A Conversation with Despot

@despotroast : Finally watched those gaddafi videos. Rouch. The word "despot" is in the news a lot again. Complicates my self googling routine.

@jettingjessica: @despotroast can I Google myself in your office? #30rock

@despotroast: @jettingjessica are you coming onto me?

How Iowa Almost Broke My Spirit

I had big plans for this weekend. My boyfriend and I are huge Das Racist fans. We missed them when they came to Northfield last winter because of a blizzard, but caught them at Lincoln Hall this summer while we were in Chicago for Pitchfork Festival. Recently we have become big Danny Brown fans. This fall Das Racist is going on their Relax Tour. This tour features Despot, Danny Brown, and Das Racist playing with Lakutis. The tour went through Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, but not Minnesota. The Wisconsin show was on a Wednesday night and I have class Thursday, so we decided to go to Iowa City Friday night. We knew Das Racist was playing a similar set to what we saw this summer so what really tipped the balance about the show was Danny Brown and Despot being there too, since they all collaborate. The ticketfly and venue sights both said that Danny Brown would be at the show. Doors for the Blue Moose Tap House were supposed to be at 7 PM and the show at 8 PM. We arrived around 7:45 and the doors were still closed because the band got there late. They began to let people into the show at 9 PM and music started at 9:30 for a show that legally had to end at 11:59 PM. A rap group of 4-6 Iowa college students opened with four generic songs. After they left the show really picked it up, though. Despot came out and fucking rocked it with his typical stage routine of asking the crowd who'd ever been to a rap show (Yes, I Have! At least three times! haha) and having the crowd do "aerobics" synchronized with the music. Lakutis was on stage as the DJ for Despot and for Das Racist. They were playing with an HP, unlike the Mac Book we saw them with over the summer. Das Racist played a similar set to the one we saw this summer with new tracks like "Michael Jackson" and "Brand New Dance" along with old hits  like "Rainbow in the Dark," "Rapping 2 U," and "Amazing". I was front row with no barrier in front of the stage. Victor tried to crowd surf unsuccessfully a few times and finally made it around a little bit, Lakutis pretended like he was gonna crowd surf and ran straight into my face (the fat lip lasting over 2 days), and Dap demanded that the crowd pass all pain killers to the stage. At one point in "Amazing" Heems held the mic up to my face and I totally blanked on the words. Chris and I both got noogies from Vic plus a variety of high fives from the whole band. After the show Heems said anyone could meet him at the back to talk. I went to the merch table to ask why Danny Brown wasn't with for this show and Heems told me he had to be in NYC for some CMJ shit and that they had told the venue promoter 3 weeks earlier (note that would have been prior to when I bought tickets). The venue claimed Das Racist had told them that day. They had show posters saying Danny Brown still, but the billboard outside the venue said the Iowa student rap group's name, so they had time to book an additional opener. Regardless to say the venue wouldn't do anything for us because Danny is a "supporting act," despite the 6 hours we drove to get there under false pretenses. After talking to the manager we went back and caught up with the band. We chilled for a minute with Lakutis and the tour manager, talked to Dap, got locked out of the venue, bought the white shirt they're always selling, and then ended up walking with everyone to a nearby bar. I've never just chilled with a band like that. We didn't act like they were super important people we idolize, and they just acted like the regular people they are. I'm not 21 so after a minute at the bar we decided to dip set. We left the people in the booth alone and I said bye to Victor and Lakutis by the jukebox on the way out. Vic hugged me and kissed my forehead! They were grateful we came all the way from Minnesota to see them. Actually getting to know them for a second made up for extra hours standing in heels waiting for the late show and Danny Brown not being there. It still feels like we missed a once in a lifetime opportunity and should have gone to Wisconsin. Somewhere on the internet we could have figured out Danny Brown wouldn't be there and we missed it. Will we ever get to see Danny Brown open for Das Racist? Will we see them play "Power" together? Would Despot be there to play "Huzzah" with them? In my dream world Heems, Victor, Dapwell, Lakutis, Danny Brown, Despot, El-P, and eXquire would all come to Minneapolis and play a magical show for me at someplace like the Triple Rock Social Club, where I was front row and danced my ass off in sparkly tights all night. But that probably won't happen and I need to move out East before I lose all hope! Life happens and we made a great night of it anyways. The next day we had fun plans. The two big excitements of this trip were day one seeing everyone together on the Relax Tour and day two going in this giant wooden maze. Chris had been to this maze as a child and has told me how wonderful it is for years. We drove past it on the way to Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and I got super pumped when we saw how expansive it was. The maze is on two acres and has four towers in a center square that all have different entrances. The goal is to go through the maze, get stamps at all four towers, and then find the exit. It even has doors in case you have a freak out inside and need to leave. Saturday morning when we woke up we called and found out the maze is only open memorial day to labor day and by appointment for groups of 10 or more. Are you fucking shitting me? All our plans fell apart. We gave up on anything in Iowa and headed home. For lunch we stopped at McDonald's, still in Iowa. The day before we'd stopped at one in Albert Lea MN and Chris had regretted not getting a large meal for the monopoly pieces, so he got a large this time. Then what happens? This McDonald's doesn't have monopoly pieces on their cups or french fries even though they should through October 24th. Nothing was going our way. One of those day you just go to bed and hope for better luck tomorrow. The ultimate solution? Mall of America! I bought myself some pink corduroys and Chris bought a new jacket, a pair of jeans, and ordered some sneakers. We ate Noodles for dinner and visited my cat, Linkin. We can't change anything, we can only enjoy what we have. I have memories with Das Racist I will never forget! I have a brand new pair of pants that make my ass look great and a new Das Racist shirt. I have desperate desires to see Danny Brown perform in Minneapolis. And I have hopes of exploring that maze with my friends someday, although I'm not sure, fucking Iowa. "Why do ducks fly upside down over Iowa." "Because there's nothing worth shitting on!" Too much corn, too little Panera Bread. Did I mention the place where the trailer park was adjacent to the high school football field and that was pretty much the whole town? It was creepy.

At the Entry with Gang Gang Dance

 I feel like I have seen a disproportionate amount of shows at the Entry this year compared to last year. I think I've only been to the Triple Rock once and the Varsity once in 2011! Last night was Prince Rama opening for Gang Gang Dance, who I was surprised was playing a small venue. I'd never heard of Prince Rama before and they blew me out of the water! From what I understand they are two sisters who were raised on a Hare Krishna commune in Florida. This definitely explains the foreign language they sometimes sing in and the strong Hindu vibes of their music. There is a third member in the band, but he produces and doesn't tour. The lead singer has super awesome hair, plays guitar, and keyboard. But the drummer is where it is at! I loved everything about her down to her bare feet. I have never appreciated percussion so much. The show went a little late but I manged to dance thoroughly up until the second to the last song Gang Gang Dance played. The bassist's mom was standing next to us in the crowd, which was pretty cute. There seemed to be a lot of band family at the show. Their songs are very long and they transition from one to the next, so it can be hard to tell them apart. They opened with Glass Jars and somewhere in there played Adult Goth and Chinese High, my two favorite songs off their most recent album "Eye Contact." I need to start remembering to bring ear plugs to the Entry, though. The music is always loud and I always end up under one of the two jumbo speakers, which generally makes for a great show but a grumpy Jesse in the car for my poor boyfriend.

OFWGKTA

I saw Odd Future like a week ago. My hip hurt so I missed out on the hardcore moshing, but managed to snag a platform spot so I could see over the 85-95% male crowd. Definitely wish I had been 21+ for this all ages show so I could have partied on the balcony. Syd went on with a DJ set after a local DJ and quite a few people went so hard they had to leave the crowd before OF even got on stage. The group was ridiculous, Jasper especially. He is the worst rapper in the group, short, chubby, I believe the youngest, and talked the most shit. They ragged on the crowd so much, it was hysterical. Some girl threw panties on the stage, which Jasper did not appreciate. Another girl screamed "DTF" multiple times, which Jasper also did not appreciate. Aubrey desperately screamed her name at Tyler and that ugly ass Left Brain pretended like some honey was checking him out. Mike G played a new song for us. They played "Loaded," my favorite Mellowhype song. Also got to hear a couple new things off Domo's album"Under the Influence," which I have yet to hear in it's entirety. They didn't play "Couch" like I had hoped they might, but the outro was Earl. I would pay incredible amounts of money to see Earl performing his songs. Check out the set-list for this show here.

I am electro-moron. (Pretty Lights!!)

I could not tell you the audible differences between someone using a Macbook and a synthesizer. I could not tell you the difference between dubstep and house music, if there is one. But what I can tell you is, Pretty Lights, woah my God, Pretty Lights! My boyfriend won tickets last minute from Radio K, we napped up, and got ready to party. We showed up a little late, maybe 10:30 PM but still caught part of an incredible DJ set by Bonobo. Some of the songs he remixed included 'All of the Lights' by Kanye West and 'Islands' by the XX. I have never danced so much in my life! Everyone in the crowd was moving, everyone in the crowd was happy, even the zombies. I don't have the words to describe this night, but I might use ones like exhilarating freedom or unquestionable acceptance. I have never loved a crowd so much. I left this show equivalently sweaty as Gogol Bordello, the sweatiest concert of my life, and as happy as Brand New, when I heard them play the 'No Seatbelt Song.' This concert, by a band whose music I have barely heard, has surpassed all concerts moments of my life.

On Saturday October 1st

and why this was one of the best days of my entire life.

Whopper Jr. with Cheese, No Pickles for Breakfast
Carlos Avery Harvest Howl
Diamond Rings live acoustic in-studio at Radio K
New boots from Macy's
Special Spring Rolls at Taste of Thailand
Girls/No Bunny/Papa concert
Twin Shadow/Diamond Rings concert

So yeah. Missed the encore of girls, 'Hellhole Ratrace' and 'Broken Dreams Club', which were two great songs I'd seen them play at Pitchfork '10 and caught the last two songs of Diamond Rings' set, 'Something Else' and 'All yr Songs', which I saw him play acoustic earlier that day. This was my first night ever going to a show in the 7th St. Entry right after a show in the mainroom. I bought tickets for Girls the day of and am incredibly happy that I did. I was taken aback by the two openers for this show, since I hadn't heard much of either of them. Papa is a band I would listen to on record, where as No Bunny is a band I would see live any day for the energy. Girls has greatly improved their sound and stage presence since I saw them last summer. While I was sad to miss most of Diamond Rings, whom I'd seen before opening for Robyn, it was well worth it to see Girls touring their new album 'Father, Son, Holy Ghost.' I was even able to run from the mainroom and get a first row spot for Twin Shadow. Not to mention the Girls poster, Twin Shadow tank top, free Diamond Rings poster, and Twin Shadow set list we went home with! Best half birthday of my life.