March 27, 2008
The Rump Shaker: March 27–April 2
A historic tour rolls into town this Wednesday, as Jay-Z and Mary J Blige bring their Heart of the City co-venture to the ACC. Since 1996, Jigga has released ten studio albums, two collaborations with R. Kelly, a mash-up album with Linkin Park, and an MTV Unplugged with The Roots. He also managed to squeeze in a three-year retirement, during which he served as Def Jam president. When no major labels would sign him, he gained his indie cred by starting Roc-A-Fella Records. Part owner of the New Jersey Nets, dubbed the CEO of Hip-Hop, dating the hottest chick in the game, and tied with Elvis as the artist with the second most Number One albums in music history, it's safe to say that Jay-Z is the man. From a critical and commercial perspective, the only other music artist in his league in terms of consistency and impact is Radiohead. He'll be joined by the Queen of R&B and Hip-Hop, Mary J Blige. In addition to doing solo sets, the two will do a shared set. If it's half as good as their Unplugged performance, this show will be a classic.
Speaking of The Roots, the Philadelphia band will be playing at the Koolhaus on Sunday. The perennially critically acclaimed group will be releasing their tenth album, Rising Down, in April. Its first single, "Birthday Girl," features Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump on the hook, and is undeniably poppy. Perhaps to downplay any sell-out talk, the group has also released a video for "Get Busy" which is much harder. Regardless of how you feel about the new tracks, The Roots have cemented their reputation as a guaranteed great show.
One of the biggest local successes in recent years has been Crystal Castles. The duo with the eight-bit beats have been called "the most exciting and original band in the world right now." Their self-titled debut was released a couple of weeks ago. They'll be headlining Randomland at CiRCA on Friday. Judging from this performance at the Rough Trade store, the show will be ferocious.
Full listings below.
This Week
Thursday, March 27
Tainted Love @ Andy Poolhall with rotating DJs: DJ Ritz, Corey Dawkins, DJ X, and DJ Fase. No cover.
Mr Scruff @ Wrongbar. $15.
Unwind Thursdays @ Jolly! with Paranoid Jack, Alicia Hush, and NuEra. No cover.
Lupe Fiasco @ CiRCA with Matthew Santos. $22.50 adv.
Friday, March 28
Exposed @ Mod Club with MV, Addy, and Nick Forucci.
Randomland @ CiRCA with Crystal Castles, Health and more. $15.
Fascination @ Andy Poolhall with TNA Sound System, and Abacus & Lupo of Hi-life!. $5.
Rehab @ Footwork with Deko-ze, Vinyl Junkies, and Jay Force. $5 with guestlist.
Soho Fridays @ This is London withWe Are Wolves. $10 adv.
CIUT 21st Anniversary @ The Gladstone with Ultra Magnus, High Plains Drifter, Corey Dawkins, Goldfinger, and Jason Palma. $5.
Loving in the Name Of! @ Augusta House. $5.
Non Stop @ Drake Underground. $5.
Saturday, March 29
Miami Schmiami @ Footwork with Matt Coleridge, Sean Crawford, Jon Jon, and Kevin Harcourt.
The Last Call @ Sound Academy with Logun, Infamous SC, DVS, Publicity, and others.
Shake a Tail @ Clintons. $5.
Traffic Saturdays @ CiRCA with Doman + Pettigrew, Addy, Neno, DJ Jedi, Red Circle DJs & DJ Jason Myles.
Syntonics @ Levack Block with Mr. Furious. No cover.
Get Throwed @ 751.
Shut Em Down @ 751.
iNSiDEaMiND @ Embassy. $5.
Apples Slack's with DJ Hollyrock. No cover.
Leif @ Drake Underground. $5.
London Is Calling @ This is London. $20 with Chris La Roque. $20.
Head for The Hills @ Guvernment with Lauren Conrad.
Mark Oliver and Deko-ze @ Guvernment. The Drink: Manzone & Strong; The Orange Room: 4 Korners; D'Luxe: DJ Wristspect and MC Sir Lancelot; Acid Lounge: Jay Force.
Sunday, March 30
Wavelength @ Sneaky Dee's with Friendlyness & the Human Rights, Geordie Haley's Everytime Band, and Waleed Kush. PWYC.
Edge 102.1 Live to Air @ Velvet Underground with Martin Streek.
The Roots @ Koolhaus with Pump and Hedspin from Eh! Team DJs. $36.50.
Monday, March 31
Make it Mondays @ Raq-n-Waq with The Viper Crew. No cover.
Manic Mondays @ Dance Cave with DJ Shannon. No cover.
Tuesday, April 1
Totally Wired Tuesdays @ Embassy with DJ Richie Volume.
Footwork Tuesdays @ Andy Poolhall with DJ Fase. No cover.
Wednesday, April 2
Heart of the City Tour @ Air Canada Center with Jay-Z and Mary J Blige.
Remix This! @ Andy Poolhall with Dirty Dale and Matt Medley. No cover.
Hump Day Bump @ Gladstone Melody Bar. No cover.
FlopHouse Wednesdays @ TOI with Alicia Hush. No cover.
Photo by niallkennedy.
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I listened to a Jay - Z song once and I thought that the lyrics were a bit sexist. I forget which song it was.
Yeah some of his lyrics are sexist and violent or whatnot, but that shouldn't really detract from the fact that he's (in my opinion) by far the best songwriter in music these days. And really, how many movies do you see that are sexist and violent. I think that a lot of people misinterpret gangsta rap and believe every word that rappers are saying, when really gangsta rap should be treated like a movie. Rappers set a scene and sometimes it's ugly or something you may not agree with, but it doesn't detract from the artistry. Jay-Z's a great songwriter and you should check out his new single, I Know, where he raps from the perspective of heroin. Maybe I'm being inflammatory, but you don't see that type of intelligence in indie rock these days. Also, come on - 14 albums in 12 years with at least four of them being stone cold masterpieces...AND he's got Beyonce locked down. That's pretty impressive. Give him another listen, his American Gangster album was (again in my own opinion) easily the best album released last year.
I agree most movies are sexist. I should have said misogynistic.