by SCOTT C

Last Friday night, I took a minute and cleaned up to go check out the Omar show at Jello Bar with a bunch of friends. I think we were all looking forward to seeing this man perform in the flesh, most of us for the very first time. The show was great. Locals Fredy V & Black Soil warmed up the crowd with a short but sweet introduction to the vibe for the evening, but then proceeded to blow themselves out of the water when they returned to the stage to back Omar’s entire set. It was clear that the packed crowd was a bit anxious when Omar first appeared out of the audience and sang only two songs, backed by the house CD player, before disappearing, stage left. But when he came back with the band in tow, I was very proud to see Montreal musicians up there, locking down groove-solid arrangements beside one of the dopest singer/multi-instrumentalist/composers making soulful music today.

Now, I’ve been to Jello enough times over the years, and had many a good time gettin’ down to whatever while there, but for some reason on this particular night, the staff me and my friends came in contact with were killin’ us. It was like people were going out of their way to make the entire night a hassle—except for the actual show that is. And no disrespect to old-school and hip hop dons Frank BLVD. and Alan, who play in the back room at Jello every week—those guys know what they’re doing, but the bar sending the waitress over to ask us to vacate a booth after we’d already bought a round, so that the organizers could “drink champagne,” is wack. Putting a “reserved” sign on a table we’re sitting at is wack. Charging people a second time for coat check when they go out to smoke is wack. I could go on, but I already sound like I’m bitching, so I’ll stop.

Heads can get ready for yet another top-to-bottom bill coming up on Wednesday, Nov. 15, when Boot Camp Click and Heltah Skeltah man Sean Price joins the mighty Cali Agents, featuring Planet Asia and Rasco, for a show at Foufounes. Not only is Heltah Skeltah one of my favourite hip hop spellings, but the combined MC power of Planet Asia and Rasco has always made babies cry and birds fly away by the flock. As if that wasn’t enough good hip hop for one night, throw in Boston based legend Ed O.G. and his boys from Special Teamz, along with Earatik Statik, Northern Lights and DJ Fiend, and you just can’t front. Tickets are only $10 in advance, or $12 at the door—that works out to approximately a dollar an MC. Look into it.

Squinting and looking at the horizon, I’m happy to announce that CL Smooth of Pete Rock & CL Smooth fame will be touching down here on Wednesday, Nov. 29, for a show at les Saints, flanked by Brooklyn Academy’s Block McCloud, Mr. Met and Pumpkinhead, as well as Island City Monsters and Velvet Trench Vibes. Let’s make it a date.

YOU GOT YOUR TIMBERLAKE TICKETS? fathead@videotron.ca

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