Girl at the Rock Shows

I read an article on Friday that talked about people not going out to shows and the fact that it’s killing music venues. Although I partially agree with that, I couldn’t help but laugh as I got to downtown Minneapolis for back-to-back sold-out shows at First Avenue’s mainroom and the connected 7th Street Entry. People may not be going out to support live music elsewhere in the country, but here in Minneapolis, live music is alive and going strong.

Selling out the more intimate 7th Street Entry was a show that blended everything from rap to reggae to rock, starting off with The Palmer Squares. A Chicago-based hip-hop duo made up of Acumental and Term, these two definitely knew how to get the party started. Their sound nodded to a classic hip-hop sound but felt fresh and new. I loved how the two men bantered back and forth with a flawless rap flow. On top of that, their lyrics had that very Minnesota hip-hop feeling. I’ve talked about this before, so I won’t go on a rant, but, long story short, their raps were accessible and relatable rather than just talking about being in the club and getting lit.

Although there was a connection between these rappers and their audience with the way a roar of applause followed every song, it was the connection between Acumental and Term that I really adored. Beyond the fact that they were both wearing t-shirts promoting Cheap Charlie’s Cafe down in Rochester, MN, these two had an undeniable connection in their music. Their voices worked so well together but were also very distinct. Even if you couldn’t see who was rapping a particular verse due to the packed audience, you could tell just based on the style and sound. Their set was short, but it was the perfect way to get the night started off right.

Following The Palmer Squares was a solo set from Ubi (Ubiquitous) from Ces Cru. I had never heard of Ubi or Ces Cru prior to his set on Friday night, but within just a couple of songs, I knew I wanted to know everything there was to know about this man and the rap duo from Kansas City, Missouri. Before the audience even had a chance to end their conversations that had started between The Palmer Squares’ and Ubi’s set, Ubi jumped into a fresh yet classic hip-hop rap. It didn’t take long for the audience to catch on and instantly come to a silence. This amazed me. I honestly couldn’t tell if people didn’t know who he was so they were waiting for him to capture their attention or if they just honestly didn’t catch the solo act take the stage. Regardless, the way Ubi instantly had the entire audience (myself included) stuck in the palm of his hand was magical.

As mentioned, Ubi’s sound leaned more toward a classic hip-hop vibe, but don’t let that make you think there wasn’t a sense of creativity and originality throughout the set; there absolutely was. I was captivated by the way Ubi could rap so fast while making sure you understood and caught every word that he was performing. He may have just been one man on the small and dark stage at the 7th Street Entry, but he had a sense of power and easily commanded the entire room.

Speaking of commanding the room, where do I start with Tropidelic, the night’s headliner? Although I was surprised that this show was sold out based on the past few times I’ve seen Tropidelic live and that those shows weren’t sold out, it made sense and made my heart so happy. If you aren’t listening to Tropidelic, you need to change that right now. Their distinct blend of reggae rock, hip-hop, funk, and even brass band is one of those things that, the second you hear it, you start smiling. Seeing it live and experience that power and passion right in front of you, I don’t know if I have the right words to describe it.

With seven full-length albums out there, Tropidelic had more than enough material to choose from but decided to focus more on some new music on Friday night. I’ll be honest, I haven’t really dug into their new stuff much purely because I’m so stuck on the oldies but I didn’t mind because all of their music, new and old, gives you the same feeling. Within seconds of this massive band starting up, the entire audience turned into a dancing mess. It was hot, it was sweaty, and it was perfect. I could plainly see strangers turning into friends right in front of me, which I will always adore about this band. There’s just something about their music and aura as people that makes you feel comfortable and at home, even if you’re standing there alone in a sold-out room.

I lost track of how many songs Tropidelic played, but it had to have been over twenty. Even with that, it wasn’t enough for me or the rest of the crowd. As I mentioned in a review just a couple of days ago, the world is a pretty messed-up place right now, and there are times when you feel like you can’t get away from it. It’s safe to say that everyone at the 7th Street Entry on Friday finally felt a slight escape, if only for a couple of hours. I knew I was going to have fun at this show but I honestly don’t think I knew how much I needed this show until it was over and I was feeling a bit lighter and a bit more optimistic about everything.

Line Up:

The Palmer Squares

Ubi of Ces Cru

Tropidelic

Venue- 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter- So much weed!

Average Age of the Crowd- 33

Crowd Surfers- 0

Mosh-ability- 2 out of 10

Stage Divers- 0

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Noticed

Pukers- None Noticed

Idiots Taken Out By Security- 1

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

The Palmer Squares – 0

Ubi of Ces Cru- 0

Tropidelic – 4

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score- 8.3 out of 10

Show on Deck- Joywave / Two Door Cinema Club

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