Bab L’ Bluz played their first, and maybe last, full set in New York at Joe’s Pub on Friday, April 19.
Formed in Marrakesh, Morocco in 2018, the band calls its music Psychedelic Blues. By taking hard rock riffs and multi-minute distorted solos the likes of AC/DC or Pink Floyd, and combining them with traditional Moroccan folk tradition and instruments, and then fusing that with broader North African musical influence Bab L’ Bluz’s songs push genres. Throughout their set, the band plays with the idea of what the Blues can be.
Led by frontwoman Yousra Mansou on the Guembri and vocals, the band consists of Brice Bottin on guitar and vocals, Jérôme Bartholomé on Qraqeb and flute, and Hafid Zouaoui on drums and vocals.
A strong voice for social change, Bab L Bluz music addresses socio-political issues both at home and abroad. During their set, the band brought their political lens to the U.S: the saying, “It is scary to come to the U.S. right now. Not you guys, you are nice, but coming to the airport….Especially after the election, we’re not supposed to talk about it, but we will.”
The band dedicated one of its first songs to the U.S., saying, “keep fighting for diversity, your rights, your freedom,” and mentioning that they might not be able to play in the U.S. in the future, given their political stances and the restrictions the Trump administration is placing on foreign visas
Throughout the set, the band also talked about the genocide in Gaza. Before one of their last songs, they mentioned that they “picked up this next song from a Yemeni Jewish tradition, sung in Arabic…. First of all, Free Palestine” before being cut off by raucous cheers. After the cheers died down, front woman, Mansou continued to discuss the killing of Palestinian children and that the song discusses how Muslims, Jews, and Christians can all live together.
As the set finished, Bab L’ Bluz moved seamlessly from mournful yearning lyrics to fast-paced guitar and drum solos, all while discussing the importance of diversity, local cultures, and being willing to stand up for your own beliefs. Despite there being nowhere to dance, the audience at Joe’s Pub responded by standing and dancing throughout aisles, stairways, and wherever they could. By the end of the night, there were few people still in their seats.
Bab l’ Bluz continues their tour of the US in Louisiana and Arkansas the last week in March and April
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