WITCH (W.I.T.C.H.)

Monday, September 28 W.I.T.C.H. at Grog ShopDoors 7 PM | Show 8 PMALL AGES$30 advance / $35 day of show+ $3 at the door if under 21A pioneering Zambian psychedelic act, W.I.T.C.H. (the name is an acronym, standing for We Intend to Cause Havoc), was one of the defining acts of Zamrock, a fusion of Western rock and rhythm s most popular and influential bands in the 1970s as a wave of psychedelic and hard rock gained an audience in Africa. A landlocked nation in the South of Africa, Zambia was formerly Northern Rhodesia until gaining its independence in 1964, and as Zambia established its own national identity, local musicians began embracing the progressive influences of artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as the forward-thinking soul and funk sounds of James Brown.By the mid-70s, Zambia was falling into political chaos as the nations once-profitable mining industry ran dry, and many Zamrock bands reflected this with a darker, more psychedelic-influenced sound that suggested a familiarity with the likes of Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad. W.I.T.C.H.s 1972 debut, Introduction, was the first commercial album released by a Zambian band, and they continued to deliver music until fading into dormancy in the mid-80s. A reissue campaign launched in 2011 brought the band to a new generation of listeners, and W.I.T.C.H. reunited in 2014 and started touring again shortly thereafter. In 2023, they released Zango, their first new album in almost 40 years.The original lineup of W.I.T.C.H. included vocalist Emanyeo Jagari Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, and drummer Boidi Sinkala, who were veterans of Zambian cover bands of the late 60s; Chanda (whose nickname Jagari came from his fascination with Mick Jagger, one of his strongest influences) had worked with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends (the latter group would evolve into another key Zamrock outfit, Peace), while most of the other members were members of Kingston Market.