Théo will undoubtedly remember it for life. We're hardly exaggerating. On October 30, the young man moved… from the audience to the drums. Amazing ? He still can't believe it. A “timeless” moment on stage with Shaka Ponk.
We told you so. We told you again. Shaka Ponk, it's over. Or almost. And in any case, the future of Shaka will not play out in the same form as today. Ecological convictions, among others, oblige. On October 30, it was the group's final appearance on the stage of the Zenith in Dijon. The fourth Burgundian date of the farewell tour.
And there is one who will remember, perhaps all his life, five minutes which still appear to him a few days later, unreal. At 27, Théo himself says he comes “from the deep countryside of the upper Jura”. He smiles. Be careful, he who humorously calls himself the “young troubadour” is however an engineer in clinical research and a medical student in Besançon.
But let’s move on… October 30 was indeed about music. Théo has been listening to Shaka Ponk for a dozen years. His first concert? Dijon already, October 25, 2014. Seen, then, six or seven times. The inaccuracy of the figures? When we love, we don't necessarily count!
A moment “out of time”
So Dijon last Wednesday, what was it exactly? Why talk about young Théo rather than the breathtaking concert, the simplicity of the members of Shaka Ponk and the enormous show of Samaha, Frah, CC, Mandris, Steve and Ion? Because that's what Shaka is, too: a big dose of talent, a pressure cooker of humanity and a closeness to the public that you perhaps don't find anywhere else.
Yes, Théo went from the audience to the stage in a few seconds, at the invitation of the group. “You’re a drummer, right? You feel like playing “I’m Picky”, are you sure? “. We don't believe it, we tell ourselves that we're going to have a good laugh… And we leave the five minutes of the song with our hats off. Musicians, a gospel choir who play the game 200%. A Samaha who films the moment like a child, with a smile on her lips and immense respect in the back of her head for this young man who is experiencing “his” moment. He’s perhaps the one who talks about it best: “It’s the magic of music that made me get on stage. With a dose of luck, work, a little chance (…) My drum videos posted on social networks were also very popular. But without this spirit of sharing from Shaka, it would never have happened.” It's said. It's simple. It's sincere.
“I experienced a moment outside of time.” The friendly Ion bows kindly to the evening drummer. He too will come away visibly amazed by the performance. It is Théo who undoubtedly speaks best about what he experienced: “When I went on stage (after a little sign from Frah), I had a monstrous adrenaline rush. I turned around and saw the Zenith packed. I then realized the magnitude of the thing. My throat closed up and then Frah (the singer) asked me if I was sure of what I wanted to do. I unplugged the brain to get the most out of it. “.
Kindness
But besides this breathtaking musical moment, Théo will undoubtedly remember this “something else” that is so special. He insists: “I don’t want to show off. But above all, say a big thank you to them.” He elaborates, still imbued with a certain emotion: “The benevolence of each member of the group was striking: everyone had a word of encouragement for me and they galvanized me throughout my visit. I admit that I had difficulty producing and analyzing the images I saw. It was unreal sitting there. Behind the drums of a drummer that I have admired since I was very young, with the rest of the group all smiles, as cheerful as me. I was hovering at 10,000! And then the song begins, I start to play, I hear the audience scream in surprise. I gave everything, I really gave my life. My goal was to see this room in turmoil, to see them having as much fun as I was. »
“Each memory seems crazier than the other. Samaha who was filming me with a radiant smile, Frah who sang while warming up the audience to raise the applause meter, Ion sitting to my left enjoying this special moment. And CC, Mandris and Steve fully into the performance (…) Once the piece ended, I felt a mixture of feelings: immense happiness, incredible recognition and obviously a little sadness that it had passed so fast… A crazy feeling of accomplishment. “.
« Merci ! »
This tour could not have been more special. For the group, which will close its tour at the end of the month with four dates in Bercy. For the fans, who will rarely have experienced such intense moments in the Zenith. For Theo? Ultimately, it is perhaps he who best sums up what everyone has experienced over the last 365 days: “The only word I would have to say to them is THANK YOU. A huge thank you for playing the game, for believing in me, for trusting me. Thank you for their kindness, their caring and their desire to share. If I wanted to go on stage with them and no one else, it was also for these strong values that I felt I shared with them. All of this came true and even more than I imagined. They are truly incredible, authentic and respectful. I wish them the best in their future, to enjoy the last dates and to find happiness elsewhere afterwards. I know it's already difficult for them right now, with the end approaching, but they can be proud of what they have accomplished, it's stratospheric! “.
Who said that music, show biz, concerts, tours were just sanitized and lifeless moments?
Text and photos Christophe Bonnefoy
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