I just got back from the Masters of Illusion/Cali Agents/Pep
Love/Souls of Michief/Pharcyde show.  The short review: fucking dope.

Long review:  We stand in line for about half an hour before they let
us in.  Going in to the show I expected to see every backpackin',
skateboardin', UofA student in Tucson at the show.  I was pretty much
right.  Must have been like 30 white dudes there with Hiero shirts.
Haven't they ever seen "PCU"?

The show opened up with this group, Southwest Regime I think their
name was.  They were nothing special, I hoped the opener would be a
local group like Red Dirt Specimenz or LOUT.  Next was Motion Man and
Kutmaster Kurt.  I haven't heard much from either of them except for a
few Kool Keith songs, and what I have heard from them I didn't like
much.  They gave a decent set anyway, Motion Man was probably the
funniest MC of the night.  He was making a big deal because Kurt was
using CD turntables, but the crowd didn't seem to care that much.  He
even went off beat a couple times switching between songs.  Damn!  I
don't like the sound of the generic scratch noises these CD setups
have either.  Motion Man didn't really get the crown hyped enough, but
most of them were there to see Hiero and Pharcyde anyway.

Next was Rasco.  With him was some guy whose name I never caught.
I've never seen a picture of Planet Asia, so I assumed it was him, but
it wasn't.  Asia came up after Rasco, but I don't know why.  He ripped
shit though.  I didn't recognize any of the songs, but he was dope
enough to make me want to cop the album.  Planet Asia was equally as
dope, totally energetic set.  I don't know why they didn't perform
together though...

Then Pep Love came out, and did a couple of songs.  His set seemed
really short compared to the others, like it lasted only 15-20
minutes.  I haven't heard his new album yet, but I recognized "Fight
Club."  Dope set, short but sweet.  Souls came up next, and their set
was TIGHT.  A good mix of old and new songs.  I remember hearing "You
Never Knew", "Oakland Blackouts," "'93 til Infinity," and
"Medication."  The crowd was really into them much more than any other
group so far.  Their DJ was really good too.

Pharcyde was probably the best act though, they played quite a few old
songs like "Yo Momma," "Runnin," "Passin Me By," and I think "Drop"
was in there too.  The best part of the night, though, was when they
did "Pack the Pipe."  The crowd went crazy when they did that song.
They finished the night with a new track with Souls of Mischief, which
was pretty dope.

Overall it was a great show, and the crowd was showing mad love the
whole night.  I found out there's a show on Tuesday with the Arsonists
and DJ Swamp.  I don't like the Arsonists that much from what I've
heard of them, but I'm thinking of going just to see DJ Swamp.  Has
anyone seen him live before?

-
Tyler Blohm - blohm11@home.com