Mr. Something Something
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Larry Graves, John MacLean |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Afrobeat music albums and performances |
Mr. Something Something was an Afrobeat ensemble originating from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The group consisted of five principal musicians: percussionist Larry Graves, tenor saxophonist John MacLean, guitarist Paul MacDougall, bassist Liam Smith, and lead vocalist Johan Hultqvist, alongside jazz artists such as Kevin Turcotte, Richard Underhill, and Brian O'Kane. They became known for their unique bicycle-powered outdoor performances and lyrics with strong political themes.
History
Established in 2003 by childhood companions Graves and MacLean, the band's name pays homage to Fela Kuti's track "Mr. Follow Follow," which influenced their vocal delivery. Graves, MacLean, and Hultqvist collaborated on early compositions, culminating in their self-titled debut album released in 2004.
Their follow-up record, The Edge (2005), was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the World Music category. In 2007, they teamed up with spoken word artist Ikwunga for the album Deep Sleep, which garnered notable airplay on Canadian college radio stations.
In 2008, coinciding with International Car-Free Day, Mr. Something Something introduced Canada's inaugural bicycle-powered concerts held at Toronto’s Evergreen Brickworks and near the former location of infamous bike thief Igor Kenk.
The 2009 album Shine Your Face demonstrated further artistic development and was supported by a Canadian tour that included a performance at the Guelph Jazz Festival.
Discography
- Mr. Something Something (World Records, 2004)
- The Edge (World Records, 2005)
- Deep Sleep (World Records, 2007)
- The Rough Guide to Afrobeat Revival (World Music Network, 2009)
- Shine Your Face (World Records, 2009)