Ace Rizzle

Saw Aesop Rock lastnight! It was my first time at the notorious Melkweg (the place that taught me how to say both 'milk' and 'way' and dutch), and I was pleased with the venue. We were in the Oude Zaal (old hall), which was kind of like the Metro in Sydney, but about quarter the size. Yep, really small. It had a really good sound system, and an upstairs section which is where we were, so we had a really good view. Not that it would have been hard to see anywhere in a place that small.

The opening act was a Canadian guy called "Anonymouz". He had an amazing (comically speaking) semi theatrical stage show going on. He came out holding a candle looking like a monk or priest or something. At one point he acted out dying/passing out and a buddy of his came and revived him... I think thats what they were doing... At one point they were pooring wine for the people in the front row.. Dan (I think fairly accurately) commented on how the whole thing felt a little bit religious. The music was a bit dark for my taste, but I think under all the acting he had some decent MC skills.

Aesop Rock came out and played with DJ Big Wiz and Rob Sonic. Aes killed it! About half the show was new songs, with the other half filled out by remixed old songs (like Lucy to a double-time D&B vibe beat), Rob Sonic tracks or Big Wiz turntable trickery. The whole show had some cool visuals going on the backdrops, with each song having a different graphic style and artist to compliment the lyrics. Big Wiz had this decks hooked up to a serato thing, which also controlled the visuals in parts, so he "scratched" the visuals as well as the sounds. It was cool.

Aesop was in good spirits and being quite funny on stage. Dancing around like a goof, interacting a lot with the front row and even playing up to various fan's cameras that were recording the show. I think the point of the gig where Aes rapped an acapella was when the non-native English speakers and the less educated rap connoisseur's of my crew really started to appreciate just how talented he is. When I was "selling" the show to Judith I commented on how it may be a bit hard to keep up with his English, but that it didn't matter too much 'cause he seldom makes sense anyway! Tell me I'm wrong, with lyrics like:

flash that buttery gold, jittery zeitgeist / wither by the watering hole, border patrol / what are we to heart huckabee art fuckery suddenly?/ not enough young in his lung for the waterwing / colorfully vulgar poacher outta mulch / like "i'm 'a pull the pulse out a soldier and bolt"

Love it! The more I listen, the more I think Aesop's latest album "None Shall Pass" is quite possibly my favourite from him. Definitely the 'hits' off this album are some of his best. Overall he has proven across the course of his career to be somebody that can innovate and keep it interesting even within his truly unique style.