Rock rock on

It's almost midnight, my ears are ringing, I'm covered in other people's sweat, my legs ache, and I have a cross country race in the morning. But for the Blue Scholars... it's always worth it. I overheard some one after the show saying that they've only gotten better, and it's true. I've been listening to them for a little while now, seen a few shows, been around when a couple records and EPs dropped, and I get more in love with them every time I hear a new song.

My school (for the second year in a row!) arranged to have them come do a FREE show on campus. I don't even have words to describe how insane that is. This is the group that introduced me to conscious hip-hop and the idea that you could have sick beats and meaningful lyrics in the same song. They the were first real show I saw - Aesop Rock was headlining, but I went for the Scholars and still maintain that they were far superior. They are the only group I have ever paid to see more than once. It is because of the Blue Scholars that I have the interest and appetite for such a diverse range of music. (Props to Colin, who gave me the Scholars and several other excellent groups; without you my musical taste would be much poorer and much more limited.)

If you have never heard the Blue Scholars or the other excellent acts on their independent label Massline, I urge you to remedy this grievous deficiency in your life and go visit one of the sites linked to above, go to one of their shows, buy a few albums (support your favorite local record shop if they've got the Scholars). Folks in the northwest, though you must be either terribly out of the loop or have the wrong taste in music if you aren't listening, you are very much in luck. They like to play on this coast (and even a bit inland, they've been to my hometown in Montana twice that I know of in the past two years) and from what I've seen they do a good job of getting their music in the stores. They've also got a couple of EPs on iTunes (though for some reason neither are available at the moments).

Well, I just finished downloading Common Market (who opened tonight - holla for two times the Massline magic) "Tobacco Road," which is his latest CD. And as much as I'd love to stay up and listen to all of it, I really have to go to bed. Assuming I can, which with all the adrenaline currently pumping through my veins is not certain.

Peace!