tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54899302837051139022024-03-13T04:29:47.651+00:00donshuggin.comMy blog for all things music related, with a specific focus on electronic music and the art of DJing.Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-81376894064913576052018-11-07T10:09:00.004+00:002018-11-07T18:34:32.904+00:00HBD GLK<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.42857em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">William Bensussen aka The Gaslamp Killer is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some see a crazy performer, a crazy <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">person</em>, perhaps even an outright menace—the <a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/one-gaslamp-killer-defamation-suit-thrown-out-one-remains/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; transition: all 0.15s ease 0s;">jury is still out on that</a><span style="line-height: 0;"><span class="noCtrlF keyNavAnnotation" data-text="[1]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9px; line-height: 0; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; vertical-align: super;" title="press 1 to open link"></span></span>. I see a uniquely talented artist who is willing to push the listener outside of their comfort zone. Who is willing to explore the limits of what an audience can feasibly dance to. And in doing so, I see an artist who has been perpetually ahead of the curve, even at times to his own detriment. Long before Lil B embraced the intended criticism <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">based</em>, Willow embraced being decried as the vibe <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">killer</em>. This can put a target on a man’s back… to be so raw in one’s sound and presence it is nearly to the point of abrasiveness. I see it as the mad science of progress, the process of expanding musical minds. But to those who prefer the comfort of more familiar sounds, it can almost seem like a threat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GLK is sometimes is criticized for getting on the mic too much. “Fuck society in the ass!” he howled at one show. “Focus, Discipline, Passion” he chanted at another. “In California, cigarettes are the devil” he told an audience in Berlin as they smoked and danced furiously. I’ve seen people shout back, too: “Let the bass do the talking!” Thing is, he <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">does</em>. When the sound gets big, the drop swells, and the groove deepens, he’s not talking: he’s on the decks, cueing a bizarre sample, drumming his pads, scratching out cuts, or layering in the next track, developing the musical soundscape that is a GLK performance. It's just also that sometimes he chooses to add his voice to the mix, in the moment: an opinion, a mantra, or (most commonly) a shoutout. It’s all part of the <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">experience</em>. GLK the DJ, and also the emcee.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu0TkBX0qLz_SR-hWHpNswW48UTgLVoxLuAK78NqFCH9aI7G1GFstn_2CCdpi3HuOL4RJOFy1HeXxrB35OmHssNS9upDGPbD2VNmsv-87mTcyhvUHpd1PxsmGmJvAuqb-HSDq7yvqiPR-/s1600/skulls+june+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu0TkBX0qLz_SR-hWHpNswW48UTgLVoxLuAK78NqFCH9aI7G1GFstn_2CCdpi3HuOL4RJOFy1HeXxrB35OmHssNS9upDGPbD2VNmsv-87mTcyhvUHpd1PxsmGmJvAuqb-HSDq7yvqiPR-/s400/skulls+june+2016.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">When I think of GLK, I think of skulls. Something about that skeletal aesthetic really helps to visualize his art. I took this picture myself, at a church in Hythe (southern England) with an annex full of bones.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first saw GLK play when he came to Salt Lake City and opened for Prefuse 73 in late 2009/early 2010. He absolutely blew my mind that night. His energy and stage presence combined with the way he channeled what was, back then, essentially instrumental hip hop… I had never seen anything like it. As he finished his set, overcome by the exhilaration of the moment (and drunk), forgetting that etiquette dictates if you like the music, just yell and put your hands in the air, I crumpled up a $20 bill and threw it at him. He looked me in the eyes and grabbed his mic. “What do I look like, a stripper?” He plucked the bill off the mixer. “I’m a baller, I don’t need this,” he said, “but I’m also a Jew, so I’m keeping it.” He said it with pride and swagger. The most PC thing to say? No. But was he being 100% serious? Probably not. He was fucking with me, and also he wasn’t. Dude is intense like that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so much younger then. So was he. A lot has happened since that first show… and even more <em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: inherit; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">may</em> have happened. When <a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/the-gaslamp-killer-accused-of-rape/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; transition: all 0.15s ease 0s;">allegations</a><span class="noCtrlF keyNavAnnotation" data-text="[2]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9px; line-height: 0; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; vertical-align: super;" title="press 2 to open link"></span> were made against him in October 2017, I <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/trap/comments/7663mu/gaslamp_killer_accused_of_rape/dobx0oj/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; transition: all 0.15s ease 0s;">commented</a><span class="noCtrlF keyNavAnnotation" data-text="[3]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; vertical-align: super;" title="press 3 to open link"></span>: “this is a lose-lose. If he did it, then he's scum and preying on their innocence. If he didn't, they are scum and preying on his innocence.” He’s now “back” in a certain capacity, playing shows close to his home on the West Coast, once again active on social media, and most importantly, making new music. He cut his hair, trimmed the beard. I wonder if this is a metaphor, a physical manifestation of a person who is now somehow less, worn down by shame, anger, and negativity, these emotions coming from many directions (his critics? his supporters? himself?)… I hope not. I hope it’s just a new look for a new year. Shearing away something that needed to be left behind, in order to move on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is his birthday, he turns 36. I guess since becoming a fan I’ve felt a special connection, albeit the product of simple coincidence: we’re born on nearly the same day, a year apart. Soon I’ll be 35. On his birthday, I make it a habit of going onto Discogs, finding something I don’t yet own, buying it. This is an increasingly expensive tradition. But I’ll keep doing it, as long as he keeps making music... in this way I hope my collection is never complete, and that I’ll get to see him perform time and time again. Until then... Happy Birthday GLK.</span><br />
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Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-37567060798687095892014-11-08T11:05:00.003+00:002014-11-08T11:16:48.913+00:00Daedelus - Live @ Mezzanine<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been listening to <a href="http://daedelusmusic.com/" target="_blank">Daedelus</a>
since my homie <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlteredGee" target="_blank">Slouch</a> turned
me on to his music back around 2004. That was around the time when Daedelus
released his LP <i><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Daedelus-Invention/release/221685" target="_blank">Invention</a></i>
which is still one of the most cherished records in my collection. I have heard
his work develop and change even as electronic music itself develops and changes.
He incorporates a <i>lot</i> of different
sounds into his music, but he has a small ensemble of specific samples that regularly
crop up: a bassoon, an old-timey piano slightly out of tune, a harp, accordion…
Combined with advanced and at times almost hectic time signatures and tempos
and you get Daedelus' signature sound. And while I have heard his music described as “grimy Victorian techno”,
it ranges from something like that to downtempo to thoughtfully composed little solo pieces.
And that’s just his <i>recorded</i>
material. His live performance is a special thing in and of itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve seen Daedelus live a number of times and had my mind
blown by him before. So when I went to see him at <a href="http://mezzaninesf.com/events/daedelus/" target="_blank">Mezzanine</a>, I had an expectation
about what I was getting into. I made sure to get to the venue early: for shows
like this I like to get <i>all up in that</i>
action. His opener <a href="http://spazzkid.com/" target="_blank">Spazzkid</a> did a solid job getting
the energy level up. He had a big smile on his face and his jubilant dancing
was pretty fun to watch. It was the first time I had heard him, and his music
gives me the same feeling as artists like <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ryanhemsworth" target="_blank">Ryan Hemsworth</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/wave-racer" target="_blank">Wave Racer</a>: feel good vibes that
dip into Nintendo beats, Japanese singing and a sort of clean “happy trap”. I
have heard this sound described as “Miami bass”. It’s light, fun, and dance-y.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK4Hatzf5Bbh-jZgo5AX6snJ8mrw3sTy4rUMJjdXpJPRhQSq5j4fl4YUGtYk36y5fJemessFYLQgA_F7_4ZJ1gfMMUXQST84GypaJrDdjhLEymWBf59ybdRgQYOVWLpGdwiWmF6QOsmLU/s1600/spazzkid+snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK4Hatzf5Bbh-jZgo5AX6snJ8mrw3sTy4rUMJjdXpJPRhQSq5j4fl4YUGtYk36y5fJemessFYLQgA_F7_4ZJ1gfMMUXQST84GypaJrDdjhLEymWBf59ybdRgQYOVWLpGdwiWmF6QOsmLU/s1600/spazzkid+snapshot.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Spazzkid having some fun with his controller</i></div>
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When Daedelus came on they fired up this big installation
set up behind him. It was a series of equally sized square mirrors set up on a
rigging that allowed them to pivot in several directions, sometimes in unison
but mostly independently in various patterns. Daedelus told us the contraption
is called “Archimedes” and that they mostly use it for festivals. What a treat
to catch it on the stage of one of my favorite night clubs in San Francisco.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwFh-S9uBQ0Ad0GhMx4BXTGXfDb-LI5UaO5vvq1n598sp8LuKtcm1eB_FfS3Z1Be9ntUPEGgM4-rxhhNlwoTj2t3F3iey5rsZqqdIf8ZOtZ7s_VkChLZ8DRsmXmuN8s7AdnNrnWYSbpi/s1600/daedelus+snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEwFh-S9uBQ0Ad0GhMx4BXTGXfDb-LI5UaO5vvq1n598sp8LuKtcm1eB_FfS3Z1Be9ntUPEGgM4-rxhhNlwoTj2t3F3iey5rsZqqdIf8ZOtZ7s_VkChLZ8DRsmXmuN8s7AdnNrnWYSbpi/s1600/daedelus+snapshot.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mr. Darlington himself</i></div>
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Daedelus <a href="http://vimeo.com/1473270" target="_blank">performs live</a>
with a lot of button pushing and finger drumming using a drum machine called a <a href="http://monome.org/" target="_blank">Monome</a>, which interfaces into his lap top. It
visually translates into a pretty hands-on performance. Once Daedelus begins
his set he plays continuously. He does not stop, and often transitions into
different tempos using clever tricks that I have trouble describing in words. There
are a few electronic musicians out there whose live performances take you on a journey.
Daedelus does this, and can be compared to some of my other favorites live
performers: artists like <a href="https://soundcloud.com/jonhopkins" target="_blank">Jon Hopkins</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/shponglemusic" target="_blank">Shpongle</a>, and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/shlohmo" target="_blank">Shlohmo</a>. Sometimes entrancing,
sometimes downtempo, sometimes heavy and almost trap, all the way up to “fast, spazzy,
and crazy” as the artist described it to us prior to performing his encore
(which used a splendid take on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaFTm2bcac" target="_blank">amen break</a>, if I might
add). I found myself getting really hyped up at times, head-banging and karate
chopping the air, and in between somehow almost still, looking inwardly, only
to be slowly reeled back and lifted back up again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I recognized a couple of fire remixed incorporated into the
Daedelus set. He peppered his signature sound and sequencing into ‘<a href="https://soundcloud.com/hudsonmohawke/chimes" target="_blank">Chimes</a>’, ‘<a href="https://soundcloud.com/flume/disclosure-you-me-flume-remix" target="_blank">You & Me</a>’,
and I even caught some <a href="https://soundcloud.com/foolsgoldrecs/danny-brown-25-bucks-feat" target="_blank">Danny Brown</a> verses mixed in there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the end of the set I felt like I had received a deep
tissue massage on my brain, which is appropriate as Daedelus’ <a href="http://www.brainfeedersite.com/2014/09/30/daedelus-the-light-brigade/" target="_blank">new album</a> is on the Brainfeeder label. The crowd was delighted and I along with
the rest of them screamed and hollered while Daedelus, always the gentleman,
bowed and smiled.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br />
If you liked this blog entry, check out <a href="http://donshuggin.blogspot.com/2014/08/recently-i-went-to-see-jon-hopkins-at.html">Jon Hopkins - Live @ Mezzanine</a></div>
Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-88164027230851283312014-10-29T03:00:00.000+00:002014-11-08T11:02:24.817+00:00Spose - Live @ Bottom of the Hill<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up in Portland, Maine there was not a lot of local
music that made it onto the national scene. Maine being a sparsely populated
place, it is very rare that one of our citizens makes big enough artistic waves
to gain any attention beyond the New England region. There are occasional
exceptions to this; the two that come to mind are the band the Rustic Overtones
and the actress Anna Kendrick. The Rustic Overtones got some national radio
play in the late 1990’s, went on a couple of big tours, and made some great
music, my favorite song being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11LxNXr1Z0" target="_blank">Feast Or Famine</a> from
their 1997 album ‘Rooms by the Hour’. Ms. Kendrick, who is about my age, made
her rise in local and regional theater, performed on Broadway, and eventually transitioned
to screen acting. Most tweens recognize her as Jessica from the Twilight
movies, although my favorite performance of hers is the role of Beca in Pitch
Perfect. That’s right, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoJw_hhnZCo" target="_blank">I’ve seen Pitch Perfect</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went to college in Maine (UMF ’06 represent!) and it was
there I befriended a number of kids my age from the town of Wells. Aside from
being a uniquely tight knit and interesting bunch, Wells kids have a distinct
affinity for hip hop and various elements of its culture. It was in Wells where
I first learned what a whip is, how to smoke a backwood, and who T.I. is. When
I first got into freestyle rapping, a good deal of it was in the hazy bedrooms
of my Wells homies. And one of those homies was named Ryan, who was starting to
create music under the moniker Spose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It didn’t take long for the small-yet-robust Maine hip hop
scene to notice Spose. He was loud, confident, and <i>really</i> motivated. He got his name tattooed on his arm and wherever
rap nights, battles, or freestyle sessions cropped up Spose was not far away.
Spose is one of those kids who always has something clever to say and is
probably the smartest person in the room. He has a way of seriously rapping
without taking himself seriously. As an artist he is dedicated, always making
new music, and consistently finds new ways to stay fresh in a genre sometimes limited
by its narrow bandwidth.<o:p></o:p><br />
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In 2010, Spose struck gold with his song ‘I’m Awesome’. It
got him a record deal, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYws8biwOYc" target="_blank">music video</a>, and a boost in resources to take his art to the next level. Since
then he has toured several times, launched his own <a href="http://www.pdank.com/" target="_blank">music label</a> and line of <a href="http://www.bullmoose.com/c/11287/sposemart" target="_blank">merchandise</a>, and
generally managed to be a professional full time musician in an era where many
musicians still have to <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/" target="_blank">work a day job</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently Spose went back on tour, this time with <a href="http://www.mcchris.com/" target="_blank">MC Chris</a> and <a href="http://mclars.com/site/" target="_blank">MC Lars</a> (who is a California native) and
they swung through San Francisco for a night to do a show at <a href="http://www.bottomofthehill.com/calendar.html#sthash.YJY9ea5I.dpbs" target="_blank">Bottom of the Hill</a>. Known for its strong docket of indie/underground artists, the
venue is aptly named based on the hilly geography of SF, and the fact that it
is indeed located at the bottom of one of said hills. Also, it is apparently a
large residential house converted and modified over the years to be a music
venue/bar. This gives it the reckless charm of a house party and the intimacy of
a small underground club. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKy5xyo71vAG_dLS_USvC3jRX7lZOeMo_YiG2XCkQTvKET-XnhDdbcNkTrGU7tkbe8BJrz4XpJ2HZIbVAQWthmjOp15-lRPtvvJsbga8cPuwVi7rB5Bp0uj7Dd7SBmAWooqmg1J22Inb2/s1600/spose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKy5xyo71vAG_dLS_USvC3jRX7lZOeMo_YiG2XCkQTvKET-XnhDdbcNkTrGU7tkbe8BJrz4XpJ2HZIbVAQWthmjOp15-lRPtvvJsbga8cPuwVi7rB5Bp0uj7Dd7SBmAWooqmg1J22Inb2/s1600/spose1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>a cellphy with the crew</i></div>
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A few Maine homies came up from Santa Cruz and down from
NorCal to join forces for the show. When we got there the line was huge and
Spose was already performing; we could hear him outside as we waited in line,
and I demonstrated how cool I was/killed time by rapping along to ‘I’m Awesome’
outside on the sidewalk. Once inside we plowed our way to the front, cheap beer
in hand, and jammed out with as much exuberance as could be afforded to a homie
who had toured all the way from Maine to California to share his music with the
country.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH7GbEph6ylz_Lx9wUA8LPlBxhG-kazq114PVfsXa55f3IL9oLDsEcvbPdddVxZb9EuVE4fshvMnrSxb_lX7NSskbjSLs8Y8pRYbXz4QRZiXnQUxbnxbdXgX6y7L-13lsc6qGb-8XPiow/s1600/spose2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH7GbEph6ylz_Lx9wUA8LPlBxhG-kazq114PVfsXa55f3IL9oLDsEcvbPdddVxZb9EuVE4fshvMnrSxb_lX7NSskbjSLs8Y8pRYbXz4QRZiXnQUxbnxbdXgX6y7L-13lsc6qGb-8XPiow/s1600/spose2.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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<i>Spose engages the audience</i></div>
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Spose did not disappoint, blending his familiar half-joking
honesty with precise rhyme-schemes and word play. He is incredibly well
rehearsed and does not at any point fuck up. He sometimes commits the common
faux-paux of explaining what his songs are about before performing them, but he
does so in an endearing way that adds to the storytelling element of hip hop. All
around us were hordes of young strangers who were completely into it, many were
screaming the lyrics right back at the artist, nodding their heads, waving their
hands, and generally having a great time seeing an artist they love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking back at those bedroom freestlyes so long ago, I
thought about all that had transpired for Spose to finally end up on that stage
in San Francisco. The memories put a smile on my face that didn’t go away all
night (admittedly part of that might have been the tidal wave of Budweiser I
consumed). It felt like a little slice of Maine that night, with all the homies
in California coming together to see Spose and hang out with friends.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
______________________________________<br />
<br />
If you liked this blog entry, check out <a href="http://donshuggin.blogspot.com/2014/09/lil-dicky-live-independent.html">Lil Dicky - Live @ the Independent</a></div>
Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-65680106507015419172014-10-27T07:06:00.000+00:002014-11-08T11:06:38.963+00:00Brick + Mortar - Live @ Slim's<div class="MsoNormal">
A while back I was listening to a <a href="https://soundcloud.com/plaid/wrd-mix">mixtape by Plaid</a> and somewhere
around the seven and a half minute mark a song came on that kinda blew my mind.
The vocals were pumped through some kind of low-fi/garage rock filter, the
drumming was supremely boom-bap, and the lyrics had the profound-yet-jovial
tone of someone like The Squirrel Nut Zippers.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turns out that song is called ‘Move To The Ocean’ and in my
opinion it’s a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Wiq9wj03g">damn masterpiece</a>.
So when shortly after learning about that track I discovered the artists were
coming so SF, I was floored.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their name is Brick + Mortar and they are from New Jersey. I
bought two tickets and when my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shingo.brennan">original
man-date</a> was double booked I described them to my homie Alex as “sort of an
alt-rock, garage-rock hybrid” which is another way of saying what I said in the
first paragraph without admitting that these guys are too far ahead of their
time to be defined. Needless to say Alex accepted my invitation and even bought
me a drink once we got to the venue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Brick + Mortar played for a bit, I couldn't help but
label their sound as “austere.” Robust, well-crafted verses built up to strong
choral waves, with drum breaks and bridges reminiscent of Billy <a href="http://www.mmw.net/">Martin</a>. Never before have I heard music that
harnesses golden-age hip-hop drums with tasty live guitar and conscious if not
profound vocals delivered in the style of rock.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being the opener for Vacationer, the only people at the
venue (Slim’s) in time to witness these dudes were either a) there to drink and
enjoy what the venue had to offer, or b) familiar with the band and willing to
be punctual in order to catch their live set. So basically we’re talking
about thirty people in a city known for its musical taste.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter; really. These guys are way ahead of their time
and truly talented. Knowing only one of their songs, it was easy to enjoy their
set, key in on their lyrics, and absorb their sound as something I’ve been
seeking for a while and just recently found.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitYizCIYvVg_q1-QtmPUCYNtv3Hu7CqhMq1AH92vzd26V1cZMBy0Xsy2pWHxUzS4DMnXqC-vSVqBakOVoOWgmB5wevDKQasI4IR1kjRKnMK2s2vad9vG3QwSkYPWjD-TzcNCHF-i0Re8m/s1600/20141027_203437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitYizCIYvVg_q1-QtmPUCYNtv3Hu7CqhMq1AH92vzd26V1cZMBy0Xsy2pWHxUzS4DMnXqC-vSVqBakOVoOWgmB5wevDKQasI4IR1kjRKnMK2s2vad9vG3QwSkYPWjD-TzcNCHF-i0Re8m/s1600/20141027_203437.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>small potatoes will still make you a large fry</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the course of six songs they utilized three or four
dozen samples pre-sequenced such that the drummer could provide live
accompaniment in a way that gave the duo a much larger sound than two men could hope to achieve. Such is the
beauty of the sampler, the sequencer, and the drum machine. I truly appreciate
that this is a component of their craft.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The overall result exceeded my expectations and left me
wanting more. Except for some rare 7” I’ve heard rumors about, there is no
available vinyl as they are not yet on a big enough label to publish. What I
did get was a rare and intimate experience with a band that is surely headed upwards
in mountainous fashion. It was an absolute treat and delight to catch Brick +
Mortar at Slim’s, and if I’m even somewhat accurate in my takeaway, the next
time I see these guys it will be at the Independent and they’ll be the headliners.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
______________________________________<br />
<br />
If you liked this blog entry, check out <a href="http://donshuggin.blogspot.com/2014/08/recently-i-went-to-see-jon-hopkins-at.html">Jon Hopkins - Live @ Mezzanine</a></div>
Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-78094683024315576372014-09-18T09:20:00.004+01:002014-09-18T09:30:53.344+01:00Lil Dicky - Live @ The Independent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I expected seeing Lil Dicky on Tuesday at the Independent
was going to be one big $15 dick joke. What I saw was hilarious and also
transcended the role of the modern white guy rapper.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have and will always be a fan of underground hip-hop,
which has consistently had many white emcees. Slug, Aesop Rock, Sage Francis,
Sole, ADeeM, Buck 65, and Dose One come to mind as immediate examples. But I
think that on the bigger scale, it’s important to give a lot of credit to
Eminem, because he was the first white guy to do it and get really, really
popular, and thus shift the paradigm of what a white guy rapper can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eminem was funny in a sick way, all anger and angst
that was easily relatable to many young white men (such as myself) who were
fans of rap in general. Eminem was so good that his appeal exceeded his genre,
and I remember growing up hearing his songs on the Alternative Rock radio
station. I like to think that Eminem paved the way for many of the white
rappers who came after him; because Eminem proved that you didn’t <i>have</i> to be black to be a legit big-time rapper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A friend of mine, a white guy rapper named Spose,
experienced not-insignificant success a few years back with his song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYws8biwOYc" target="_blank">“I’m Awesome”</a>. Spose
used self-depreciating humor, championing the self-loathing white guy guilt
that for me (and many young men like me) is relatable and recognizable. I can
listen to 50 Cent and <i>see</i> how he
feels, or I can listen to Spose and <i>know</i>
how he feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As expected, a couple of other talented white guys were
working the same angle as Spose. Jon Lajoie (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw" target="_blank">“Everyday Normal Guy”</a>),
Asher Roth (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYx7YG0RsFY" target="_blank">“I Love College”</a>), and Adam Samberg/The Lonely Island (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYL5H46QnQ&list=TL-hLz4Y3vcEMlMOhia6yQYW-3mHbmva_Y&index=6" target="_blank">“Threw It On The Ground”</a>) all come to mind. These were slightly different takes on
the same perspective: being white and owning up to all of the lack-luster
stereotypes associated with it. Average sexual performance, not being a baller,
being slightly above average at a few average things, generally lacking
confidence, having “first world problems”… these themes are echoed in the
collective works of the aforementioned artists. And yet they are spoken in the
language of the hip-hop emcee, which means (and I credit Method Man for this definition)
flow, breath control, and lyrical wordplay. So now here we have Lil Dicky, who
is doing the same thing, but he is doing it in the best way I have witnessed so
far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghNJGytEkWu5kJpwUbWpQjbdDgEFS8niXJrUOK2r3BiTXNpOv-FwtEsvPMOX-LoHAGTqtKwW_vQBDSA6RYXMTE_MF6_D-kYKnE9QulffduPhn06_LgcShNBE4lGYALcTeh3tLk1W4LbU1/s1600/dicky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghNJGytEkWu5kJpwUbWpQjbdDgEFS8niXJrUOK2r3BiTXNpOv-FwtEsvPMOX-LoHAGTqtKwW_vQBDSA6RYXMTE_MF6_D-kYKnE9QulffduPhn06_LgcShNBE4lGYALcTeh3tLk1W4LbU1/s1600/dicky2.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">photo by instagram user <a href="http://instagram.com/monicamariedeus" target="_blank">monicamariedeus</a></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To get a solid idea of Dicky’s particular brand of white
guy rapper flavor, check out “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rnFlQAvk8U" target="_blank">White Dude</a>”, which is
about all of the <i>good</i> parts of being a
white male. He poses them hilariously, and his rhyme schemes and wordplay are
clever and on point. Plus he filmed parts of it in San Francisco so that’s
cool. Dig a little deeper into Dicky’s impressive and well-maintained online
presence and you see the white guy complex branching into other things more
specific to Dicky himself: being a Jew and using the “K-word” the way black
people use the N-word, being physically overshadowed by other more handsome
white guys, and being a funny white rapper that is also a technically talented
lyricist are some of the main themes he highlights, each with their own song
and music video featured on his regularly updated <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/LilDickyRap" target="_blank">Youtube channel</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY7kRA1VM7syRZPWUsIJVLKXybimFcQt90-Q23nekdXw2UDTed_S4svfIymjH6COTQFlvMCNaRcKkVSLf8XYSd0i3iE15QhoevbLda36jUN9s7sjGBEftFY6vvcII02eITsPgwxOCwFX-/s1600/dicky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY7kRA1VM7syRZPWUsIJVLKXybimFcQt90-Q23nekdXw2UDTed_S4svfIymjH6COTQFlvMCNaRcKkVSLf8XYSd0i3iE15QhoevbLda36jUN9s7sjGBEftFY6vvcII02eITsPgwxOCwFX-/s1600/dicky.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dicky's set was highly interactive with the audience</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lil Dicky put on a hip-hop performance Tuesday night. Yes, it
had humorous elements. Yes, it built on white guy stereotypes. But by the end
of it I felt like I had witnessed a rap show and not a comedy routine. A good
rap show features a couple of things. First, you need a great DJ who properly
backs up the emcee. In this case DJ Omega not only backed him up but opened for
him in a very live and high energy display. It was very simple but very well
done. When Dicky came on, he put up a power point presentation, outlining the
amount of fun the audience was about to have. To me this was genius. A hip-hop
show <i>should</i> be fun. Dicky threw in
some jokes, but when it came time to rap, he threw down. He was live on the
mic. He had every word dialed, with excellent flow and breath control, never
running out of steam or fumbling with his lyrics. When he brought up his hype
man, a totally swagged-out black kid, he joked “how cool do I look now with
this guy on stage next to me?” The beats were well produced and trappy, and
Dicky had the lyrical talent to hold it down. So while he joked about having a
small dick, and took off his pants, and brought up a girl on stage and gave her
a lap dance, he also reiterated that he “is a professional rapper”, he kept the
crowd engaged and responding with tons of energy, and he held down the stage
with the same presence and strength I can attribute to other very successful rappers
I have seen (and I have been to many, many hip hop shows).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There’s no doubt in my mind that Lil Dicky is going places.
It was great to catch him on an otherwise mellow Tuesday night, and I was
reminded just how much I enjoy hip-hop when it’s done right.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_____________________________________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you liked this blog entry, check out <a href="http://donshuggin.blogspot.com/2014/08/recently-i-went-to-see-jon-hopkins-at.html" target="_blank">Jon Hopkins Live @ Mezzanine</a></span></div>
Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489930283705113902.post-87423697119414838682014-07-26T03:00:00.000+01:002014-08-05T09:27:19.872+01:00Jon Hopkins - Live @ Mezzanine<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recently I went to see <a href="http://mezzaninesf.com/events/jon-hopkins/">Jon Hopkins at Mezzanine</a> with
my buddy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shingo.brennan">Shingo</a>. I’ve
been a fan of Hopkins for about a year and a half now. His music has a
wonderfully natural way of building up and entrancing the listener, taking your
mind far away to a different place and time, or perhaps, to a difference place
and time within your <i>own</i> mind. I find
it excellent for long runs. Very deep, advanced stuff. So to say I was excited
to see him live is an understatement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We got there pretty early, a little bit after doors opened
as not to miss anything and also grab a good close spot on the main floor. It’s
fun to see all of the people enter the club and feel the energy and
anticipation build.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teebs, the opener, was ayt; I’ve heard some his stuff on his
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/teebsio" target="_blank">soundcloud</a> so it was cool to catch
him live. The floor was a little empty during the set, with lots of people
still filing in and getting their drinks at the bar. He happily played a few
tunes (he seemed like a nice and happy dude) and then the stage went dark for
an interlude. This is when people started packing the dance floor in
anticipation of the headliner.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jon Hopkins came on to much applause and palpable eagerness from
the audience. As the stage lights lit him, a young man standing near me said “oh
my god he’s so handsome.” It’s true, Hopkins has cut features and dashing
looks, but electronic music isn’t about how hot you are, it’s about how hot you
<i>sound</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopkins did not disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He started out kind of mellow, letting the audience settle
in at their own pace. Slowly things accelerated and like a waking dream my mind’s
eye started to create imagery for what I was hearing. I gently rocked to the
rhythm, eyes closed, and Shingo leaned in and said “a woman walking down a hallway
in a fluttering dress, except instead of walls there are trains moving in
opposite directions.” This was a pretty spot on way to describe what I was
seeing and hearing: layers of consistent movement around a central set of drums
forming a structure that moved like curtains in a light breeze. Fluttering,
developing, deepening…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhIfijMeRMgHOhUmgXWHYo-c64Zv7YD-5_BXLYrCPzVtqZ78R2BGXwnExAGGoSaRmjamBbhEVrWzg-SstaS7002vf6ce1bRpEu9lj5UyZGoJkQ85EBpv1JNzrIw628s_vr7AkWJ34Szpd/s1600/hopkins+by+yungpeng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhIfijMeRMgHOhUmgXWHYo-c64Zv7YD-5_BXLYrCPzVtqZ78R2BGXwnExAGGoSaRmjamBbhEVrWzg-SstaS7002vf6ce1bRpEu9lj5UyZGoJkQ85EBpv1JNzrIw628s_vr7AkWJ34Szpd/s1600/hopkins+by+yungpeng.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">photo by Instagram user <a href="http://instagram.com/yungpeng" target="_blank">yungpeng</a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All around me everyone I saw was on the same level. Hopkins
was making magic, entrancing us, and just as we began to settle into a singular
groove, he began increasing the energy level. Before you knew it everyone was
moving along with the beats, with some of the more enthusiastic audience
members jumping around a little bit. The beats became more austere, pronounced,
powerful. It felt more like something you could move to, and so I moved. Shingo
leaned in and said, “Fog over trees with bare branches.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Carefully Hopkins began to build his masterpiece right
before our eyes and ears. With incredible detail and technical prowess he
started a long crescendo. Tempos increased, samples got wilder, layers
thickened. I felt somehow taken by this music, energized and hypnotized and captured
by it, at one moment in a trance and then without realizing it jumping for joy.
I have only experienced this specific sensation once before, back in March when
I saw <a href="http://events.sfgate.com/san_francisco_ca/events/show/369779211-shpongle" target="_blank">Shpongle at the Regency</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The performance was thrilling to witness and by the time his
encore was done Hopkins had played for a perfect hour and five minutes to the
delight of the crowd. After high-fiving some fellow enthusiastic audience
members, we got the hell out of there, in an awed state of disbelief of what we
had just experienced. I love having my mind blown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">____________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you liked this blog entry, check out <a href="http://donshuggin.blogspot.com/2014/07/world-cup-thoughts.html">World Cup Thoughts</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Sean Dugganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398190462924722376noreply@blogger.comSan Francisco, CA, USA37.7749295 -122.4194155000000137.373502 -123.06486250000002 38.176356999999996 -121.77396850000001