Special Guest Post: Loekle reviews Atmosphere at Metro
We don’t talk about hip hop very often here at RTP, so our first guest post should be a breath of fresh air at the very least. Below, RTP buddy and local hip hop mogul Mike Loekle reviews Monday night’s Atmosphere show at the Metro in Chicago. On behalf of Mike and the rest of RTP, thanks to Mr. Steve Sleeve from the Hood Internet and May or May Not for once again coming through with the guest list hook up.
The backpackers, hipsters, and emo kids came out in droves for the Atmosphere show this past Monday night at the Metro. There were also a fair number of your standard, run-of-the-mill hip hop enthusiasts in attendance as well (read: me). Demand for tickets far exceeded supply, which was evident by the vast number of ill-prepared folks attempting to purchase tickets outside well after the show had commenced. I would have been one of said folks, freezing my ass off trying to cop a ticket, but thankfully Benom worked some magic and got me on the list plus one.
By the off chance anyone is still interested in reading this review, I will give a brief history of the group as many probably haven’t a clue as to who they are. The basic facts are as follows:
Atmosphere consists of two members, Slug (MC), and Ant (producer, occasional DJ). They hail from Minneapolis, MN. They released their first album, The Lucy Ford EP’s, in 1997. They have since released four other full length LPs and a multitude of EPs and b-sides. Their style is often cited as socially conscious, introspective, and conceptual. Atmosphere started their own independent label named Rhymesayers, which reps many other prominent underground artists (Brother Ali, MF Doom, and Chicago’s own Psalm One).
Onto the show. The weather was shitty and I was behind schedule, which left me arriving at the Metro at about eight. This worked out wonderfully as it was the early show for the evening and I missed all but the last half of the final opening act’s set. Five dollar beer in hand, I forwent the balcony and maneuvered about a third of the way up stage left.
Now I have seen Atmosphere once before, many moons ago at the Canopy Club down in Champaign, IL. The show was about average, nothing special. Which is, in actuality, pretty shitty when the band/group/person you went to see is one that you are extra fond of. Sometimes it’s easy to put a group that you’re enamored with on such a high pedestal that you’re bound to be somewhat disappointed or disheartened by their performance, for whatever reason.
I am pleased report that this was not the case this time around, as this show was about a gazillion times better than the last one — the primary reason was that they were backed by a five piece band. Live music the whole show — it was great and sounded crisp as can be. I was amazed by how well everything sounded. Unfortunately this is a rarity for hip hop, save The Roots and a few other select groups. That, coupled with the better venue, a less inebriated Slug, a hyped crowd, and a well put together set list led to what I consider one of the best shows I have been to in quite a while.
I think that everyone in attendance that night had one of those, ‘hell yeah I can’t believe they’re playing this song, this is my shit’ moments, which is awesome. Switching appropriately between songs off their latest EP, unheard songs from the forthcoming album, When Life Gives You Lemons…, and older classics left everybody happy. What was truly impressive, though, was how seamless the songs flowed together, given that some were made a decade plus apart. Whether it was the decade old “Woman With the Tattooed Hands” or the classic “God Loves Ugly” that left me saying ‘fuck yeah’ I’m not sure, but either way I was damn pleased.
The stage presence was amazing as well. There was a great dynamic between Slug and the crowd. He would taunt the crowd, then digress, then taunt some more. Not always for a specific reason, and not always making sense, but again flowing with the vibe of the evening. It was also good to see Ant manning the decks as this is the first tour he has ever been on with the group. For whatever reason, he always left that job up the tour DJ, so it was pretty cool to see Slug and Ant on the same stage together.
All in all it was a show for the ages. The only regrets I have are not being able to stay for the after party and not seeing a merch table anywhere. I would have gladly spent ten bucks for an obscure, probably burned, tour only CD. They played for over an hour and a half and rocked it the whole time. A show that I think may actually serve to motivate and inspire me to dive a little deeper, get out find more of what Chicago has to offer with regards to underground, independent hip hop. I keep hearing good things about Flosstradamus, now it’s about time I get my lazy ass up and check them out. I think they’re playing this Wednesday at Subterranean. Anyone down to go catch a show next week?
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Very well written Mike! I’m not into the hip-hop scene but this article makes me feel like douche for it. What am I missing?
You should write an article on some groups to check out for the uninitiated.
nice work. guest authors rule
The last hip-hop artist I remember “discovering” was Mos Def back in 1998. No one had told me about him and I kind of stumbled onto a single of his by mistake. I waited patiently for 2 months for his debut album to come out, and it was well worth the wait because I was blown away.
It has been hard to find hip-hop music lately that isn’t influenced by the god-awful stranglehold of rap. Atmosphere has been the first artist since Mos Def that makes me feel like hip-hop could make a comeback. He seems less interested in cars and Ari Force One’s, and more interested in knowing the effects his lifestyle has on his family and friends.
Hip-hop has been on a major decline over the last 10 years, and while Atmosphere’s latest album could use a little work, hopefully the sound he is pumping out is a sign for hip-hop (again) of what could be. LL Cool J was right- don’t call it a comeback.
ant was actually on the at it again tour a couple years back. so this isn’t his first time on tour.
check your facts….
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