Lots of great tours & LPs from the world of Hip-Hop & R&B and beyond.
Atmosphere – February 29th – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
It has been awhile since I have seen Atmosphere, in fact this might only be third or fourth time I’ve ever seen them perform.
The hip-hop duo is a trio tonight; Atmosphere’s DJ Ant (beats and production) and frontman Slug are joined by DJ Plain Ole Bill for this set of shows dubbed the Welcome to Texas Tour.
Slug’s animated performance and passionate lyrics erupt with an explosive love for living, metered by thundering old-school hip hop beats.
Atmosphere is not a stereotypical hip-hop outfit, using their medium to tackle complex subject matter such as death, loss, gratitude, self-acceptance, beauty, ugliness, overcoming pain, and love. Through razor-sharp wit, the group’s lyrics building unique stories and characters in a deeply engaging and meaningful way, One song is about a woman with tattooed hands: the right representing angels and the left representing the devil. Another song paints a beautifully nuanced picture of a woman who works at a cafe near the homeless narrator’s alleyway. One song is a letter to a dead father.
“Hey, I’m just trying to have the best day of my life,” Slug says. Referring to the fact that since it’s Leap Year to make the most of the extra day we’ve been given.
The show ended for me on a personal high note. My friend Ian & I couldn’t help but laugh (& notice) that we were literally surrounded by gorgeous woman from all sides (something about Atmosphere, they consistently have the most attractive fans). When this one girl, Ashley kept coming over to where we were that by the time we got to the encore I was dancing with her & her friend. Ian’s work schedule kept us from joining them in their attempt to just stay up all night before their flight first thing in the morning (they were going on Spring Break). I only mention this as Ashley & I continued to do the texting tango for literally the next six weeks without every actually seeing each other again, to wit sounds almost identical to lyrics to an Atmosphere song.
Santigold – March 22nd – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
Let’s get this out of the way first: I LOVE Santigold – Her first self-titled LP from 2008 will always serve as the soundtrack to such an exciting time in my life in NYC when my business was growing and I was learning so much about the world, my chosen profession, myself and so much more.
After seeing her perform for the first time at Lollapalooza that Summer it only cemented how likable and just irristable she is as a performer & a human being.
Since then, it was four long years before her next LP which was also a stunner and saw her perform at SXSW that year.
Well with another four long years since her last album and major tour, Tonight being opening night of the tour in support of her new LP was a hot, bubbly, lovable, fun mess. She emerged, resplendent in a dress bearing the words “We Buy Gold,” to a thunderous release of anticipation.
Santigold knows how to put together a set, leading with memorable crowd pleasers like 2008’s L.E.S. Artistes and the punchy, up-tempo Banshee. I loved the show’s sendup of personal branding, a satirical extension of the theme of her most recent album, 99¢.
Her backup dancers grooved stoically through a performance of vapid consumerism: lounging in inflatable chairs eating Cheetos, languidly snapping photos with selfie sticks, puttering on stage with kiddie shopping carts. Each wore a shapeless sweatshirt screen printed with Santigold’s face, suggesting that the monolith of Santigold, her ironically constructed brand, consumed and obscured their own expression.
Much to the chagrin of House of Blues, I’m sure, Santigold invited a chunk of the audience to come up on stage for a rousing dance-off to Creator.
I was with my friend Shelly, who simply radiates style, whom tonight was adorned impossibly chic in a gold wrap dress & matching heels & we happened to be on the side of the stage entrance & knowing this is right in her lane, I said “Let’s go for it!”
A fun show and a great start to a tour that I encourage you to see that I hope I get to see again before it winds down. She is such a unique and important artist that knows exactly how to have fun while making an effective point.
Do214 Anniversary Party w Young Fathers & more – April 8th – The Loft – Dallas, TX
Totally last minute as I literally only heard about this show mere hours before doors opened & it being Friday night naturally I already had plans.
To illustrate the power of Young Fathers (& my desire to see it) I abandoned it all & rushed across town to join the party.
Local taste makers Do214 were celebrating their 2nd anniversary with an eclectic lineup of some great local Hip-Hop talent and these Scottish wonders.
However, apparently it appeared the promoter forgot to invite anyone as I arrived only just a few minutes before YF took stage and their were less than 30 people here.
Not yet knowing the score, I saw everyone getting drinks with these tickets & I asked the guy nearest me at the bar where to get them.
He turned to me with a thick Scottish accent & told me they were given to him because he was (now obviously) drummer Steven Morrison who was friendly & we had a nice chat.
However, he thought that he could order whatever he wanted with them when they were only eligible for two (promoted) brands of beer.
The bartender already haven poured two very large (very overpriced) beers was insisting he pay – Before I had a chance to suggest I pay for them & he can just give me the drink tickets, he pays her in (deserved) disgust over the lack of respect and just left the (to him now) worthless drink tickets on the bar.
Being the bottom feeder I am (though I was more than willing to bail him out this situation) was now using the tickets to order drinks & find a spot right up front.
Young Fathers in the flesh is a revelation: a glorious, cacophonous and fearsome romp through their genre-redefining sophomore album; intensified by touring Morrison’s percussive acrobatics, it’s not so much a hint, as a promise of things to come. It was so goddamned good and I knew I was doing the right thing by making this a must-see event and I’m so glad I did. Too bad the promoters didn’t get behind it in the same way because this was one of the most exciting & refreshing musical performances I’ve seen perhaps ever, they were that good. And certainly for the band’s sake as well – They were rightfully cranky onstage (though I did feel they could have handled it with a bit more finesse) with the attendance, the sound mix, lousy monitors (& I’m sure having to pay for their own drinks was a bit of a final straw). Somehow through it all they came out on top & one of the most original, visceral & important groups currently touring.
DO NOT MISS THEM NEXT TIME.
George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic – April 22nd – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
This was hard to do but neccesarry and what we all needed to start the healing process though I wasn’t sure I was ready.
Just 24 hrs prior an unthinkable nightmare was unfolding all over the TV & social media that Prince had been found dead at Paisley Park.
Just typing that is hard – I’m still in total disbelief & after (then) two straight days of seeing my greatest influence & liberator of every fear I’ve ever had about anything getting the 24/7 news content treatment I needed to get out and feel good about something, anything.
To the rescue, & right on time the following night George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars were in town.
Not going really wasn’t an option.
I’m a huge fan & would have gone anyway regardless of the tragedy but the significance of what had happened to Prince loomed large in the air & was on everyone’s lips, in their eyes and for some lots wearing Prince attire & tour shirts.
Expectant of what Clinton was gonna say or how he was gonna acknowledge Prince’s death still remained to be seen.
Some fans were expecting to see the George Clinton of yore, with the multi-colored dreadlocks and intergalactic costumes, however if you’ve been to a P-Funk show in recent years you know that instead you will be greeted with a clean-shaven Clinton, sporting a fedora and dapper suit.
Regardless of the attire, the funk still reigned supreme.
Performing for more than two hours, with no opening act, Clinton and his menagerie of musicians - ruled with the classics & some new material, including Pole Power from the first Funkadelic LP in 33 years – 2014’s First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate.
Even though Clinton sat from time to time in a chair located in the middle of the stage, he maintained full command of the Mothership, as it were. It appears that Clinton is prepping the next generation to carry on his funk dynasty as he allowed some of the younger members to perform (rap, an R&B ballad, and rock) at various points throughout the show.
Though no vocal acknowledgement of what had happened to Prince (who famously lifted Clinton out of a state of destitute of drug addiction & tax troubles back in the late 1980’s and cast him for a brief cameo in (my beloved) Graffiti Bridge) instead he did the perfect thing – Knowing no words could heal right now, he let the music do the talking through the show and again as right when they show ended and people were filing out – Instantly Purple Rain came on (as if on cue) over the PA system and it was a testament to Prince’s reach and awe inspiring thing to witness everyone just stop dead in their tracks, frozen and unable to move.
Soon everyone was aware of each other’s reaction & strangers became friends and everyone started singing along, many now showing lots of emotion and openly weeping (myself included). Thank you George.
For our Prince tribute on TrickyKid Radio – click here for all three parts.
Photos –
Roy Turner
