Fifteen years of following this man’s music, and last night at Islington Assembly Hall, Fantastic Negrito, AKA Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, showed he’s still got cards up his sleeve. Third London show I’ve caught, and let me tell you – this wasn’t just another night of blues and funk. This was Xavier operating at frequencies I didn’t know existed.
“Son of a Broken Man” is a beast on record, but live? These songs grow teeth. When he ripped into “Runaway from You,” the whole room shifted temperature. The funk was thicker, darker, more dangerous than previous tours. His band wasn’t just tight – they were surgically precise while keeping that raw, street-corner swagger that’s always made his shows special.
Remember the early days? That wild energy that won him those Grammys? He’s somehow bottled it, aged it, and made it more potent. “So Happy I Could Cry” and “Bullshit Anthem” didn’t just groove – they excavated something primal from the crowd. And when he dropped that Sly Stone “Thank You” cover mid-set, it felt less like homage and more like reclamation.
“Scary Woman” had Islington Assembly Hall feeling like some hidden basement club from another era. “Crooked Road” brought it home – proof that Xavier knows the sweet spot between funk and R&B better than most.
Each time I’ve seen Xavier perform, he’s levelled up. But this tour? This is his final form. “Son of a Broken Man” might be his strongest album, but these live arrangements take the songs somewhere else entirely. His storytelling between tracks hasn’t changed – still raw, still real – but now they land with the weight of a man who’s seen it all and figured out how to turn it into gold.
Three shows in London over the years, and last night Xavier proved why we keep coming back. It’s not just about the music anymore – it’s about watching an artist reach that rare air where craft meets chaos, where funk meets prophecy. Islington Assembly Hall got something special – the kind of show that reminds you why live music matters.
