My Abbreviated Two Cents:
B L A C K I E isn’t easy to describe. The first time I saw him perform was at one of the handful of Recession Thursdays put on by FPH. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but had been hearing a lot of buzz about him from I’m not really sure where. His performance kind of left me speechless. I am still not sure if I really loved it or really didn’t get it. His music/performances remind me a little of a surrealistic painting. You look at it, you want to love it, more than anything, you want to understand it. I viewed most of that performance behind a lens trying to capture a moment in that experience that would help make heads or tails of what B L A C K I E was all about; I don’t think it ever happened. The music can be described, most aptly by B L A C K I E himself, as American Grime. I suppose that means it’s a combination of a few genres of music including rap and inspired by UK Grime with a lot of random noises thrown in for shits and giggles. I’ll admit, I am still intrigued by the music and by his potential as an artist and curiosity has definitely killed my proverbial cat when it comes to seeing him perform for a lot of people in a festival setting.
That’s why you need to get out to the Summerfest and see for yourself.
B L A C K I E will be performing on Friday, August 8 at 2:50 PM on Stage 2. Don’t miss it.
What People Are Saying:
With his hoodie on and a mike in hand, BLACKIE finished off the night with an incredibly intriguing performance. The random background noise he used to complement his words drowned those words out, but, in those moments where he let you hear him rant, his prose made you shudder. Locked inside his thoughts, BLACKIE meandered throughout the almost empty venue, speaking softly to himself at some points and screaming into walls at others. His journey led him back to the small group who stood still – engrossed by his presence. The night ended with a circle of toy kazoo playing fans blowing in discord to the soul of BLACKIE’s verse.
– Brigitte B. Zabak (As Printed in Rocks Off – Houston Press Blog – Aug. 29, 2008)
Check out the B L A C K I E Wikipedia Page for more info and reviews.
The Music:
May 24, 2010 at 2:52 am
[...] They’re good writers and good people. Brigitte’s already written News on the March, B L A C K I E, The Tontons, Young Mammals, and Austinites Explosions in the Sky, What Made Milwaukee Famous, [...]