Cover photo credit to Kemka Ajoko
I’m always happy to see a show in San Francisco — it feels nostalgic, yet also fresh. Now that I qualify for a 21+ wristband, I’ve unlocked a new layer, but some things never change. Just like old times, my mom dropped my sister and I off — of course with the promise we would text her once we were inside — so times haven’t changed too much. It was my first time at the Regency Ballroom, and it lived up to its name: regal crown molding, green and gold accents, and a room that felt perfectly suited for Kokoroko, a jazz group out of London.
Kokoroko is a seven-piece band — or as I liked to repeat to my sister throughout the night, a septet — oozing with talent. Their sound blends jazz, funk, and afrobeats, drawing heavily from African dance genres like highlife. Since 2014, they’ve released a variety of music, starting with a highlife influence and shifting into more of an upbeat funk sound for their newest album titled Tuff Times Never Last (2025).
Beginning with “Higher,” I was immediately taken by the way they began each song. The trombone and trumpet blowing, I was instantly drawn in; the band’s timing and suspense perfectly crafted an entrancing, ear-catching sound that pulled me in every time.
As the show progressed, I found myself shifting focus between each musician. They each had a unique style and captivating techniques that impressed me throughout.
Halfway-through their set, keyboardist/vocalist/synthesist, Yohan Kebede — who was quite the San Francisco fanatic, which always flatters me as a Bay Area native — spoke about how the process of making the album brought them all closer together. He mentioned that they learned more about each other than ever before, and revealed their passion: making joyful music people can dance and celebrate too — only further inspiring and energizing the crowd.
“We’ve seen each other through so many changes… so you can imagine you develop a special bond in that time — spiritually, personally, and musically as well. Making this album we didn’t think we could get to know each other a bit more but I think through that process we got a little bit closer than we were before,” Kebede shared, before introducing what he felt best represented their bond: “Never Lost,” the opening track on the new record.
I particularly loved his raw performance of “My Father in Heaven.”
The moment that stood out to me most was the interaction between the band members on stage. Without words, they were able to communicate effortlessly — with each other as well as the audience — shifting attention seamlessly to highlight whoever deserved the spotlight. Their body language carried an air of respect, so in sync that it felt instinctual, as if they always knew exactly when to turn toward one another.
Watching bassist Duane Atherley and guitarist Tobi Adenaike sway delicately together made the band feel like one collective body. Vocals by Sheila Maurice-Grey and Noushy Nanguy were absolutely unreal — especially Nanguy on their cover of “Express Your Love” by Sweet and Innocent (1972), which I would love having a studio recording of.
Some of my personal favorites of the night were “Closer to Me,” “Just Can’t Wait,” and “Sweetie,” all delivered with incredible energy. To close out the North American leg of their tour, they concluded with “Da Du Dah,” with the joyful crowd swaying along. Sheila Maurice-Grey expressed the band’s gratitude (“Thank you so much darlings!”), closing with “Sweeter Than” for the perfect send-off.
Listen to Kokoroko’s latest album, Tuff Times Never Last, here:
