Shaka Ponk: a look back at their electrifying farewell at Paris's Accor Arena

pidemAfter 20 years of loyal service, Shaka Ponk are ready to turn the page for good. The band, which has been touring France for many months now, is taking over theAccor Arena for four major farewell concerts. Wednesday November 27, 2024 was the first of these four performances, the last of which is scheduled for Saturday November 30.

Naturally, emotions were running high on Wednesday evening, both in the audience and among the band members. But there was only one thing on everyone's mind: to party one last time and sing along to Shaka Ponk's many heady hits.

For Shaka Ponk is 7 albums, the first of which was released in 2006. Shaka Ponk also means total communion with their fans, an incredible communicative energy, and an unfailing commitment to protecting the planet and defending animals. It's also this simplicity and incomparable closeness with their'Monkeyz' that we'll miss so much. And let's not forget those countless jumps and slams in the audience, of which Frah probably kept a few traces.

But before attending Shaka Ponk 's electrifying show at theAccor Arena, the French band had decided to invite British duo Nova Twins as support act. We're not going to hide it, we like them a lot. We discovered them at Hellfest in 2019, followed by the Nouveau Casino in 2022 and Rock à Seine the following year. Like Shaka Ponk, Nova Twins are a live band. Overflowing with energy, Amy Love and Georgia South, surrounded by their drummer Jake Woodward, can also count on their powerful tunes to get the audience dancing.

Unfortunately for them, their stage space is limited this Wednesday evening. Because of Shaka Ponk's imposing stage set-up, the three Brits had no choice but to play at the edge of the stage, just in front of a black curtain. The trio also had to deal with a few minor sound problems. But it took more than that to discourage Nova Twins. For 30 minutes, the band didn't let up. While Georgia South multiplies her little jumps while playing bass with style, Amy Love impresses with her sometimes rapped, sometimes hoarse voice, and her always impeccable flow. It's never easy to open for a band, but Nova Twins pulled out all the stops and got the evening off to a great start!

It was just before 9pm when Shaka Ponk made their entrance into a rapidly euphoric Accor Arena. As the band doesn't do anything like everyone else, it was in the stands of the huge Parisian venue that the 6 members made their appearance. Slaloming between the aisles, they greeted everyone they saw and shook hands with everyone in their path, even hugging some fans. The fans are so happy to be able to get close to them that it's hard to spot some of the members in the crowd. After 10 minutes or so, Steve, Ion and Mandris join the stage, still hidden behind a black curtain, while CC, Sam and Frah settle down on a small raised stage in the middle of the pit, as they've been doing for a long time now.

" We're sad to have to stop," explains Frah, apologizing in advance for the emotion that is likely to be palpable this Wednesday evening due to these last four concerts of their career. Fiercely criticizing the government and denouncing its inaction in the face of climate change, the situation in hospitals and towards the most destitute, Frah wants to live in the moment, and doesn't hesitate to compare these precious stage moments and fans to real " treasures ". " Tonight, we're going to be in love and free," he concludes, before kicking off the first track of the set: an acoustic version of the classic " I'm Picky ". Seated on grey cubes, the three friends savor the moment, surrounded by their admiring and visibly moved fans. The acoustic section continues in the middle of the pit with " Gung Ho " and " Run Run Run ".

Then the set takes on a whole new dimension when the first notes of " The House of the Rising Sun ", their legendary cover of The Animals, ring out. Frah then invites almost the entire room to rise to the chorus, while the curtain finally falls on the stage, revealing the beautiful scenography. Around a reconstructed living room (sofa, armchair and lamps), two large stacks of giant books surround the main screen. On either side, we find the excellent and talented urban chirale, Sankofa Unit. Dressed all in white, the 18 artists sing and dance from a height of several meters. Visually, the magic happens. We love the long, swirling white dresses worn by the backing singers in the front row.

Cheering loudly, CC, Sam and Frah join their three acolytes on stage, crossing the pit again. The show becomes more electrifying, and the audience exults when Shaka Ponk performs " Je m'avance ". That's all it takes for Frah to jump into the audience, the first slam in a long list. With his backwards cap screwed on his head, headphones on, shorts and knee and elbow pads, the Shaka Ponk singer gives it his all, not hesitating to be carried along by the crowd and to do a few rolls on the audience.

Hit after hit, to the delight of the audience, who remained standing in the stands. " To be different, that's the most beautiful thing " chants Frah, as the catchy notes of " Wanna Get Free " echo through the Accor Arena.

• To be read
• Shaka Ponk: the band's final concert soon on the big screen
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As committed as ever, the members of Shaka Ponk take advantage of this farewell tour to get the audience dancing, but also to pass on a number of messages, be they ecological or political. Throughout the set, various flags are waved: the Palestinian flag on " Wanna Get Free " and the LGBT flag on " Sex Ball ", not forgetting, of course, the Sea Shepard flag. Sea Shepard is accompanying the band on their farewell tour. On several occasions, Frah will call for the release of Paul Watson, detained in Greenland since July 21. On Wednesday evening, a petition calling for the release of the environmental activist will be shown on the giant screen at the back of the stage.

For the first of their last four Paris concerts, Shaka Ponk also invited Aurélien Barrau. As Sam takes the opportunity to light a cigarette, the astrophysicist, philosopher and environmental activist declaims with force and conviction a sumptuous text, both poetic and deeply committed. " I don't like people when they genocide," he says, before continuing, " But I do like gans who march with their point raised. " We want to love each other before we die ", he adds to a captivated audience.

The music then picks up again, with the inevitable " Tout le monde danse " and " I'm Picky"; a track during which four spectators, selected by Frah, are invited on stage before throwing themselves into the audience. The temperature rises yet another notch. But that's nothing compared to Frah's famous giant circle pit in the middle of the pit. " Happiness is a few living beings in the midst of living beings on a beautiful planet ", explains the singer, before sending hundreds of fans whirling around him, happy to experience this collective moment. A moment of communion rarely seen live!

While the singer is still perched on his cube in the middle of the audience, urging some fans to do slams, Sam has remained on stage, alongside her four other acolytes. With red make-up around her eyes, the singer brilliantly performed Nirvana's cover of " Smells Like Teen Spirit " to a bubbling Accor Arena crowd.

The Sankofa Unit choir then leave their perch to join the stage and deliver a lively, upbeat performance of " Sex Ball ", followed by " Dad'Algorhythm " and the beautiful track " 13000 heures ".

After more than two hours of a festive, electrifying, committed and moving set, Shaka Ponk indulge in a photo session, first on the sofa, then with the audience. " We'll look at it when we're old. Ah, we're already old. So, when we're about to die, " jokes Frah. Exhausted, but visibly happy and touched by so much love, Shaka Ponk retire from the stage to thunderous applause.

After a few minutes in the dark, the room finally lights up again. The singers of Sankofa Unit offer us a beautiful a capella moment, joined by Shaka Ponk, as motivated as ever, despite their fatigue. It's with " Rusty Fonky " that the French rock group decide to end their 2h15 set in style. 2h15 during which Frah, Sam and the others once again demonstrated their commitment to protecting the planet, which is why the band decided to put an end to their career. But Shaka Ponk also showed just how much they love their fans and were made for the stage. With their disconcerting generosity and incredibly infectious energy, the members of Shaka Ponk will be sorely missed and leave a huge hole in the history of French rock.

Setlist

I'm Picky (acoustic)
GungHo (acoustic)
Run Run Run (acoustic)
The House of the Rising Sun (cover)
Je m'avance
WannaGet Free
TwistedMind
J'aime pas les gens
Tout le monde danse
I'm Picky
Circle Pit
Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover version)
Sex Ball
Dad'Algorhythm
13000 heures

Rappel
RustyFonky

Shaka Ponk are due to play three more concerts at the Accor Arena, on November 28, 29 and 30, before bidding farewell to the stage. For those who can't make it, their last concert will be shown in the cinema in the spring of 2025.

Shaka Ponk: the band's final concert soon on the big screen
French rock legends Shaka Ponk end their career on a high note with a concert filmed during their final tour, to be seen exclusively at the cinema on April 3, 2025. [Read more]