Antibalas played two sold-out shows at Brooklyn’s Southpaw this past

weekend and, as is custom, added a few additional members to its already
orchestra-size lineup. As he has recently, percussionist Yoshi Takamasa
played alongside regular percussionist Marcus Farrar (Takamasa is a
longtime friend of the Antibalas camp who recently recorded with the
Antibalas horns on TV on the Radio’s Dear Science and filled in for
Farrar when Antibalas served as the houseband for the musical
Fela!). In addition, on Saturday, Arcade Fire bass saxophonist Collin
Stetson sat in with Antibalas throughout its entire set after opening the
evening as part of the Sway Machinery.
Members of the Roots family also took the stage with Antibalas following the two groups’ recent Red Bull Soundclash at The Roxy in Boston. Each band showcased a few songs, invited a handful
of guests onstage and, at the end of the night, offered a joint set consisting of The Roots’ ‘Criminal,’ Fela Kuti’s ‘Beast of No Nation’
and The Doobie Brothers’ ‘What A Fool Believes.’