Girl at the Rock Shows

There was a time when I would seek out underground hip-hop shows. I don’t know what happened other than I fell slightly out of that scene, and finding those shows became time-consuming with time that I don’t have. That’s why I was so excited when there was a hip-hop show announced at my home away from home – Zhora Darling. I didn’t know what to expect. One of the three names on the bill sounded familiar, but beyond that, I was going in blind, as I do many other nights. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but I felt a bit of a thrill walking into this familiar venue and seeing unfamiliar faces. I got that feeling of being an explorer again, a feeling I hadn’t felt in a hot minute, and I was excited.

The first world I got to explore was the world of Stay Tuned. After a quick intro, the three men who make up this act took over the stage and the PA in a way that instantly got me hooked. The flow between these three performers, although each different, came together to create a cohesive sound and stories that were as easy to follow as they were powerful to take in. Made up of Ichiban, Mane Rok, and InkLine, this Colorado-based trio brought the spotlight to a little bit of everything as far as subject matter was concerned but the songs that hit me the hardest were their political statements. As one of the members mentioned, everyone who was in the room on Monday night was the same. Okay, that sounds bad, and his words were definitely more delicate than mine, but he went on to explain that, if you were in Zhora Darling on Monday night, you were part of the working class. He went on to explain what that meant as far as how we all live our lives, and it was a statement that really resonated with the packed audience.

The only act to feature more than just one human, Stay Tuned, was engaging to say the least. The three members took time commanding the stage and, in turn, the sound. I loved how, although each person performing had a distinct flavor and flow, they were all saying the same thing, as if really underlining the statement about us all being the same. Add in the undeniable energy that they had as they wandered the stage with a purpose, but also with an almost organic feeling. Stay Tuned’s set wasn’t just good, it was impactful, it was authentic, and it was a perfect way to kick off this late Monday night show.

Although the next act, ECID, is from the Twin Cities, he has been spending his time in New York City, so this was a homecoming of sorts for him, and it was a triumphant one. ECID’s flow, although just as smooth as that of Stay Tuned, seemed to have this level of intimidation behind it that I really liked. It wasn’t threatening but commanding, and it definitely got me stuck. The intensity I felt matched the words he was saying so perfectly. Like they always say, you can take the rapper out of the Twin Cities, but you can’t take the Twin Cities out of the rapper. Okay, I don’t think anybody has ever said that, but it’s very true. Although it was in line with the rest of the night, it was just so nice to hear someone rap about something I could relate to. Instead of popping bottles in the club, ECID spoke about many things that I could relate to and really feel in my soul. One of my favorite things he spoke about during one of the songs is the fact that it’s pretty messed up that there can be seven coffee shops on the same block. I know that sounds like such a petty thing to complain about, but in the bigger picture of the track, it was a brilliant way to explain how messed up this world has gotten and how we are all just pawns in a larger commercialized machine. I won’t get all deep into it, but ECID’s energy highlighted the things he was saying, and those things absolutely resonated with me and the rest of the crowd.

Closing out Monday night’s show was NYC-based Deca. Although I had never heard his name before and didn’t have a clue what he was all about, I knew that I had picked the right show purely based on the way the audience was reacting. Although the entire crowd was clearly engaged with both opening sets, as soon as ECID finished his set, the crowd pushed towards the stage. We weren’t packed in there like sardines, but it was busy and was not a familiar feeling for this venue, but one that made my heart so happy. The chatter throughout the audience was more frenzied, the energy turned more electric, and I just stood there, trying to figure out why this was all happening. That’s when Deca took the stage, and the audience went berserk. Okay, maybe berserk is a super strong word to use here, but really, there was a feeling of excitement that exploded with the first note that Deca sang, and that excitement never fell throughout the night.

From his thoughtful words and complex rhymes to his use of super fresh beats that ranged in everything from jazz to psychedelic rock at times, I was utterly lost in Deca’s world and understood why there was so much excitement in the air. Not only was Deca absolutely single-handedly killing his set, but this was his first time ever performing in Minnesota, which just added to the frenzy feeling I was picking up on. I felt out of place, standing in front to get my photos as everyone around me was singing along to every song. I got this weird feeling that I didn’t belong up in front. That’s not a pity thing or anything like that, but I was taking up some prime real estate, so, after a couple of songs and more photos than I probably needed to take (none of which really turned out because, come on, Deca, red lights?!), I decided to skip to the back of the room. The young couple behind me was ecstatic as I turned to them and told them that my spot was theirs, and I made my way to the back of the room. Although I was now a few yards away from the stage, Deca’s sound and energy were still hitting me the same way. It was powerful, but it was graceful. Full of heart, passion, and fire but still accessible and relatable. Like the other two sets of the night, I felt struck by Deca’s performance and just honestly thankful that I had made the choice to spend my Monday night at this show.

I don’t just go to concerts, I explore worlds. I use the sounds as a soundtrack to finding new faces and new feelings. Although I get crippling anxiety when trying anything new (as my boyfriend will often remind me, at the end of the day, I’m really just a creature of habit), exploring this new world on Monday night was an absolute thrill and I hope to get invited back into this world anytime Stay Tuned, ECID, or Deca roll back through the Twin Cities.

Line Up:

Stay Tuned

ECID

Deca

Venue: Zhora Darling

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 24

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 1 out of 10

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

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

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

Stay Tuned – 0

ECID – 0

Deca – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score –7.9 out of 10

Show on Deck — PARISHES / d’Lakes / Side Saddle Sirens

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