slowdown

Hip-hop has always been one of my true loves. The problem is, most "commoners" can't audibly separate hip-hop from rap, thus shoveling us fans into one category. In all actuality, they are two very opposite ends of the spectrum. While most mainstream rap artists rhyme about how many cars, women, houses, money etc. they have, hip-hop artists speak truth about real life problems, triumphs, tragedies and other things that you and I can easily relate to.

Read more on the evening after the jump!

In my younger years, my aunt Jolene was always talking about this band that she was infatuated with that went by the name of Phish. I had given them a few listens, but never enjoyed it because, in my shortsightedness, I couldn't see their sound for the genius that it was. But while I and the rest of mainstream America wrote Phish off as circus music, the truth was that they were making history. Finally, when I was about 18, another good friend of mine came along and was successful in converting me to the Phish fan base. By 2003, I was finally able to catch them live in Kansas City, which solidified Phish, in my eyes, as the greatest act I had ever personally witnessed. If only this had happened a few years earlier.

Read more on the evening after the jump!

Minnesota hip-hop group Atmosphere will embark on a U.S. tour this fall to plug their new album When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold. The duo, made up of lyricist Sean “Slug” Daley and beat master Anthony “Ant” Davis, has continued to impress crowds throughout the nation. Joining them on their tour are Abstract Rude, Blueprint and DJ Rare Groove. The first leg of the tour, appropriately named the “Paint The Nation Tour,” has been announced, and so far features quite a sporadic array of cities in its path.

Check out the dates after the jump

Slug

Ant

A friend of mine introduced me to Rilo Kiley about a year or so ago, throughout several “sessions”. This friend seemed to have a very similar musical taste as I, and therefore was always open to suggestion. At the time, I enjoyed the sound and have since added a couple of their studio acts to my eternally growing collection. So, with little hesitation, when they announced a two show run in Omaha, I quickly jumped on it and purchased a pair for each night. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the second night, but then again was able to spread the wealth to my buddy who tuned me into Rilo Kiley, as he was without tickets to either of the sold out shows.

Yet another night spent in Omaha at the Slowdown on April 19th, 2008. The night was sure to be an interesting one with some experimental rock provided by Yeasayer out of Brooklyn, NY. Following them was Man Man, who could only add to the madness with their gypsy styled grooves out of Philadelphia, PA. I have had the chance to check out both of their studio releases, particularly Man Man, as they have been on the scene for some time. After knowing what both of these acts were all about, I thought that it would be interesting to see them live. The complexity of each of these acts seemed as if it would be a great one two punch.

Chris Keating, Luke Fasona and Ira Wolf Tuton of Yeasayer

Man Man

Yet another night at Slowdown in Omaha, NE led to yet another great act. I caught Jens Lekman with opener The Honeydrips on 3-28-08. After a short delay, The Honeydrips began at 10:00pm.

Jens Lekman

Just a quick update to give all you Midwest BOTheads an idea of what's going on "locally".

Mon Mar 17
Built To Spill and Meat Puppets at The Madrid in Kansas City, MO. Ticket's will run you $20 for this St. Patty's day gig with a start of 8PM.

56 Hope Road, Polydypsia and Andrews Ave. at Box Awesome here in Lincoln, NE. What a horrible name for a bar, but it does bring in good acts from time to time. I can't find out how much the cover is, but it's probably about $5-$10. The show starts at 9PM.

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The Stupid Records party kicked off recently in San Francisco, CA on Valentines Day. A week later on the 21st of February, the party was poppin off at the Slowdown in Omaha, NE. Stupid Records is Slightly Stoopid's label which includes two acts that are supporting on this tour, Outlaw Nation and The Expendables. This tour is bringing Slightly Stoopid to some smaller venues across the country to give fans more of an intimate experience. The Slowdown provides just that.

Kyle McDonald, De La, and Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid