Blackalicious
Date: March 29, 2006 Good God, Morning! When Blackalicious included an Ottawa date in their latest tour, it meant that I could cross another artist from my must-see list. The duo came through with a masterful performance that lived up to all of my high expectations. The typically languid hip hop scheduling meant that I had plenty of time to take in my first look at the New Capital Music Hall. The new venue feels very much like a scaled down version of its departed namesake. The side balcony seating has been reproduced and I took a perch there while Illo worked a respectable DJ set that stretched beyond two hours. The concert got rolling with Pigeon John, the first of four artists on the tour. He made a bid to steal the show with a frantic solo performance that showcased his clear delivery, hooky songs, and self-deprecating charm. John was a great visual performer, patrolling the wide stage to engage the entire crowd, his skinny limbs often flailing like the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. He did a perfect job for an opening act, getting the crowd hopping and singing along with seemingly every chorus. After a quick changeover, the stage was handed to Fatlip, the onetime Pharcyde member. He quickly demonstrated a hard delivery, barking his rhymes into the mic; but the resulting vocals were often muddied and indistinct. Compared to Pigeon John, Fatlip was also a rather static performer, often rooting in one spot for a song. A throwback to Pharcyde's huge hit, "Passin' Me By," seemed to lack passion but its inclusion did get the crowd buzzing, adding colour to a set that had blurred together. The late start common to most hip hop shows is usually offset by the quick pace maintained once the bands start. True to form, the two half-hour sets that began this night were separated by only a few minutes. However, the wait for Lifesavas nearly equaled the previous set times. With no apparent technical snags, the delay seemed needless; and it definitely lessened the buzz. For me, it took a few songs before Lifesavas really made their mark but, ultimately, I could not deny their efforts. With Chief Xcel backing them on the turntables, MCs Vursatyl and Jumbo the Garbageman attacked the stage. Their musical approach definitely matched the hip hop purity expected of a Quannum Projects act; it was easy to see why Xcel would view them as kindred parties to his work with Blackalicious. The most important aspects of the set, though, were the forcefulness and tightness of their delivery. This was obviously a pair of MCs who were well used to working together; and they used their cohesion to great effect, putting a buzz back in the restless audience.
Unfortunately, the long changeover time was repeated before the appearance of the top act on the bill. However, this complaint would prove to be the only legitimate knock against Blackalicious. When Chief Xcel returned to the stage with his partner, Gift of Gab, the latter wasted no more time, immediately tearing into the tongue twister of "Alphabet Aerobics." Sure, the mixing was imperfect on this opener, making Gab's words harder to hear than they would be later in the affair; but I doubt that you could have found anyone in the Capital Music Hall who was anything less than mesmerized by his ever-quickening delivery. It was a feeling that would be repeated throughout the concert. Gift of Gab is an amazingly talented rapper and it is sometimes hard to believe that he can sustain his nimble delivery with only the scant pauses between songs as a respite. His skills earned such respect from the crowd that he was able to act as a captivating frontman, despite a very casual, laid-back demeanour. In contrast to Jumbo's wild dreadlocks, Gift of Gab's bespectacled face and small grin may not mark him as a ferocious performer, but he and Chief Xcel know how to control a crowd from start to finish. While technical skills and showmanship can carry a concert, the fact that Blackalicious has put out some of the most daring hip hop music of recent memory gives them a deep pool of songs from which to craft a memorable night. Their latest release, The Craft, was represented by such selections as "World of Vibrations," "Supreme People," and "Rhythm Sticks." The bulk of the set was split between that album and the group's previous masterpiece, Blazing Arrow. That album's "Paragraph President" was an early highlight for me, with "Sky Is Falling," "First in Flight," "Chemical Calisthenics," and the title track also making a mark. It was an older song that had the greatest effect, though. There are rare concert moments that transcend the usual reactions and hit you with the pure joy of the live experience. For me, the classic "Deception" was such a time, erasing all feelings other than the delight of the instant. With a hall full of fans yelling along to a chorus of "Lah-di-dah, da-da-dee-dah" and Gift of Gab ending the song sharply to stand and revel in the mood, I am sure that I was not the only one to share that feeling. The tight set breezed along, packing a lot of music into an hour-long showcase, before the band exited. Of course, they did return for an encore, with "Make You Feel That Way" leading into "Side to Side." The bounce of the latter was something that I had been looking forward to all night, knowing that it included Pigeon John. Indeed, John's return to the stage was a big hit and it led to the night's closing number, a jam that included all of the MCs from the tour. All of the hopes that I had for Blackalicious were realized. Although slow concert pacing lessened the impact of the openers, they did their part for a strong night of music. As for the headliners, Blackalicious proved to be a flawless group, pulling a lot of my favourites into a great setlist and turning each into a well-delivered, energetic treat. <--Prev (Magnolia Electric Co.) | Next (The Lovely Feathers)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |