I said it before and I'll say it again: I love Kilby Court. It's a catalyst that will make an okay show good, a good show great, and so forth. Thus was the case with the nerdcore show.
It started off with dubious omens. We showed up late, though with the thoroughly nerdy excuse that Dave was running an instance on World of Warcraft. We arrived to find that the band Steel Train had been added to the top of the bill and that we'd missed Optimus Rhyme's set. On top of that everyone would only be playing half-hour sets, instead of Front and OR for 45 and Lars for an hour. Didn't have much time to complain, though, Front was about to take the stage.
Live hip hop is something I'd never experienced, so I didn't know what to expect. Especially from fringe artists like Frontalot. YouTube has quite a bit of low-quality footage of the Front live, so I was a little nervous. But rhymes from "Goth Girls" kept running through my head, and I kept getting more and more excited. I was not let down. MC Frontalot has such a unique stage presence it's hard to look away. Kinda like a car crash when he dances. A beautiful, beautiful car crash.
MC Lars said I'm fresh. I say we're even. He brings an incredible amount of energy to the stage, even one as minuscule as Kilby Court. When he describes his sound as post-punk laptop rap he's not kidding, he had his iBook and a projector set up on metal folding chairs to make his own multi-media presentation. DYI ethics like that also make him more punk rock than you. Audience participation was abundant, too, and that's the quick route to my heart. The audience was given a part to sing during "Mr. Raven", "Generic Crunk Rap", "If I Had a Time Machine, That Would be Fresh", "Download This Song", and "Signing Emo". An amazing amount of energy, an amazing good time. The set ended with Lars being joined by Front and Wheelie from Optimus Rhyme for a rousing rendition of "Nerdcore Rising", which also provided the audience an opportunity to flex it's vocal muscle.
This brings us to Steel Train. We were discussing leaving the show after Lars as a show of solidarity to the nerd crew. But talking to…it was either the guys from Optimus Rhyme or Gm7 and Blak Lotus [keys and bass/guitar respectively for Frontalot, also played with Lars], it was explained that the drummer from Steel Train used to drum for MC Lars, they were on their way from New York to LA to record a new record, and had been in a van on the road for 35 hours prior to the show. This softened us up quite a bit. I'm glad it did, too, because Steel Train make great musics. Without actually sounding like them, ST have many of the same elements we love about the Shins and [in my mind, leastwise] John Butler. Plus they did one of the coolest things I've seen a band do: they gathered all five guys around a single microphone and blasted some harmonies over a single guitar. They also jam very well and I recommend giving them listens.
I didn't actually see the whole set because my girlfriend was tired and wanted to sit down. So we went out to the courtyard and sat around the fire [coolest venue ever, I'm telling you]. Luckily we could hear the band fine, and also I got to sit around a hobo fire with MC Lars. That's right, I schmooze.
Well, before I make an even bigger ass of myself, here are some final verdicts:
Optimus Rhyme: In fairness for missing their show, I got the CD. Review forthcoming.
MC Frontalot: His job's not a job, it's a damn good time.
MC Lars: An incredible amount of energy in a DIY multi-media extravaganza, ya'll!
Steel Train: A little out of place on the bill, but a good band all the same. Gread hair, if nothing else.
Overall: I'm definitely going to the next nerdcore show that comes my way, looking for full sets. I was lucky enough to get to talk to both Lars and Front, plus a few guys from OR and Frontalot's band. They're really nice guys. Run their own merch table and everything. Dave says he's seen local bands who think they're too good to run their own merch table. Anyhow, I seriously look forward to seeing this business again.
Check out our Preview Post, with more mp3s.
Pictures Coming Soon!
Related Links:
MC Frontalot Official Website // Label // MySpace // Buy Nerdcore Rising
MC Lars Official Website // Label // MySpace // Buy The Graduate
Optimus Rhyme Official Website // Label // MySpace // Buy School the Indie Rockers
Check out Steel Train, too.
Related Audio:
MC Lars - White Kids Aren't Hyphy
[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/White%20Kids%20Aren%27t%20Hypy%20-%20MC%20Lars.mp3]
Optimus Rhyme - Obey the Moderator
[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Optimus%20Rhyme%20-%2003%20-%20Obey%20The%20Moderator.mp3]
MC Frontalot - Nerdcore Rising TEASER
[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/MC_Frontalot_-_Nerdcore_Rising_06_Nerdcore_Rising_TEASER.mp3]
Steel Train - Better Love
[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Better%20Love%20-%20Steel%20Train.mp3]
bad news first, this time: Billboard has announced that Interscope will be dumping more Guns ‘n’ Roses on us in late November when, after fourteen years and $13,000,000, Chinese Democracy becomes available, exclusively at Best Buy. Bad as it sound, there are two things I’m looking forward to: (1) the best possible review being “It’s an okay album but it really wasn’t worth the wait,” and (2) my free Dr. Pepper. Aside from that, I’m fine if we never post another word about it.
ngue-Clucking Grammarian” both have a dancefloor groove designed to get you hopping (”Wallflowers” even gives you instructions on how to dance the “Margaret Thatcher”). “Shame of Otaku” features a very chilled beat, like AM radio lounge meets G-Funk, and a Japanese hook. “Canadia” makes a fat beat out of “Oh Canada” and features Jesse Dangerously and Wordburglar rebutting Front’s accusation that Canadia is unpatriotic. At this point I will stop going song by song and encourage you to do it yourself.
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