All photos by Evan Daniels for A Thousand Grams.
As the week wore on, we started to get our proverbial groove back. We had the daily routine down (shower, show schedules and RSVPs, NYU panels, food, show 1, show 2, show 3...) and could get anywhere in the city with relative ease. Hip-hop was beginning to make more of a showing as well, with showcases from Nah-Right/On-Smash, Fools Gold, Plug Research and more. Outside the Nah Right show was a madhouse, with an inteminable line and several marquis names being rejected from the door. After chatting up Plain Pat and Maestro out front for a bit, we decided to chuck the deuces and leave the show to every other hip-hop blog you read. This was a good move, because we ended up meeting up with Exile across town.
By Friday, we had seen some good shows, caught up with old friends, balled on a budget, eaten dinner on the subway and were ready for something new. Enter Theophilus London.
If you follow this site at all, you probably know I'm a fan of the man's work. Theo isn't yet popular enough to command a lot of attention or controversy, but when he gets to that point soon, a lot of people will hate him. (XXL got wind of his breakthrough Internet release This Charming Mixtape and tore it up). But for my money, what Theophilus, and his frequent collaborator Machine Drum, do, represents an inevitable, yet astonishing link between between worlds. TCM was like a eureka moment, wherein the walls between hip-hop, electronica and pop were deleted with a keystroke, forging a new language that post-Kanye, post-Fluxblog music consumers could share in. Like any new utility, it takes a little while to get used to, but repeated spins are rewarded.
Theophilus is a taalll, skinny dude. He marched into the venue towering over his entourage in dark sunglasses and a grey blazer, a '90s basketball cap with a stiff brim fixed at a proper right angle over his dark face. He was the only hip-hop act on the bill for the unofficial Green Label Sound showcase at Brooklyn Bowl, a bowling alley turned concert hall that's become the hottest venue in the borough over the past few months. But as I've already touched on, that kind of booking makes sense. You can put Theophilus on a bill with Chromeo and some buzzy synth pop bands (as Green Label did) and he'll stand out and fit in in all the ways you want him to.
On stage the vocals weren't great. It didn't seem like his mic had been guaged properly and even from our front-row position he sounded pretty washed out. But he was charismatic, dancing and loose. The whole time he performed, the image he invoked wasn't that of a rapper at all, but a front man. Theophilus often says that The Smiths and Morrisey are his biggest influences, but, whereas with other rappers a reference like that might come off as bogus, watching him on stage, you actually kind of believe it.
The show felt short, and you got the sense that the performance part of the picture hadn't yet caught up with the perfect storm achieved on his last music release. But there was something undeniably compelling about the vision. You could see it reflected in the faces of the audience members, dancing to sounds they'd never heard but long anticipated.
If you follow this site at all, you probably know I'm a fan of the man's work. Theo isn't yet popular enough to command a lot of attention or controversy, but when he gets to that point soon, a lot of people will hate him. (XXL got wind of his breakthrough Internet release This Charming Mixtape and tore it up). But for my money, what Theophilus, and his frequent collaborator Machine Drum, do, represents an inevitable, yet astonishing link between between worlds. TCM was like a eureka moment, wherein the walls between hip-hop, electronica and pop were deleted with a keystroke, forging a new language that post-Kanye, post-Fluxblog music consumers could share in. Like any new utility, it takes a little while to get used to, but repeated spins are rewarded.
Theophilus is a taalll, skinny dude. He marched into the venue towering over his entourage in dark sunglasses and a grey blazer, a '90s basketball cap with a stiff brim fixed at a proper right angle over his dark face. He was the only hip-hop act on the bill for the unofficial Green Label Sound showcase at Brooklyn Bowl, a bowling alley turned concert hall that's become the hottest venue in the borough over the past few months. But as I've already touched on, that kind of booking makes sense. You can put Theophilus on a bill with Chromeo and some buzzy synth pop bands (as Green Label did) and he'll stand out and fit in in all the ways you want him to.
On stage the vocals weren't great. It didn't seem like his mic had been guaged properly and even from our front-row position he sounded pretty washed out. But he was charismatic, dancing and loose. The whole time he performed, the image he invoked wasn't that of a rapper at all, but a front man. Theophilus often says that The Smiths and Morrisey are his biggest influences, but, whereas with other rappers a reference like that might come off as bogus, watching him on stage, you actually kind of believe it.
The show felt short, and you got the sense that the performance part of the picture hadn't yet caught up with the perfect storm achieved on his last music release. But there was something undeniably compelling about the vision. You could see it reflected in the faces of the audience members, dancing to sounds they'd never heard but long anticipated.
Subscribe to the 1000G feed
Hello, thanks for the excellent post, a really great beginning for the 2010, keep up the wonderful work, Brenda.
Hi, cheers for this wonderful blog, a truly great opening to the new year, keep up the wonderful work, Louise.
Hi, thank you for a fantastic post, a really great beginning for the new year, keep up the fantastic work, Rachel.
Nice one, there is actually some great ideas on here some of my readers will find this useful, I will send a link, many thanks.
Nice one, there are actually some good facts on this blog some of my subscribers might find this worthwhile, I must send a link, thank you.
Cool, there is actually some good ideas on this post some of my readers may find this worthwhile, I must send a link, thank you.
Cool, there are actually some great ideas on this post some of my readers might find this relevant, will send them a link, thanks.
Cool, there is actually some good ideas on this post some of my friends may find this worthwhile, I must send a link, thank you.
I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks - you cleared up some things for me!
height insoles are wedge-shaped inserts that slip in the heel part of a shoe, with the purpose of adding elevation under one or both feet for therapeutic reasons. Those who suffer foot pain when wearing shoes for a long time. height insoles can reduce pain. Shoe lifts are also perfect for people who want to increase their height.
Shoe inserts are wedge-shaped blocks that slip in the heel part of a shoe, with the purpose of adding lift beneath one or both feet for therapeutic reasons. People who suffer foot pain while wearing shoes for an extended time. height insoles can reduce pain. height insoles are also perfect for people who desire to increase their height.
Hi, awesome post, I thouroughly enjoyed reading this. the blog gave me the kick to try my own post, please check my blog by clicking my name at the top of this comment, thanks
Good post, thanks
comment
Hello there I i saw your web site while browsing for something else and definitely like your site.
they were battling this over at the rerun discussion board. it was beginning to grow to be a firey discussion.
Great article!
What a relief to locate a blog post that's totally worth reading through! Great job!
I appreciate Ahmadinejad for speaking the facts(reality)! This planet isn't controlled by America.
Hello, I’ve already read this one. see sites with yahoo But well, thank you for sharing. i have bookmarked your site.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in our neighborhood. Your blog provided us with valuable information to work on|.You have done an impressive job!
They can not only keep your feet warm, but also symbolize your fashion taste and personality. Thanks for their incomparable designs and quality, they attract many people to buy.
With all the things that one can think of in terms of what can adorn a lady and make her more beautiful, shoes have managed to find an important place in designer items.
Boot Tip: If you remember nothing else: Be seasonally consistent when putting an outfit together. Do not wear boots and a skirt with bare legs; tights, nylons, or even flesh colored fishnet stockings help bridge the (thermal & fashion) gap between your knees and your hemline.
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?
Really fascinating, I additionally found out that Cavs' All-Star coming off bench
I like your layout thought some of the posts could be more interesting.
This is the kind of blog I would like to have.
This domain seems to get a great deal of visitors. How do you advertise it? It gives a nice unique spin on things. I guess having something real or substantial to post about is the most important factor.
very good \o/