RICARDO LEMVO AND MAKINA LOCA
Mayne Stage, Chicago Illinois, 29 June 2012

Photos and review by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca turned in an electrifying set  at the Mayne Stage in spite of some unusual microphone issues at the beginning of the show that were resolved within the first half hour of an approximately  2-hour performance. As always, there was a potent mix of Congolese Rumba, other African styles and some Afrocuban  standards (with their own stamp on the material)  including an innovative retooling  of Chango Ta' Veni and a version of Lagrimas Negras that really cranked up the audience.   One of the reasons that it's always worth coming back to this band for another helping is that even when they do a song that they've done before, they will frequently rework the arrangement to make it something fresh and different.       

This is the second year in a row that we've seen them at the Mayne Stage, and hopefully this means that Chicago is in their annual tour rotation now.   This band still throws down one of the best dance parties around.