The Australian Taj (pronounced Tash) Farrant amazed the jury and the audience as a nine-year-old boy in Australia Got Talent (2019). After that, he became famous on social media; he now has about 1 million followers on Facebook. He played at all kinds of major festivals and collaborated with, among others, Carlos Santana and The Hendrix Experience team. His debut album ‘Chapter One’ is highly acclaimed internationally; its highest rating was the number 1 debut album on the ‘iTunes Blues Chart’. On Sunday afternoon, May 16, the audience at De Bosuil (Weert) was very mixed in terms of age, with the youngest visitors being around ten years old.
Chapter One
Taj’s father started the afternoon with a spoken introduction of a few minutes. After that, Taj, his sister Jazel, and The Kids Brothers (=TKB) appeared.
You could say that the hat is Taj’s image. Before the start of ‘Beautiful things’/’Bad Trip’, from his album ‘Chapter One’, he had taken off his slippers; he was playing on his socks. Many were immediately touched by Taj’s guitar playing, which was varied right from the start. There were various changes in tempo, and the fast guitar playing was impressive. This teenager is a true frontman, for besides being a guitarist, he is also a singer; his voice has a pleasantly rough edge. The calmer guitar playing was also appreciated. TKB played steadily so that Taj could let loose, which he did with full passion. Even if he had his eyes closed, you could still see and feel the emotion.
Jazel gave an introverted, almost timid performance. Her contribution on the keyboards was barely audible. Guitarist Eddie Juno and bassist Sasha Oshun provided backing vocals on a number of songs.
The Sky Is Crying
Taj played several covers of his great role models such as Prince and Elmore James. The rough edge to his voice came out beautifully in ‘The Sky Is Crying’. The minimalistic played section became “softer and softer”, and the audience listened breathlessly. Drummer Abel had a “musical rest” but remained focused. The transition to more power was played perfectly. Guitarist Sean Andrew Bleu showcased some cool guitar playing. He was praised by Taj and rewarded with applause from the crowd.
During the catchy intro to ‘Freight Train’, Sasha encouraged the audience to clap along, which they did. Abel played with great force; that was allowed here. The musicians were clearly enjoying themselves; even Jazel briefly showed a small smile.
She left the venue before the instrumental ‘Cruz’ began; this song (by Taj) also features very varied guitar playing and diverse twists. The same was true for ‘Crossroads’, his first number 1 hit. Again, the rough edge in Taj’s voice came across beautifully, and the emotion he conveyed amplified this. So, it wasn’t just his guitar playing; his interpretation of the lyrics was also excellent. Thanks to non-verbal communication, the build-up to the end went smoothly.
Mumma Raised a Man
After a few covers, Jazel returned to the stage (to applause). The special ‘Mumma raised a man’ could not be missing. The transitions in this beautiful track went well, but the turn towards the subdued section was sublime. Tempo and volume were gradually increased. During the instrumental parts, Taj was very dynamic; he managed to convey the emotion both vocally and instrumentally. A number of transitions followed, all of which went well, with various audience members expressing their appreciation in between. People were impressed, certainly by the fiery part. The applause at the end was well deserved.
Much too soon, it was time for the final song, which was ‘Parisienne Walkways’, Taj’s favorite Gary Moore song. He turned the knobs on his guitar, producing all kinds of sound effects. At one point, he placed his guitar behind his neck and continued playing; the audience enjoyed it. Sean Andrew’s guitar had broken strings, but the show must go on, and he played on. Taj created his own instrumental version of it; his solo featured AC/DC influences. A drum solo marked the build-up to the end of the song.
Afterwards, Taj thanked the audience once again for coming. After playing for an hour and a half, the musicians left the stage; there were roars and applause for an encore, but unfortunately, there was none. Although the visitors were somewhat disappointed by this, admiration for Taj Farrant’s performance prevailed. For many, this was their first live experience, but it is definitely worth to visit another gig in the future.
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Website: The Kids Brothers
Website: Taj Farrant