Thighs Wide Shut

Jack White
Madison Square Garden
January 30th

Last time we saw Jack White ROCK out MSG, it was 2007, and the girl with the bouncy boobs was bouncing her boobs behind him, AND IT KICKED THE FCUKING BALL AND THE BISCUITLISTICS!!!!!!!!  They were two kids, playing to 18k people, and they somehow were able to own a building that’s built for giant acts.  Sure, at the time, they were a big act, but 6 years prior, they were playing the tiny Bowery Ballroom, a place better suited for their raw sound.  But Jack White’s sound now and forever knows no bounds.  ‘Seven Nation Army’ has become a sports stadium rally call, and now, Jack White can fill any sized venue to match those calls

Meg White is still sorely missed, but Jack, 7ish years later, has really done an amazing job to fill her (boobie) void.  Sure, having a full band helps, and at times, his band adds TOO much sound to Jack’s music, but they follow his lead, and we’d follow him anywhere he goes, cause it’s always steady as he goes.  His latest MSG set perfectly blended Stripes tunes with the stronger selections of his solo work + enough of the other side-project ditties (juss like his Roseland show of 3 years ago), but the larger venue made everything seem even larger, more vital.  Having Q-Tip come out to help didn’t hurt neither.  In fact, it cleaned and opened our ears even mo!  [editor’s note – we haven’t used a Q-Tip since 2009]

Setlist

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground / High Ball Stepper /Lazaretto / Hotel Yorba / Temporary Ground / Cannon / Broken Boy Soldier / Cannon / Love Interruption / We’re Going to Be Friends / Three Women / Black Math (intro only to) Top Yourself / Ball and Biscuit

Encore – That Black Bat Licorice (with Q-Tip) / Excursions (with Q-Tip) / Sixteen Saltines / Astro / Steady, As She Goes / Would You Fight for My Love? / Just One Drink / Blunderbuss / Seven Nation Army

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
The High End Theroy
Official Website | Trailers & Mo
R | 95 min

Don’t know what it would be like to watch a documentary about A Tribe Called Quest if you weren’t a fan, but if yer reading this, you probably are, and probably grooved like mad to their slick rhymes and phat beats in the 90s, aka the last golden era of hip-hop. Where would our ears be without the combined talents of Q-Tip (Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, formerly Jonathan Davis), Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor), Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White (whoever he is :)?  If those four names mean anything to you, then you owe it to yourself to see Michael Rapaport‘s (yes, that Mike Rap) love poem to this seminal group of playful rappers.  You’ll hear the likes of The Beastie Boys, De La Soul, The Roots, Common, Pharrell Williams, et al, spill endless praise, and rightfully so.  While there may not be any giant insight into the crafting of the music (there is barely even a mention of their classic ‘Scenario’), you won’t mind too much as yer head bobs up and down and all around in this greatest hits affair.  The last last third focuses a little too much of Phife’s struggle with diabetes, and his on & off again beef with Tip, but by that point, you see them out on tour again, and the songs remain the same – AWESOME!

Special Thanks: to our neighbor Scott Cassel, who used to drive us to high school, and introduced us to Tribe on those short rides to Richard Montgomery High.  Rocket Pride, Rocket Power

Verdictgo: Jeepers Mos Def Worth A Peepers

BR&L: TToATCQ has lyrics to go in NY & LA today, and elsewhere elsehwhen

and until next thyme the balcony is clothed…