By Andras Paul, Rock At Night London
Rock At Night review – January 23, 2026, 229 Venue, London
Oakland’s Fantastic Negrito—real name Xavier Dphrepaulezz—stormed London’s 229 venue on Friday, January 23, as part of the January Blues Festival’s two-night stand. The three-time Grammy winner (Best Contemporary Blues Album) delivered a raw, riveting set that blended deep “black roots” music with R&B, funk, and rock grit.
The crowd skewed older, as blues crowds often do, but a scattering of younger faces was encouraging—a sign that real music still cuts through generations. (Let’s be honest: too many young ears miss what truly moves the soul.)
Kicking things off, London’s The Too Bad Jims warmed the room with authentic blues heat, priming the audience perfectly. By the time Fantastic Negrito took the stage, the energy was electric—people surged forward, ready to feel every note.
He opened with “Stepson” from his 2024 album Son of a Broken Man, a deeply personal dive into childhood trauma, a fractured father-son bond, and foster-care survival. Tracks like “I Hope Somebody’s Loving You” and “Living With Strangers” followed, weaving vulnerability into the groove.
What sets Fantastic Negrito apart isn’t just the music—it’s the man. He’s part preacher, part showman, channeling the raw expressiveness of old-school blues giants and James Brown’s commanding presence. He prowled the stage relentlessly, body and voice in constant motion, pulling the front row along for the ride. You couldn’t stay still if you tried.
Between seamless song transitions, he dropped sharp, hilarious commentary. “I’m probably known as a recovering narcissist, so try not to applaud,” he quipped—cue inevitable cheers and laughter at his exaggerated grimaces and clownish antics. He turned reflective on the pandemic’s scars, then unleashed social critique: “The world is not dead yet. How long we gonna keep doing this bullshit? Money, money, money…”
Before launching into the biting “Bullshit Anthem,” he urged the crowd: “Take all that bullshit from your life and turn it into good shit.” Later, introducing crowd favorite “Chocolate Samarai,” he deadpanned: “Eat less sugar and have more sex.” The room erupted.
The set flew by at breakneck pace—no downtime, no breathers—just one extended, soul-baring ritual. Songs melted into one another, building an unstoppable momentum that left no room for anything but surrender.
Fantastic Negrito didn’t just perform; he left a piece of his soul on that stage. In a world drowning in noise, his blend of truth-telling, humor, and unfiltered groove reminded everyone why blues endures: it’s honest, it’s alive, and it still has the power to move you.
PHOTO GALLERY
Andras Paul came from a traditional art background back in Hungary. He studied drawing, painting and animation and later began his interest in photography too.
Open to any kind of gig with decent music-- let it be a big concert or the smallest darkest pub on earth.
- Fantastic Negrito Brings Soul Fire to London’s January Blues Festival - January 24, 2026
- Vanessa Collier’s UK Debut: A Sax-Driven Triumph at the January Blues Festival - January 18, 2026
- Robben Ford Lights Up London: Blues Magic at 229 - January 16, 2026
