The crowd was a surprising mix of greyhairs, baldheads, WB Network fans, some that dressed like Grunge was topping the charts, emo-kids that made me think it was an all-ages show, and, yes, those in all black. There were so many couples grinding away in corners, I thought I was in a hip-hop video. Fun for all and hopefully the dude reading a New Yorker had a good time as well.

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He layered and looped organic sounds and harmonious melodies, seamlessly creating a hypnotic soundscape. Unlike Fake, Hebden did more than just stand next to his computer banging his head—Hebden’s usual synthesis of acoustic, electric, and digital instruments was enhanced with a lot of nontraditional improvisation, including the use of a tone-generator from his iPhone.

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A fan video for a track from Gonjasufi’s upcoming A Sufi And A Killer LP on Warp—we can’t wait for this album! Release party March 15 at the Echoplex with Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe!

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ECHOPLEX

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Willi Williams brought the roots rock reggae to a packed Echo Park crowd last Wednesday at the Echoplex. The skunk-like bouquet of the weekly Dub Club venue added to the event’s Jamaican authenticity as the crowd caught the soulful legend’s riddim.

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photography by Gari Askew

Friday night proved that The GZA was still indeed the “True Genius”. In front of a packed house at the Echoplex he showed why he’s not only one of the finest MC’s the hip hop game has ever seen, but in fact a true pioneer who’s withstood both the times and passing fads. With the lyrical set running the gamut from classics like “Liquid Swords” to his most recent LP “Pro Tools”, the Brooklyn bred MC kept the crowd in a frenetic frenzy. Plus, throw in cameos from both RZA and Killah Priest and all of a sudden you have a recipe for a classic performance.

Say what you will about the Wu Crew but they always find a way to make sure that all within earshot know without a doubt what real hip hop is all about.

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Not to get all Hallmark about it, but Zackey Force Funk is proof that music can do some good in the world. This funk maestro has been through some serious shit, and now his life mission is to get you bumping to his hybrid of electronic dance music, with a little help from his brother’s Gameboy. You haven’t heard something quite like this. This interview by Daiana Feuer.

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Neon Indian’s huge audience could almost look Alan Palomo straight in the eye on stage—they were that tall. The average height at the Echoplex was about 5”11, and that’s for the ladies. The men were even bigger! It was like a forest of trees, shapes projected on their limbs, and little elves scurrying about their roots or napping under their shadows. During the long wait for Neon Indian, people slept on cushions, resting their heads on empty Two Boots pizza boxes.

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The three members of Dead Meadow walked casually onto the stage like they weren’t going to melt our faces off once they started playing. The thump of the instrumentals ran through my entire body and all I could do was stand mesmerized. I also became quite fascinated with their graphic choice of moving, colorful, bubbles which were perfectly projected on the white shirt of the dude in front of me. The only thing that would have made this show better is real drugs rather than just being high off the music.

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Jack Oblivian got his last name with Eric and Greg and their Popular Favorites but—like Cartwright and Reigning Sound—he found new greatness with his solo work. His Disco Outlaw is rock ‘n’ roll as natural as Charlie Feathers and Johnny Thunders and he’ll play his first show in Los Angeles in ten years tonight at the Echoplex. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

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