Obsidian Potency 3.0
Ozomatli Show [edit]
posted Thursday, 8 May 2008
"Ya se fue! Ya se fue! O-zo-mat-li!"
That's the chant the Los-Angeles-based, Grammy-winning band Ozomatli delivers at the end of each show as they leave the stage, winding their way through the crowd in what seems to be an impromptu conga line, joined by the crowd as they play drums and lead spirited chants outside the venue. Ozomatli puts on one of the best stage shows you'll ever see, and their show last night at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA was no exception.
The crowd was incredibly diverse. Young high-school-aged girls mingled with very senior citizens, members of all races appeared in significant numbers, and the crowd's gender split seemed even. Maybe that's because Ozo offers possibly the most diverse musical sound one can find: an amalgam of salsa, African high life, funk and hip-hop including rappers, bilingual singers, horns players and a DJ (as well as the typical guitar/bass/drums ensemble.
As for the vibe, let's put it this way: if you're not on your feet and dancing at an Ozo show, you might be dead. Besides, when your band is named after an Aztec god, you'd better deliver the goods. Despite a painful muscle strain on my right torso from sleeping in a horribly awkward position the night before, the music was so infectious that I couldn't help myself towards the end. They did a lot of theri earliest material, which in my opinion is their best material.
As if the original band itself didn't bring enough to the table, I noticed a new guy who looked like he might have been a rapper playing a lot of tambourine. I thought, "Is that another rapper? Do they really need two?" Later on, he was introduced as the newest member of the Ozo family. His name? Tré(vant) Hardson of The Pharcyde! The most talented (to my ears) member of that now-defunct L.A. alternative hip-hop group performed "Passing Me By" accompanied by live instrumentation. I actually went to see Tré live after he left The Pharcyde back in 2001 at Storyville, a former San Francisco club that used to focus on hip-hop and jazz. Even though his verses were recycled from Pharcyde songs (I'm guessing he is still very new), it was a totally unexpected thrill to see him.
This feeling was compounded when, during the end-of-show conga line, I shouted, "What's up, Tré?" as he walked past. He turned, made eye contact and smiled. I felt good not because of any hero-worship or brush with fame. Rather, I felt good because I had made him feel good -- I might have been one of the few audience members who fully understood who he was. I'm almost certain that a good time was had by all. I got very sad after the show, but that's the kind of thing I've come to expect these days.
That's the chant the Los-Angeles-based, Grammy-winning band Ozomatli delivers at the end of each show as they leave the stage, winding their way through the crowd in what seems to be an impromptu conga line, joined by the crowd as they play drums and lead spirited chants outside the venue. Ozomatli puts on one of the best stage shows you'll ever see, and their show last night at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA was no exception.
The crowd was incredibly diverse. Young high-school-aged girls mingled with very senior citizens, members of all races appeared in significant numbers, and the crowd's gender split seemed even. Maybe that's because Ozo offers possibly the most diverse musical sound one can find: an amalgam of salsa, African high life, funk and hip-hop including rappers, bilingual singers, horns players and a DJ (as well as the typical guitar/bass/drums ensemble.
As for the vibe, let's put it this way: if you're not on your feet and dancing at an Ozo show, you might be dead. Besides, when your band is named after an Aztec god, you'd better deliver the goods. Despite a painful muscle strain on my right torso from sleeping in a horribly awkward position the night before, the music was so infectious that I couldn't help myself towards the end. They did a lot of theri earliest material, which in my opinion is their best material.
As if the original band itself didn't bring enough to the table, I noticed a new guy who looked like he might have been a rapper playing a lot of tambourine. I thought, "Is that another rapper? Do they really need two?" Later on, he was introduced as the newest member of the Ozo family. His name? Tré(vant) Hardson of The Pharcyde! The most talented (to my ears) member of that now-defunct L.A. alternative hip-hop group performed "Passing Me By" accompanied by live instrumentation. I actually went to see Tré live after he left The Pharcyde back in 2001 at Storyville, a former San Francisco club that used to focus on hip-hop and jazz. Even though his verses were recycled from Pharcyde songs (I'm guessing he is still very new), it was a totally unexpected thrill to see him.
This feeling was compounded when, during the end-of-show conga line, I shouted, "What's up, Tré?" as he walked past. He turned, made eye contact and smiled. I felt good not because of any hero-worship or brush with fame. Rather, I felt good because I had made him feel good -- I might have been one of the few audience members who fully understood who he was. I'm almost certain that a good time was had by all. I got very sad after the show, but that's the kind of thing I've come to expect these days.
Want to read comments, or have something to say? Bring it. (1)
Obsidian Hit Counter
Total: 264,855
since: 18 Oct 2004
since: 18 Oct 2004