Neat Brass, Street Sharks and Ducks Smoking Doobies

Dylan Joel @ Laundry Upstairs

If I make only one music prediction for the entirety of 2013, it is this; Dylan Joel is the next big thing in Aussie Hip-Hop. Mark my words. Recite them back to me. And then listen to this kid’s music. To quote Dave Ruby How  from Triple J Unearthed; “If the Mayan calendar doesn't f**k us over, then 2013 will be his year.”  I agree entirely.

After dropping a solid debut album Added Chapter in 2011 to great reviews, Dylan and his team immediately set to work on crafting out a piece that reflected his unique style and message to endear him to the Australian music landscape - enter Kid Illin.

Kid Illin’ is the personification of Dylan Joel; a fresh, laidback, somewhat cheeky attitude that promotes youthfulness, fun and ultimately, sublime music. As far removed as possible from the egocentric stereotype of the Hip-Hop scene, Dylan represents the new generation of Hip-Hop; one who sees the movement as a soapbox to stand on and spread a positive message of hope, inspiration, identity and the challenge of self and global improvement.

Not to be underestimated however, the dude possesses mad skills and at only 21 years of age has received praise from industry professionals local and abroad through to Aussie Hip-Hop icons Mantra and M-Phazes. He packed out The Corner Hotel for the Kid Illin' EP launch back in July, with Allday as support, and then went on to score the support slot at Prince for the Funk Volume team of Hopsin, Jarren Benton and Dizzy Wright. 

Not only does Dylan bring ridiculous flow and penmanship to the scene but his established musical background sees him equally at home singing with a guitar in his hand. His renditions of Aloe Blacc’s I Need A Dollar and Daniel Merriweather’s Change are terrific showcases of his vocal and creative ability, adding his own unique inflection and verse to the performance of an incredibly talented backing band. 

His Laundry Bar set on Saturday Night was pretty eclectic. Featuring a live brass section, he played the covers alongside crowd favourites Set Us Alright and the Triple J featured track Leveled, before demanding the room’s attention with an acapella verse showcasing his double-time ability and his message about materialism, identity, meaning and purpose. The crowd responded in raptures – Dylan is a natural communicator.

After endless cries from both the crowd and venue management, he closed the night with a huge rendition of his popular early number D In The Moonlight which is honestly my favourite summer tune since Pez and 360 did The Festival Song. I’m a regular at the Laundry Bar, even gig there myself on occasion, but I’ve never seen the place go off like it did during this encore. He simply smiled and thanked everyone for their support – instantly reminding me of Macklemore’s captivating performance at The Forum only a few weeks earlier. This is a kid who loves what he does and is genuinely in awe of the fact that people know his music. 

The behind the scenes Dylan Joel is exactly the same guy you get onstage; humble, genuine, open and hella cool. He plays a stack of shows at High-Schools and youth events around the state and is a regular on the youth speaking circuit where he motivates and inspires teenagers to strive for their goals. 

Recently he scored a spot opening Pyramid Rock Festival and can be seen this weekend headlining at Forest Edge Music Festival. With the much anticipated free album That’s Good with Otis Grey pending release, I dare say you can expect to see the name Dylan Joel in next year’s Triple J Hottest 100 and on every major festival bill over the summer. 

Until the album drops, make sure you catch the Leveled clip below (shot and produced in Toronto, Canada) as well as the verse Dylan recently dropped on Soliquay’s EP Double Sided – be warned, it’s fire. 

Sketch The Rhyme @ The Famous Speigeltent

Earlier in the day, before catching Dylan Joel’s show, I found myself at the Arts Centre’s Famous Spiegeltent with a few friends to check out the only Melbourne show of Sketch The Rhyme – it turned out to be one of the most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen.

For those who don’t know what Sketch The Rhyme is, the best way to describe it is as a cross between Mr Squiggle, Who’s Line Is It Anyway and 8 Mile. A unique showcase, STR fuses hip-hop, theatre sports and freehand art, forcing talented emcees and artists to think on the spot and improvise scenarios, songs and stories all the while keeping in time with the live band.

It really is amazing entertainment and gives you a whole new appreciation for the talent and creative artistry of the Australian underground scene. My friends and I were in fits of laughter as we watched sketches of aliens, stilettos, ducks and doobies, transformed into rhymes about love, loss and victory. You are genuinely in awe of the abilities of all on-stage who ensure not a dull moment is had and that you are constantly on the edge of your seat anticipating the next wordplay or twist in the story.

I can’t really talk too much about Sketch The Rhyme without merely telling you to check it out yourself. I guarantee you will enjoy it. It’s a light-hearted, relaxed atmosphere perfect for a session with the lads/ladies or a great way to break the ice with that new someone. The product of rappers P Smuf, Rapaport, Jeswon (Thundamentals) and a team of astoundingly talented artists, Sketch The Rhyme deserves to be a phenomenon. It is unique, innovative and will appeal across the board to Hip-Hoppers, art lovers and comedy fans alike.

I managed to catch up with the boys and special guest Grey Ghost at Laundry Bar that night where a couple of the lads were playing sets. Not only did they kill the stage but they were great dudes to have a beer with; these are highly skilled musicians who have developed a creative concept that merits a more mainstream audience. 

So watch and share the video below, hit up Sketch The Rhyme on Facebook, and spread the word. But most of all make sure you check it out when the showcase next hits your city.

And We Danced

Gig Review: Macklemore x Ryan Lewis
The Forum - Saturday 16th February

Photo: Lisa Klifunis

I'd purchased tickets months ago to see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Long before commercial radio had flogged them to death, and they’d topped the Triple J Hottest 100 & ARIA charts. Now however, instead of an intimate show at The Corner, a line of hundreds snaked its way around Flinders St and up Hosier Lane - three hours before doors at the larger capacity The Forum even opened. And half of the line was wearing fur hats… in the middle of summer. Thank God this was an 18+ event. I couldn't deal with teenyboppers who only knew the words to one song ruining my night; dealing with twentysomethings doing exactly the same was going to be enough. 

Don't get me wrong. I love that these guys have finally got the recognition they deserve. But really, you should have to  pass some sort of quiz to be entitled to witness their genius. Local Fitzroy duo Diafrix had done well to score the support slot. These local veterans write and perform with a rare authenticity, owning a funky scratch vibe which throws back to the 90s golden era of rap - Tupac, Nas, Eric B and Rakim. They’re the real deal; yet no-one appreciated them. 

They played a killer set, mixing in some Drum and Bass breaks with their usual vibe. I loved it. Apparently I was the only one though. The crowd seemed far more pre-occupied with getting the right selfie to post on their Instagram. It was not until a surprise guest appearance by 360, to drop his feature verse on the track Dreamer, that the crowd seemed even mildly interested. Full credit though, he tore up the stage in his brief appearance and abruptly signed off with his catchphrase of see you next Tuesday. Though they deserved an ovation, the boys left the stage to an increased appreciation and anticipation building for the main act. 

With the mood amplified, the house DJ thought it the perfect time to drop global smash-hit Monster by Kanye West. For a typical hip-hop crowd, this is the moment when you lose your shit, when you begin to raise your glass, scream and quote every damn line like it was you on stage. Nope. Not tonight. Nothing. Not even when Shutterbug or anything from Kendrick Lamar was given a spin did the crowd give a response. There were no hip-hop heads in the crowd. This could be a long night…and I was way too sober for that. If all these Thrift Shoppers had come to see their newest hero, he'd better give a damn good show. Otherwise we were in trouble. 

Cue the music, dim the lights and raise the iPhones... 

The words "Welcome to The Heist" appear on screen to a roaring audience, and the huge opening track Ten Thousand Hours is met with cries of approval and excitement from a crowd that knows every word. 

As the lights and music fade, everything on-stage stops. A lone figure with a faded cut and wry smile stops and stands, motionless under the spotlight - soaking in the energy of the moment. Ben Haggerty, a humble dude from Seattle who’s spent the last decade in the merciless underground hip-hop scene is now the world’s latest star; Macklemore. His first spoken words send the crowd into frenzy; “I fucking love Melbourne.” 

He hypes the crowd, demanding that everyone dance and make this the best show yet – they respond as the duo launches into an array of up tempo dance tracks; Crew Cuts and The Killers inspired Life is Cinema, before the biggest roar of the night erupts; when a camouflage jacket is ripped off to reveal a gold singlet with a green kangaroo emblazed on the chest. Make no mistake; this man is a true showman. 

It’s clear that Macklemore is a guy who clearly loves what he does. A born communicator, he has a unique ability to pen down regular, everyday concepts, be they struggles or nostalgic moments and with the help of producer extraordinaire Ryan Lewis, transform them into global anthems. They perform Thrift Shop early and the devotees go mental, it’s a far cry from the group that were deathly silent only a half hour earlier – this is a new breed of hip-hop fan, one who can’t relate to money, drugs and bitches but to hand-me-down clothes, memories of Space Jam, and a push for a more equal world. While some may not, I certainly respect what Macklemore has brought to the game. Macklemore is not just a storyteller but a sublime one, and he may well be THE storyteller of this generation. 

The duo go through a couple of back catalogue tunes including the Dave Niehaus tribute track My Oh My as well as the Chili Peppers inspired Otherside before reaching their most recent hit; the beautifully poignant Same Love (read my earlier article for an explanation at how amazing this song really is). Ben and Ryan are visibly moved by the response of the audience who chant every word, these guys never foresaw that their creative expression would become global inspiration, and yet it has. They declare this their proudest moment. Only in Australia is this song Number 1. We are leading the world and they are extremely grateful. 

With the sentimental numbers out the way it’s time to party. The energy in the room for Can’t Hold Us, complete with the Wanz sung chorus is massive, the stars crowd surf as everyone dances together; performers, crowd, bar staff, roadies – everyone enjoying it equally. Huge songs Wings and Starting Over are separated by tales of addiction, inspiration and identity which people can relate to - Macklemore is real, there is no gimmick here. Do what helps you to be creative, what helps you find yourself he encourages and don’t waste your life. 

The show closes with a three-song encore as the new faces of independent music display their talent in entertaining a crowd. Stage dives from Ryan Lewis, a James Brown impression and a huge Irish flag are all involved in a medley of And We Dance, Irish Celebration and finally a second run of Thrift Shop. Even I’m happy to hear it again. These guys know what they’re doing. There’s nothing false about it. Their own lyrics perfectly capture the essence of the night; “We danced, and we cried, and we laughed and had a really, really, really good time…” 

Such is the humility and authenticity of Haggerty, the final number is followed by a ten minute love-fest of thankyous and applause, highlighting everyone else involved with the production from the support staff, to the fans, to his newly engaged fiancé’ - a much deserved chant spontaneously erupts for the man behind the decks and the lights go out to raptures of applause and a promise to return to Australia in the not too distant future. 

While immediately next up for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is a guest slot on prominent US television show Saturday Night Live, long term it is clear they have the key ingredients; the passion, the talent and now the enthusiastic fan-base, to conquer the globe. New chapters. New stories. New hits. I can't wait. 

Postscript: I had the pleasure of meeting Ben and Ryan backstage after the show and everything I wrote about authenticity and humility was 100% confirmed. The dudes are legends!