Tag Team Concert Review: Blue Scholars Nov. 22 @ The Showbox - Seattle, WA
Frodo: This past week, Caspian and I saw the Blue Scholars perform at the Showbox in Seattle. Being nerdy white kids, we entered the hip hop show with slight trepidation, only to be greeted by herds of indie kids, high schoolers and even a couple blindingly ivory-hued under 10s. Lucky for us the Showbox features a nifty bar area, and we were able to tucker in for the long march. I mean that literally, of course, as the doors opened at 8pm, the headliners weren't set to go on stage until 11:30. Not only did we have to sit for a while to see who we really came to see, but we had to suffer through four (four!) opening acts. We had some great luck with the last show we went to (Sufjan Stevens at the Paramount), the opening act was My Brightest Diamond and ended up being a new favorite.
Caspian: With the exception of the final opening act One Self, from Brooklyn, there really wasn't anything worth sitting through either. They were tolerable for a while, but the female rapper's high-pitched rhymes were grating over the course of a whole set. Being that chintzy R&B act Choklat was the only opening act listed on the ticket billing as an opener, we couldn't help but feel duped. But I have to say when Geologic and Sabzi took the stage, the show instantly became worth it.
Frodo: Yeah, when the Blue Scholars finally came out (on time, thank [insert deity here]) it completely washed away the unironic squeakiness of One Self (it was like mc chris but completely lacking the funny). Blue Scholars are an up and coming hip hop act out of Seattle, and tend to have lyrics focused around the Emerald City. They opened for Kanye West at Bumbershoot, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the subdued attitudes and stage setup of the duo. Your inner stereotype-o-meter would probably be set off as well by the fact that Sabzi and Geologic are white and blasian, respectively.
Caspian: Blue Scholars' set was incredibly strong. With favorites from their album like "The Ave" and "Long March," it's easy to see why they're arguably the hottest hip hop group on the Indie scene right now. The pinnacle of the show for me was hearing every white boy in the house (myself included) flip out when they weaved the drum heavy Modest Mouse instrumental from "Float On" into the already amazing song "Inkwell." Honestly, I'd be surprised after this show if Blue Scholars aren't picked up by a major label and being touted by mainstream critics around the nation within the next year. The greatest thing about them though, is they wouldn't want that. Their indie label Mass Line is blowing up with great underground talent by the minute. They have no reason to abandon their homegrown success. Cheers to Geo and Sabz for keeping hope alive for the Rap genre, and proving that talented MCs and DJs can be intelligent.
Frodo: Word, thug. Word. Check out the Blue Scholars' library on iTunes. It's freaking brilliant. 
What say you?!