a track with influences from the guts of LA’s hip-hop scene, coupled with a sprinkling of Hacienda ecstasy.

It's always a treat to watch a WINACHI live show. You know exactly what you’re getting with their set. There’s not a downbeat or weak track in their repertoire. They could start a funk-athon rave in a nunnery such is their infectious concoctions. It’s impossible not to move and shake when you watch them, or even when listening at home (I’m bopping as I write this). You wouldn’t be disappointed if WINACHI soundtracked the full night at one of the Warehouse Projects.

It's a shame the gig fell on a school night, or else this journalist may have been throwing out some very questionable shapes to WINACHI’s strutting grooves, despite being about as co-ordinated as Lurch. So, for now, the ayahuasca will have to be kept on the shelf till a more suitable night.

Personally, it’s great to see them back performing and I can’t wait to see more live shows, being a huge fan since the China White days.

Just to add…a massive thanks to Liam and Antony for letting me use the band’s music and both of them as characters, Elsie Catflap and Tony California, in my latest book, ‘Lost in Manchester, Tourin’ America’.

Setlist

Starfighter

Pedestrian Falls

African Shaker

Acclimatise

Transition

Everybody Everyone

For You I’d Kill

Heaven In Hell.A

Sympathy For The Future

Funky But Chic

Time For Love