4/4: RJD2 with Dälek at Emo’s

After he announced plans to start touring in January 2008, I wasn’t prepared to find Austin among his scheduled stops. RJD2’s album The Third Hand was the soundtrack to the Fall of 2007. The album is a perfect blend of melodies and karmic instrumentals that gave me a new perception on what a hip-hop groove could fall into. The fact that he is traveling with a band sparks an extreme curiosity to hear some of the albums perfectly crafted tracks in a live setting.

After hunkering down in the studio for the majority of the Winter season, I suspect that RJD2’s tour holds a wealth of musical surprises. If he is anything like the studio engineers and producers among Austin’s electronica movement, the spring-tightening effect of intense studio work can only lead to a massive uncoiling of womp-tacular rages throughout the course of the live performance tour. And with underground artist Dälek bringing a fury of electronica/hard rock/jazz/metal-infused hip-hop to the bill, the RJD2 show in Austin will indeed be a rage.

RJD2 will be taking the stage at Emo’s Outside with openers Dälek and Happy Chichester on April 4, 2008. Tickets are available through TicketWeb.com. This is an all-ages event. Doors open at 9:00pm. Emo’s Outside is located at 603 Red River in Austin, TX.

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About RJD2
Contrary to popular belief, heroes sometimes lurk behind the curtains, actively choosing to elude visibility. Make no mistake, though-if the mystery man behind the boards is the man behind a classic beat, you’ll soon know his name. In the late 90’s, producers crept from the shadows to seize the spotlight of mainstream hip-hop, as well as the pop charts. In the last few years, one man shows such as Moby, DJ Shadow and Timbaland have proved what underground hip-hop fans have known since Marley Marl’s heyday-a talented producer can shine solo. Enter RJD2.

About Dälek
Dälek has rightfully gained iconic status as one of the finest alt-hip hop bands of our time. Until recently ”resolutely underground”, Dälek methodically undermines every idiotic idiom perpetuated by mainstream rap, choosing instead to blend assaultingly hypnotic rhymes with a corrosively atmospheric, electronica-inflected hard rock sensibility. Combine all this with an undeniable lyrical intelligence and absolutely no illusions about the world we live in and you’ve got a duo that effortlessly embraces genres–from hip hop to jazz, from jazz to metal, from metal to punk, from punk to noisecore, from noisecore back to hip hop. Think My Bloody Valentine + Tool + early Wu Tang combined with Massive Attack and Aphex Twin and you only begin to wrap your brain around what Dälek has unleashed with each album release, each collaboration, each remix…

Fresh Soul Frequencies on Los Amigos de Durutti

After laying the groove down on a funk-infused performance during the 2008 SXSW music conference, Afrofreque has garnered some great music reviews from citizen journalists from around the country. At a time when mainstream media narrows focus on all things pop and gossip, local and regional publications have become the beacon for music and entertainment lovers seeking the real scoop on the music scene. Los Amigos de Durutti, a online site authored by the Boston-based artist DJ Durutti, is no exception. Durutti has reviewed the work of artists such as Saul Williams, Amy Winehouse, DJ Shadow, and DJ Spooky. Afrofreque is proud to be posted among them.

In a recent review of the Afrofreque album, Fresh Soul Frequencies, Durutti writes:

Hale’s crisp drumming, which owes a bit to ?questlove’s signature style, is extremely solid. Hale lays a strong foundation, along with Siebenthaler’s bass and Fumi Sugawara’s funky rhythm guitar (which occasionally stretches out — he lays down a space jam solo and embellishments on “Cool Breeze” that could have flown from Al Di Meola’s fingers in a ’70s Return to Forever joint).

DJ Resinthol’s scratches are often excellent. DJ Logic and Rob Swift are likely influences (you can hear echoes of both on “Illumination”), but elsewhere he reminds me of another Texas turntablist — Dallas’ underrated DJ Zero, best known for his late ’80s and early ’90s work with MC 900 Ft. Jesus. In addition to p-funkesque synth lines, Claude 9 favors old-school Rhodes and, most frequently, B3 (or B3-sounding) keys. Along with Resinthol’s pastiche of samples, Claude 9’s spectrum of keyboard sounds help craft the group’s amalgamation of hip hop, soul, funk, and groove.

To read the rest of the review, visit Los Amigos de Durutti. To stay in the loop, be sure to subscribe to the feed or add the URL to your FriendFeed source list. Thanks, Durutti!

3/14 SXSW: Afrofreque Bouncing The Fez

Tis the season of South by — SXSW for the non-Austists that are reading this post. During the second week in March, the city will runneth over with music of every genre from every corner of the world. Reggae soulsters, electronica lovers, and hip-hop connoisseurs rejoice! Afrofreque will be among the madness.

For the SXSW edition of all thing that cause a booty to shake, Claude 9 will demonstrate that fingers and keys aren’t the only thing that can kick off a melody while Tigre Liu exalts the crowd with a flow of illuminated words. A groovement will develop around a beat kicked off by Michael Hale and in perfect rhythm with Fumi Sugawara’s guitars.

Austin’s favorite funk junkies, Afrofreque, will be performing at 8:30pm at Red Fez on Friday March 14, 2008. There is no wristband or badge needed to join the groovement, just fresh breath and an open mind. Red Fez is located at 209 W. 5th St. – ATX.

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3/22: Sangre del Sol’s Sage at “Together as One” Party

Sangre del Sol fire troupe member Sage will be performing during the “Together As One” party at Karma Lounge on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008. The event also features Twizted Kreations, Lola Dolls, Sarah Monster & Angie, DJ Eden, Poseiden Vs. DJ Davinci, DJ Andrew Parsons, Adan, JT Skyy, J.A.M.O.N., Steel Grooves, and more.

Doors open at 9:30pm and party will go on until 4AM. Cover is $8 for people 18 and up; $5 for 21 and up.

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3/29: Bassnectar with DJ Manny & BigFace

Bassnectar returns to Austin on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 to bounce the roof off Antone’s with support from locals DJ Manny and BigFace, along with MC Tigre Liu on the mic. With four turntables, 5 projectors, turntable and aerial view cameras, and original video sets by Livid Instruments VJ’s, the show will be a multimedia journey worthy of an early arrival. The music will be loud, and the bass will be kickin’. If you remember last season’s show at the Parish, then you’ll hop over to Frontgate Tickets to grab presales before they are gone. Antone’s is located at 213 W. 5th St. in Austin, TX. This is an all-ages event.

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About Bassnectar:
There are nearly three-hundred and sixty five nights a year, and on one third of them, somewhere across North America, you will find a modern day social mosh pit of hippies, ex-ravers, hipsters, dub reggae heads, Dead-heads, Burning Man freaks, artists, fashion experimentalists, social activists, and hip-hop enthusiasts all packed into one steamy room of grinding, orgiastic expression and musical experimentation known as a bass ritual, or, more precisely, a night with Bassnectar.

Playing at over TWO-hundred and fifty shows a year; to thousands of different people a month; from sold out festivals to overcrowded clubs and warehouses to tight and tiny bars and venues; Bassnectar’s enormous popularity reflects the current hunger for raw substance in modern music and a desire for social integrity inside the party scene.

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