A killer concert is all you want for Christmas, and that’s what you shall have.
Monday: French Montana at the Regency Ballroom
Moroccan-born, Bronx-bred, Kardashian-groomed emcee French Montana, aka Karim Kharbouch, has the hip-hop world waiting. This past January, Montana told Rolling Stone about a potential follow-up to the 2013 breakthrough album Excuse My French, the next one titled Mac & Cheese 4. Expected sometime in 2015, it’s safe to assume he’s touring with some of the new material. Here’s what he said about the album: “I'm going back to the essence on this album...We're giving the fans that grew up on me what they want. When we made the other music, it was just to be a little different and not do the same thing over.”
Friday and Saturday: X at the Fillmore
Punk band X was pretty hardcore back in the day, and we have zero reason to doubt its modern hardcore cred. Their 3-minute anti-establishment explosions helped give birth to a prototype punk blueprint followed by a generation of tight-black-denim wearing city kids armed with guitars and attitude. But what they’re doing now is — well, it’s either the greatest punk feat yet in their already-epic history, or it’s simply a fresh take on classic songs. Let’s hope for the former and pray for the latter, shall we? The band is dropping the signature electric guitar and bass for a stripped down acoustic show. Bandleader John Doe describes as having a "sneaky, funky, and smoky quality that allows us to play with more finesse... and it doesn't take itself too seriously." (Phoenix New Times)
I mean c’mon, just look at this damn bee girl youtube below for the umpteenthousandth time. You’re powerless, and you know it. She’s basically the original internet cat pic before the internet cat pic was a thing. Blind Melon is ...whatever, they’re great — but just look at this adorable bee girl below!
Saturday: Questlove at Public Works (DJ set)
If you didn’t see Questlove’s Instagram post from earlier this month, allow us to share. The message, in reference to the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and John Crawford III, bears repeating: "We need new Dylans. New Public Enemys. New Simones. New De La Roachas. New ideas!" he wrote. "I mean real stories. Real narratives. Songs with spirit in them. Songs with solutions. Songs with questions. Protest songs don't have to be boring or non danceable or ready-made for the next Olympics. They just have to speak truth." Expect wisdom in some form or fashion when Questlove plays a DJ set Saturday night at Public Works.
Follow @ChrisTrenchard for more words like these.
