Old school hip-hop night got off to a slow start Thursday at The Montage Music Hall (recently re-named and printed on t-shirts ala CBGB’s). The music pumped and jumped nonetheless. And I
like this stuff better. Guess I’m just old school. I hope more of these nights
start popping up around here.
I hip-hopped from the Montage to Milestones for their reggae
night with BuddhaDUB. The place was a ghost town but these boys rocked the joint.
I can attest to this fact because I was dancing. Now other than a club-footed
interpretation of the Lindy Hop (Lindy
Limp perhaps?), I don’t dance. It’s not because I don’t want to. It’s because
I’m really not that good. But no sooner did BuddhaDUB
drop with Marley’s “Stir It Up,” I found myself bouncing up and down the way
infants do when they first hear music or the sound of the can opener.
This
is a seasoned outfit culled from Bahama Mama, Big
Roots, Colorblind James Experience, The Buddhahood,
Lee “Scratch” Perry’s band, and Eddy Grant. You should really see it. You’ll be
boppin’ like a 2-year-old — especially after you
hear ’em give Lennon the ol’
one-drop.
The
Dinosaur has got it down when it comes to the one-two punch of blues ‘n’
barbeque. Friday night and Syracuse’s Kelly James and his fat, honkin’ harp played it lo-down and fun
as pork and fowl converged into a heavenly cocktail before me. I can never get
enough harmonica lately — or barbeque. I’m surprised I’m not fatter.
I’ve
been a big El Destructo fan since the beginning. Musically and philosophically this guy hits more nails
on the head than most. I’ve seen him rage primal on stage and wax bop and Bukowski the next.
Well,
I got the chance to hear El set the tone as DJ on Sunday night at The Bug Jar. Wanna know what cool sounds like? Just mix a little soul, a
little r&b, a little rock ‘n’ roll, and the whole
A side of a Chuck Berry record and you’re there.
—
Frank De Blase
This article appears in Dec 14-20, 2005.
