One
I went to see the Palestinian hip hop show that came though my town. This show didn’t start until after midnight, so I was pretty sleepy well before I got there. But when I got there I discovered that this show wasn’t just one Palestinian hip hop act; it was two. So tired.
First was something called Palestinian Rapperz (yes, with a “z,” presumably to keep it real, yo). Now I’m not the world’s foremost authority on hip hop, but my ears told me that these guys are kind of lame. They had low energy, which is like death for a genre that relies heavily on personality in live performance. There is nothing else to focus on in a hip hop show, so usually there is an abundance of charisma. This show had very little charisma, other than a few shout-outs to the homeland and that wasn’t helping my marginally wakeful state.
DAM, the next act act, was a different story. They had much more energy and the rhythms were complex and interesting. The crowd seemed to agree with my ears as they were much more into these guys. Unfortunately, three songs in, I was too sleepy to continue standing, so I made my way home.
That’s more or less all I have to say here, but I would like to report more on the audience before I’m done. First, here is a photo of a guy wearing one of the keffiyeh hats that they were selling. Palestine reprezent.
The composition of the audience was one part Palestinians, one part hip hop fans, and one part middle-aged listeners of NPR. Here is one of them pumping her fist in the air, while she balances–and I kid you not here–a totebag on the other shoulder. I wish the photo were better.
TwoI went to see Wilco for the third time since this time last year. This time was in Austin for the first night of their two night stand. It was the best of my three performances. This is possibly because Austin loves Wilco and Wilco, in turn, loves Austin. As Jeff Tweedy put it in some between song banter, “You are far superior, Austin.” They know, Jeff. They know.
Three
I went to see Old 97s play an in-store show at the somewhat recently re-opened Cactus records. Their set consisted of one new song alternating with one old song which an audience member would shout out. It was surprisingly less low-key than most in-store shows are, but under the fluorescent lights it was clear that these 97s are, in fact, Old. Even baby faced Rhett is starting to look his age.
Bonus
Meet Black Cab Sessions, a considerably less stylish version of La Blogoteque. Won’t somebody buy both of them mics that don’t suck?
dude, i was tucked in bed both friday and saturday night before midnight! of course, i was in boston visiting my sis’. people go to bed early in boston, and they go to breakfast, not brunch, on weekends. at like 9am we were standing in a line to get into Zaftig’s. let me repeat with emphasis: *there was a line to go to get in for breakfast*. not a line to get into a club late at night. it was so weird. i don’t even think anything opens up in my neighborhood in bklyn before 10am on a weekend.
-one of your grumpy old friends making note of cultural differences between cities
we were standing in a line to get into Zaftig’s
The place is called Zaftig’s? Why don’t they just call it Fatty’s?
That’s a thing in Chicago too, going out for breakfast. The most famous place Ann Sather’s is completely over rated.
As if the whole idea weren’t.
Please, if you’re in Chicago come to my house for the best damn weekend breakfast you could ask for.