Fiddle While You Burn

I normally try to stay impartial when I do this photo blog stuff but I won’t bother with Wu Tang Clan, Wu is my very favorite group ever. Why? Their sound combines elements from the entire Diaspora of contemporary black music and adds completely unique modern touches to form a brand of hip-hop that is really it’s own genre that exists parallel to say, Southern Rap, or Gansta Rap, or East Coast Rap. When you hear a Wu song, you know its Wu. Listen closely and you’ll hear elements of Jazz, Soul, Blues, Funk, Rock, Doo Op, Reggae and R&B. Combine that with a stream-of-consciousness, cinematic, lyrical style that constantly pushes the art of rap to higher, sharper levels. It’s a level of originality, individuality, and ingenuity all artists should strive for.

For years, only the Roots have been more dynamic or consistent live Hip-Hop group than Wu. So for this show the GZA, U-God, Inspector Deck, and Raekwon snatched a page out of the Philly band’s play book by dropping their classics backed by the El Michaels Affair. It came off much better than either band must have expected as the live set up gave the MCs flexibility to quickly rework and rearrange their songs on the spot to suit the moment. The band was clearly having fun watching the packed Austin crowd go bananas as they weaved through ten years of solo & group hits. “Protect Ya Neck”, “Liquid Swords”, “It’s Yours”, “Pinky Ring” all had the packed Austin crowd going bananas.

Even though it was only four of the remaining 8 original members they rocked the crowd with one classic banger after another. At one point GZA paused and ask the crowd to pay a silent moment of respect to the late Old Dirty Bastard. After a short pause a few twinkling piano keys dropped and he busted into OLB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”. A packed crowd of lucky hipp-hoppers screamed along to the heavens “Oooh baby I like it Raaaaaw!”. It was classic Wu. Hopefully Dirty could hear ‘em.

Related Posts:
Best of South by Southwest 2006
From the Archives: SXSW: 03-19 Ghostface Killah @ Fader
SXSW: Day 1 El Michaels Affair @ Stubbs
11-22 Genious / GZA @ Crash Mansion

Labels: El Michaels Affair, GZA, Raekwon, Stubbs, SXSW, WuTang Clan

Posted by Nev Brown for FWYB at 3/18/2006 10:34:00 PM | Comments

Related Posts:
Best of South by Southwest 2006
From the Archives: SXSW: 03-19 Ghostface Killah @ Fader
SXSW: Day 1 Wu Tang Clan @ Stubbs BBQ
11-22 Genious / GZA @ Crash Mansion

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I arrived in Austin, ran immediately from my plane - hopped into a cab - sped to the “luxurious” motel where I was staying - threw my bags into my room – immediately jumped into another cab and sped off towards Stubbs in downtown Austin. Why all the rush? Well, word on the net was that Wu-Tang Clan was doing a private day show backed by a live band.

I wasn't sure what the line-up would be but when I spotted the name El Michaels Affair on the flyer I knew it would be On. Everything I had heard about this Brooklyn band had been overwhelmingly positive and the buzz was right. It was non-stop cool soulFunk - the kind that'll have your mind drifting away to dreams filled with pimped out caddies, fly sistas with afro puffs stroking your cape, or summer BBQs with family & friends. And no cheesy 70’s sweatro, glitter sunglasses, diapers and spaceships stuff - just laid in the cut Soul that lets the music do the talkin’. Kinda like Mayfield on "No Place Like America Today" but all instrumental.

This band was the perfect start to SXSW, the crowd was sippin’ their beers smiling and dancing along and every few seconds you’d here someone ask “Who’s this?”. When Wu-Tang was announced and the El Michaels Affair didn't leave the stage a huge cheer went up and I thought to myself “This is why I love Wu, they really understand MUSIC!”...

Labels: El Michaels Affair, GZA, SXSW

Posted by Nev Brown for FWYB at 3/18/2006 10:29:00 PM | Comments