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Bahrain-based band Phat Nutz is set to share the stage with hip hop hero Darryl ‘DMC’ Williams, from the iconic group Run DMC, next weekend.
The trio that has been playing together for 15 years includes Bahraini-Indian drummer Ryan John, Indian guitarist Sunny Salis and Indian bass player Patson Godinho.
Their ability to play all styles of music from rock to hip hop scored them the honour of performing with the visiting star at Juffair Grand Hotel’s Club Wrangler on May 8.
Ryan, 31, a teacher at Harmony Music Institute, was personally inspired by the music legend. He said: “At 11, I was with my dad listening to Aerosmith when I heard Run DMC’s Walk This Way and I thought it was awesome.”
At the age of 12, he began to play an instrument and started on his own path towards becoming a musician. Hearing those two genres heavily-influenced him as a musician and he has continued to love the mixture of hip hop and rock.
He added: “To share the stage with DMC is crazy and it’s surreal. I’m looking forward to the main show and especially rehearsing with him will be awesome because I will be able to ask for his advice on music and stuff like that. He is such an icon in the hip hop scene.”
The band, which was chosen by a panel of judges in Bahrain and the super star’s management, will be playing Walk This Way and fan favourite It’s Tricky.
The band-mates say they will be forever grateful to Jam Up event organisers for bringing such an icon to the kingdom. Ryan said: “To play the song that first influenced me is epic and everyone we know will be there from family and friends so it’s going to be great. I really appreciate that Jam Up is doing all this because they are bringing different music together. To have an international icon such as DMC come to such a small island would never have happened if it wasn’t for them.”
Jam Up event, which was created primarily as a music-based platform with the sole objective of empowering Bahrainis and Bahrain-based musicians, has set up three days of DMC mania for music-lovers.
On May 6, DMC devotees will be able to get up close and personal in a ‘meet-and-greet’ session at Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain, from 7pm. They will also get the chance to meet with Bahrain’s hip hop masters DJ Outlaw and rapper Flipperachi. The following evening, at 6.30pm, there will be an exclusive ‘motivational talk’ event, in which only 200 tickets are being sold to keep the circle small and intimate.
Jam Up organiser Jude D’Souza, said: “DMC will deliver a special talk about his life and hip hop with the group as well as give advice and help motivate the urban community in Bahrain.
“He uses events such as this to encourage kids to do whatever they dream of or want by drawing upon his life stories.”
Tickets for the event held at Red Bull creative space, Malja in Amwaj Islands, are priced at BD15 and can be purchased online at Virgin Tickets or at Virgin Megastore, Room 2 Rock outlets, UPlay gaming stores in Seef and Muharraq as well as at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI).
After the talk, a hip hop block party will commence featuring Run DMC’s legendary DJ and spin doctor Charlie Chan Soprano, featuring ‘old school’ sounds.
On the day of the live show, fans will get the chance to watch DMC do his thing along with DJ Outlaw and rapper Flipperachi. The event will start at 9pm and tickets are priced BD20.
* Sponsors of the Jam Up event are RCSI Bahrain, the US Embassy Bahrain, Red Bull Malja Bahrain, the Domain Hotel & Spa, BMMI, Uber, Time Out Bahrain, Virgin Megastore, Room 2 Rock, KLM, UPlay, Laylin Designs and Wrangler Bahrain.
For further details contact Jude D’Souza on 39658618 or visit Facebook.com/jamupbh.
