Show: Aesop Rock
Date: June 16, 2011
Venue: Troubador
City: West Hollywood, CA
Aesop Rock
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Nicolas Bates
After years without releasing new material or tour dates lined up, former Def Jux hip-hop emcee Aesop Rock has hit the road with singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson and new collaborative partners Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz (project: Hail Mary Mallon) for an eclectic tour sure to give hip-hop heads something to talk about.
After opening with “Delicate Cycle” with Kimya Dawson, Aesop and Rob Sonic hit the historic Troubador stage hard, and from the first verse on, the sold-out crowd responded in a maniacal manner. Right off the bat, Aesop was his normal, animated self, sometimes making faces it seems only Aesop is capable of. Live, and without exception on this night, Aesop has such a personable demeanor whilst still laying way for a lyrical beatdown. And when coupled with his lower-range voice and quick rhymes, Aesop seems unstoppable.
Rob Sonic and Aesop switch off between verses with speed and precision, and it quickly becomes all too clear how and why Hail Mary Mallon came to be. At mid-set, Dj Big Wiz steals the spotlight when Aesop announces, “This is how you make a beat from scratch.” With impeccable timing and the slightest of touch, Dj Big Wiz pieces together what is to become almost a 3-minute long impromptu beat. Shortly after, and in between songs, Aesop let’s the crowd quiet while they wait for his obviously imminent communication. Aesop opens with, “Good to be back in L.A.; back in your arms,” and he’s met with cheers and roars from a crowd who has waited 3 years to see him live.
Hail Mary Mallon tracks made it in to the set list with ease and were extremely well received by an already pumped-up crowd. Tracks included: “Escape to the Poconos,” “Garfield” and Breakdance Beach.” Aesop, of course, couldn’t get off without playing crowd favorites “Coffee,” “None Shall Pass” and a special version of “Daylight,” which closely followed “Nightlife.” Kimya Dawson made appearances throughout the evening with tracks like “Walk like Thunder” and “Big Bang.” It seemed, however, that the highlight of the evening was the song “Bats!” with Kimya Dawson. Aesop prefaced the song by saying one of the people the song was written about was the late—and quite brilliant—emcee Eyedea, to which to crowd gave a healthy cheer.
After a long and diverse set, the night finally came to a close; or so the crowd thought. The crew, minus Kimya Dawson, returned for an encore with “Pigs.” In regards to the standing ovation they had just received, Rob Sonic confirmed, “That was the best thing I’ve ever experienced!”
Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, Dj Big Wiz and Kimya Dawson all put on a gorgeous show, and all had their own place in the performance in which to shine. Although it has been a good 3 years since Aesop’s last L.A. show, I am sure there wasn’t a hip-hop head at the Troubador that night that wouldn’t wait another 3 for a show of this magnitude.