Showcase: The Internet @ The Echo (05/25/12)

 

Odd Future’s Ladies Night at the Echo, #afterthebreak…

The Internet (Syd Tha Kid & Matt Martians)

at The Echo in Hollywood, CA

05/25/12

Less than 24 hours after Jon McLaughlin‘s showcase at the Troubadour we were back on the road for another ‘guerrilla night’ that was a total 180 of what we had just experienced.  The Echo was hosting a OFWGKTA ladies night like no other.  Headlined by The Internet— fresh electronic r&b super group of DJ Syd Tha Kid, Matt Martians, and their soul band.

Things were going to get ‘Odd’.  If I only knew how much so…

The famous venue named ‘Echo‘ lies in the shadows of Los Angeles on the edge of Hollywood.  A building camouflaged between local food pantries and eccentric shops that doesn’t look like much from the outside.  It’s a loud venue with a lot of soul especially in comparison to it’s freaky downstairs conjoined twin — the Echoplex [A place where the freaks DO come out at night].  ‘My mind’ still is splattered on their black walls from experiencing Allen Stone back in 2011.  Because of that fond memory, I knew this was going to be best stage for Syd, Matt, and all their pack do their thing.  Anywhere else wouldn’t be right.  

But how would OFWGKTA’s chaotic reputation far here of all places?  Because, being a blogger, you hear whispers about a ‘Odd Future’ sponsored show.  Talk of chaos in the form of stage diving, mosh pits, drugs, screaming…stories that makes the best concerts of year rankings because they are truly a sight to see.  The Echo had a no tolerance policy which they implemented all night:  Pieces of paper laced around the room told all of us, “No Stage Diving”,  crowds with green leaves puffing white smoke were escorted out never to be seen again, and security was everywhere.  Most of all, Tyler and the rest of his click didn’t cause a ruckus.  They just stood in the corner and cheered on their ‘Purple Naked Lioness’.  If they wanted to riot, they would’ve of but this was Syd, Kilo, and Coco‘s night.

Kilo Kish opened the show with her NYC fashioned, Syd produced, Hip-hop/R&B hybrid performing tracks from her Homeschool EP.  And she was just okay.  Looked nervous and got the feeling she was very fresh.  One thing that kept bothering me:  she kept trying to get a rise out of us as she bounced around in between her raps.  Ugh!  I’m alright.  If I wasn’t, I’d be pill popping with the high ‘mo fo’ next to me.  Just perform and chat during the interludes.  When she stopped bouncing and smoothed it down, saw so much potential there.   Plus Hal Williams’ beats were out of this world.

‘Syd Tha “Dude”‘ roll out without hesitation next.  Seriously, the openly gay lead singer of the The Internet had a swagger about her as she took the tiny stage in front of the sold out crowd.  And we were feeling it!  This rowdy-inebriated die hard crowd was honorary members of Golf Wang as they repeated each lyric back to her.  Back by Matt Martians, their soul band (Christopher on the drums, Patrick on the bass, Taylor on the keys), Syd took on a handful of their favorite tracks from “Purple Naked Ladies” with cameos from Mike G, Left Brain, Kilo Kish, and Coco O.  The one performance that had it all was “Lincoln“, pay close attention to the jam session at the end.  Now that’s jazz for a new age.

Overall, couldn’t have been more happier.  For $20 bucks, I got a Odd Future showcase minus all the chaos and surplus of soul.  P.N.L. was one of my favorite underrated records of 2011.  Experiencing it live was a great joy.  The Internet is one of the gems of the Odd Future gang, and it showed.  Syd is slowly growing into an amazing performer and as long as Mr. Martians is at her side, they’ll continue to give me chills.

Not much more I can say really, their was so much press at this show and it would be injustice if you didn’t take their words as well.

Can’t wait for my next taste of ‘Odd’.  Until then enjoy the media!

-J

[PS: Sorry for typos!]

—Picture Selects—