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Atmosphere Is Everything |
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atmos
I stopped and listened when I was just 17. My best friend and I used to go to this hip hop night in St. Paul. The venue was an empty room connected to the back of a Bon Appetit (of all places). Pretty random. There was a pool table, a small dance floor and a stage. It was here that I was schooled in beats, freestylin' and breakdancin' at its finest. It was also here I first encountered MC, producer and gifted lyricist, "Slug". He commanded attention then. He commands even more now. With his partner in crime "Ant" throwing down some of the best beats on the planet, Atmosphere's force is growing.
I had the pleasure of being able to go to both their Los Angeles shows this past week. The first one was good, but low energy all around (band and fans). In their defense, the band had literally rolled into town and barely set up when they went on. I've also been spoiled by some of their best shows which makes me a very harsh critic....
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK: BONNAROO 2006
This show was sick. Say what you will about dirty hippies, Bonnaroo rocks.
And say what you will about hipsters, Coachella fuckin' rocks too. Slug had to stop the show because some dude passed out. The dude came to and Slug made everyone move aside so he could come to the front and have some room; and then he told the crowd not to get any ideas about an easy way to the front row.
FLASHBACK: COACHELLA 2006
Anyway...
Atmosphere is out promoting and playing When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold the newest collaborative effort of hip hop's "dynamic duo". Although it might seem like a mellow departure from their more well-known work (and the samples above), it is a nod to the days of Lucy Ford , a throwback to the beats and storytelling that got fans hooked in the first place.
There must have been a serious low-pressure system May 6 at the Henry Fonda, because everyone seemed blah. It was all I could do to lift my beer to my lips. Driving and responding to this sluggish vibe, Slug pretty much performed like he was in his basement with friends, made a lot of jokes and did whatever the hell he felt like doing. It might not have been the most energetically passionate show they've ever done, but Slug and Ant were at least still funny and entertaining.
Last night's show (May 7) was badass. Donning an Obama tee, Sean seemed to be at his usual 110% and the rest of the band well-rested. They played a lot stuff from the new album and threw in some of the old favorites to which the plethora of young, hot groupies went crazy for (the groupies already knew the lyrics to every song on the new album which hasn't even been downloadable a month). It's amazing how hot Slug's groupies are...a phenomenon that can only be witnessed in person. He really speaks to girls going wild. It must have been the 18- show or something because I was very aware of the fact that I am no longer a hot, young groupie, but I am, like, OLD.
Spread the lemons and love, go see some live music, buy the CD, watch their weird youtube show or check out this sick ass new application they've spawned where you can go tag the web.
And hate all you want but these guys deserve all the success that finds them. When Life Gives You Lemons sold 36,000 copies in their first week1 and both their L.A. shows were sold out, so it appears they are well on their way. Congratulate them and root for them, they've earned it. A dozen years and six albums later, these guys have come a long way from smoky back rooms and sleepin' on couches. And from the looks of it, they've only just begun makin' solid gold lemonade.
PS. This video is badass.
P.P.S. If you happen to actually read this and go to a show, tell Eric in merch you are a friend of Bridget Phetasy's and he'll look at you like he has no idea what you're talking about.
1Wiki
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