Show Reviews: Jimmy Edgar / Addison Groove

Major props to IHEARTCOMIX for bringing the heat last Saturday night at Los Globos!! The good folks at IHC just launched a brand new event series called OFF/CNTR, presenting DJs and producers who stray from the beaten path of mainstream electronica, opting to explore the immaculate realm of underground dance music instead. The first OFF/CNTR installment featured a spectacular lineup with none other than Addison Groove and Jimmy Edgar- tritons of the dancefloor guaranteed to get a party going every time they take to a DJ booth. I had the pleasure of joining KXSC's very own Sam Couch and Zach Nivens for the show and let me tell you, we could not stop grooving.

Sodapop (Shaun Koplow, label manager at Anticon) kicked it all off downstairs with an eclectic mix of tunes to prep everyone for an altogether unpredictable night. Soul, funk, house, even a few hip-hop numbers; it was an A.D.D-inspired opening set that worked just fine without the meds. We were then herded upstairs to find opener number two, Grenier of Frite Nite fame, already breaking it down with classic house bangers and trappy beats alike. He immediately won me over by dropping Behling's "Last Chance"- a jazzy break number guaranteed to get the crowd moving- then working up to not just one, but TWO steamy new tracks off Salva's upcoming Odd Furniture EP (s/o to my FoF fam!). This guy definitely knew what he was doing up there, dancing like an animal whilst weaving through styles with a steady hand.

 

Next up was Addison Groove and he didn't skip a beat- hitting the decks hard and diving right into his bass-driven set. The whole thing was very rhythmically complex, heavily influenced by elements of old-school jungle, ghetto house, and UKG. He came at us with many surprising moments: bold song selections and an extremely dynamic performance overall, in terms of both style and volume. Though his debut full-length, Transistor Rhythm, off Modeselektor's 50 Weapons label was met with mixed reviews, his set was a definite reminder of why we fell in love with "Footcrab" all those years ago.  

Jimmy Edgar then took the show home, transforming the upper floor of Los Globos into a sweaty Berlin warehouse. Sporting a jet-black blazer without a shirt underneath, it was clear that this was the brain behind all those sexed-up nightclub bangers released last year. Edgar's set was dark and seductive, undeniably proving why he's the "wayward star-child" of Scuba's own Hotflush Recordings. The entire nightclub was a heaving frenzy right up until the very end as exhausted 20-somethings drudged out of there, dripping with late-night sleazy vibes. The show was a definite success in my book and I see a lot of promise in this new event series. Many thanks to the whole IHEARTCOMIX crew for putting this one together, I can't wait to see what the future has is in store for OFF/CNTR.

--Jen, Naive Melody

Show Review: People Under The Stairs

This is a biased review; there is no way I could have not enjoyed this show. Between the tasty loops, chest-thumping beats and immaculate flow, People Under The Stairs have become my favorite rap group over the past several years. Of course I couldn’t pass up the chance to catch them at El Rey, in the midst of their Highlighter World Tour. The experience was unforgettably awesome, even better than I had hoped. To make matters extra interesting, I attended this show with a young friend of mine who had never seen live hip-hop in his life! We both got a proper education this evening at El Rey… not just from The P (as People Under The Stairs are often called), but also from the impressively strong supporting act, a rap trio called Revolutionary Rhythm whom I had never heard before.

We arrived in time to hear the Einstein, the opener DJ. He spun some pleasingly smooth funk and soul vinyl mixes, but unfortunately the volume was too low to get anybody dancing—this was evidently intended to be early-lounge music.

Einstein at the decks

Once Revolutionary Rhythm took the stage, the volume and energy level tripled instantly. All three group members (two rappers & one DJ) displayed impressive virtuosity on their respective instruments: Mind-bending rhymes and poetic syncopation, served over groovy scratching and beatjuggling by the DJ. My only complaint about this performance is that the vocal mics desperately needed to be turned down. As a musician with sensitive ears I sometimes wonder if I am the only person in the audience bothered by excessive volume, but not tonight— I heard my inner concerns echoed by another gentleman in the crowd, in between songs: “TURN THE F***ING MIC DOWN!” (I don’t think the sound guy heard him.)  And alas, I forgot my earplugs at home; the ringing lasted ‘til morning. Can’t blame Revolutionary Rhythm for that, though. They wowed me with their onstage musicianship and lyricism. Should have known that People Under The Stairs would get a supporting act nearly as dope as themselves… what a pleasant surprise!

Revolutionary Rhythm kicking it up a notch

Instead of standing around awkwardly, waiting for The P to go on, I got lost in RR’s infectious sound and proceeded to dance my butt off, knowing that the best was still yet to come.

When Revolutionary Rhythm finished, the curtains closed for a brief intermission.

When Thes One and Double K finally took the stage, the crowd was sweaty and ready, for lack of a more apt description. The P evidently intended this night to be a homecoming of sorts— it felt personal and real from the get-go, as they had invited fans to participate in planning via Facebook: “…in honor of everyone coming out and the years of albums and support, we're gonna let you tell us what songs we should play. List what song you want to hear live on Sunday below and the couple with the most likes will get added to the set list!”I'm not sure which songs actually got the most likes, but I was pleased with all the selections. From all the smiling faces and dancing bodies I saw around me, I could tell that most audience members here knew what they were in for: positive vibes, funky grooves and pure, unfiltered fun.

People Under The Stairs get into it

The duo performed their major hit songs (Acid Raindrops, San Francisco Knights, etc.) and plenty of material from the latest album, Highlighter, taking the crowd on a euphoric, silly joyride the whole time. Both men took turns rapping with precision and grace, and some clever freestyling was evident; Double K deftly piloted the Technics mothership and busted out a bangin’ drum solo.

Double K on the drums

Thes One rocked the MPC, traded sunglasses and hats with people standing in the front row, and poured a beer on himself, jumping up and down like a maniac the whole time. These guys are not just highly musical, but also very social onstage— the constant interactions between themselves and the crowd created a comfortable space for everyone. It's obvious that they are good friends.

The homies trade beats

Pure energy, these dudes; I couldn't stop moving my feet. The crowd went bonkers. Well, most of the crowd—Double K made an astute sociological assessment when he acknowledged the disappointing lack of responses to his urging to wave our arms in time to the beat:

“Aw it’s okay L.A., we don’t expect you all to do the thang. We know you cool like that.”

To be fair, Double K, based on the thick blunt-smoke in the air I would postulate that the majority of this crowd was simply melting into the floor. I bet half of them couldn’t even find their arms, let alone wave them. Look what you've done. But seriously, what performer talks like that to his audience? I laughed out loud. This is part of why The P are so fun to listen to—they keep it so real. It's clear that they are genuinely cool dudes who just love making music for their adoring, chilled-out fans.

Anyway, the party went into overdrive when they brought their family and friends (a lot of them!) onstage for the encore. The amount of energy and love in the building at this point was supreme! Dancing people all around! (Is that a small child I saw rockin’ out up there? Man, what the heck was I doing when I was his age…)

 Party onstage!

People Under The Stairs know how to create a sublime vibe, have fun and forget the stress of life’s hardships— and if you go to see them in concert they will help you do the same.

GET CONNECTED WITH THE MUSIC:

People Under The Stairs:

http://www.facebook.com/putsmusic

Revolutionary Rhythm:

http://www.facebook.com/revolutionaryrhythm

--Connor, SONIC SHAMANISM

Show Review: Niki and the Dove

I had the pleasure of attending Niki and the Dove's performance at the El Rey, and it was something.  I'm not sure entirely what I was watching, but I was there and something was happening.  Malin and Gustaf took the stage, wearing light up rings and what seems to be whatever Malin could find that resembled clothing, and began their set.  They started to play music.  They played some of the hits.  They played some experimental stuff.  I might have gotten into it, I don't know.  Malin absorbed the music and let her body move on its own.  It was something.

All in all, it was an entertaining set.  Gustaf did a great job covering all of the music himself as Malin sang.  They are definitely a talented duo.  They showed up, did stuff on stage, and I enjoyed it.

--Kyle