Abstract Giants with Small
Change and Treologic
Metro, Chicago, IL
Hip-hop bands are breeding faster than rats
in Chicago. On this evening the crowd at the Metro experienced quite
a range of talent of this kind—from the engaging to the snooze
inducing. Openers Small Change kicked out a drunken hip-hop/rock
fusion that actually worked. The occasional hint of reggae flavor
only diversified their sound, which the growing crowd happily embraced.
The next act, Treologic (As in Tree of Logic), generated pleasant
but ultimately predictable grooves. Without taking risks a band
like this is not likely to reap any rewards musically. After their
45-minute allocated time slot was up, it was obvious they had over
stayed their welcome.
Headliners, Abstract Giants, celebrated the release of their CD,
AGrowculture, with what was quite possibly their longest set to
date. What's most impressive about this eight-man-crew is that they
can allow a violinist to be in the forefront as much as they can
their guitarist. While chemistry isn't much of a problem for the
AG, audibility is. On the more aggressive numbers MCs, Two Moons
Mathismo, Apitight and Ronnie Physicals' often-timid-voices are
almost completely drowned out by the barrage of instruments (The
Metro's mics are partially to blame). Nonetheless the show carried
on as the rhyme-sayers kept on rocking it—and more audibly
as they kicked out their more laid-back-numbers. It was only fitting
that towards the end of the night keyboardist Matt Conway, violinist
Jason VinLuan, drummer Andy Lempara, guitarist Cary Kanno and bassist
Matt Sherrell were given their own time to shine. At one point a
smoke machine was used near Conway, implying that he was on fire
from the way he was tapping those 88 keys. As gimmicky as that move
was it brought smiles to many faces. With yet another show under
their belt, the Abstract Giants looked like they were having as
much fun on stage as ever--even if they weren't always coherent.
----- Max Herman, Blur Magazine
Abstract Giants
6/18, Schubas
These locals take such an audacious approach to hip-hop that despite
their huge toolbox--a five-piece band (including turntables and
electric violin) plus three MCs (no waiting!)--they sometimes still
sound like architects trying to reconstruct the Great Pyramids with
sticks and pebbles. This sort of overreaching is nothing to be ashamed
of, though: even in its weirdest, trippiest moments, their full-length
debut, Agrowculture (available at abstractgiants.com), partakes
of the True Spirit of Hip-Hop--it's a joyous creative exploration
that thumbs its nose at the genre's self-appointed gatekeepers.
Bumpus headlines.
----- Monica Kendrick, Chicago Reader
“2004 will also mark the return, the
debut and the coronation of some of
Chicago's most recognized, most followed, and most sought acts.
In one year the
city will have new releases from the veterans All Natural (All Natural
Inc.),
the internationally loved Typical Cats (Galapagos 4), the legendary
O-Type Star
(Frontline) and the electric live band Abstract Giants (Pull 'Em
Up), whose
shows gain followers almost daily. Add up the elements and what
you'll find is
something set to explode. In 2004 look for Chicago hip-hop to make
a national
buzz, show unprecedented cooperation, and pepper the industry with
high quality,
greatly anticipated product.” ----David Jakubiak,
Chicago Red Streak
“Picture a violin wailing as three
MCs spit semi-automatic bursts of rhymes and
you'll begin to envision the draw of Abstract Giants, an eight-piece
hip-hop
band that draws as much from Tito Puente as it does from The Roots.
When the band performs, their origins are evident. They seem like
a
post-integration, suburban version of Fat Albert's Junkyard Gang…..”
----Chicago Sun Times
Hip hop band. It's not too common to see
those three words written in that
order, is it? When you do, more often than not you'll be reading
about Philly
innovators The Roots. You can understand my excitement when I realized
that
we've now got our own version of that legendary group right here
in our
backyard. ….. [the abstract giants] all immensely talented,
and upon first
listen, you'd think the band has been playing together forever.
Amazingly, it's
only been about two years since the group's inception.
Ladies and gentlemen, there's finally a reason for you to take that
copy of The
Low End Theory out of your CD player. The golden era of hip hop
may be long
gone, but the Giants are truly the next big thing.
---Spencer Lokken, Chicago Innerview magazine
This expansive, eight-member outfit might
not be the future of hip-hop, but they
are definitely pointing the way. Plugging out an increasingly eclectic
take on
the genre, these Chicago natives blend a dozen music forms into
the
traditionally beats-and-drums music, flexing above-average rhyming
skills over
the top. …….just know that the act goes leagues beyond
the same old funk-sample
hip-hop, blending in pieces and parts of rock, various world musics
and even a
kind of free-form acid jazz that's awash with creativity. Completely
worth
seeing, especially considering the live element they bring (keyboards,
strings,
live percussion, bass) to set them apart from the turntable-microphone
cliché.
----Dave Chamberlain, New City Music Magazine
Take a classically-trained violinist, seasoned
keys/guitar/percussion players,
and three MCs and you come up with Abstract Giants, whose four-song
demo just
may be the first hip-hop/fusion fusion. Got that? Heavier than Mahavishnu
and
about the same weight as The Flock with greater jazzbo sensibility
than either
and totally encased in a hip-hop wrapper, this could be the makings
of the next
"next thing."
---David C. Eldredge, Illinois Enertainer music magazine
With musical influences ranging from hip-hop to rock, from Common
to Radiohead,
the Abstract Giants prove their diversity on more than one level.
Any Abstract
Giants track can be appreciated for its layering. Whenever classical
instruments
are combined with rapping emcees, people's ears perk up. Abstract
Giants,
though, demonstrate a true ability to blend these sounds together
successfully……..the Abstract Giants truly dress the
stage with an array of
flavors and spice.
---Amy Owens UW-Madison’s Badger Herald
The eclectic sound they produce ranges from
hip-hop to funk to jazz to Latin to
bossa nova.
---BY MYRNA PETLICKI, Pioneer Press News
I can’t believe how far this band has
come over the past 2 years.
----Fred Brennon, Music Director, Chicago Special Events
On Thursday night at 9 p.m. the Chicago band Abstract Giants will
celebrate the release of their debut album "AGrowculture"
at Metro......If you don't have plans and you A. enjoy good music;
or B. have any interest in the future of hip-hop, rock and pop,
check it out. If you go you can witness a musical revolution.......beneath
the glamour and the glitz of the successes, there is something else
happening in Chicago. It's happening in clubs like Gunther Murphies,HotHouse
and Hog Head McDunnas, where groups of musicians set up and rockout
with live hip-hop. It's a musical movement that is incorporating
the best elements of live instrumentation with the raw energy of
hip-hop. It's vision set forth by bands like The Roots and Stetsasonic,
but that bands like Abstract, Treologic, Small Change, Organic Mind
Unit and Contriband are taking to a new level by developing sound
that is not only fresh, but that
is unique to Chicago. Out of the spotlight, they're creating a "Chicago
Sound" that builds on
Chicago's blues, soul and rock roots. It's a sound that isn't easy
to write
about because its parts aren't equally separated like two-parts
funk and
one-part rap. With any of the bands you're likely to find a rhythm
driven by
salsa or punk; a rhythm that's not tailor-made for the MC, but that
the MC
adapts to and weaves with spitfire lyrics. Or you're likely to see
them
morph, before your eyes, from a hip-hop crew to an atmospheric jam
band. More likely you'll hear all four: punk, salsa, hip-hop, jam
band. It's what hip-hop does. It samples and creates something new.
In this sense these bands are expanding the boundaries of hip-hop.
It's so
far from two turntables and a mike. It is live musicians. As folks
like to
compartmentalize things, in the end this new Chicago Sound may not
even be
considered hip-hop. But make no doubt it is real hip-hop. And if
you doubt that live instrumentation is an ever-important element
of hip-hop -- or if you think that hip-hop isn't about live bands
-- look no further than Kanye West's recent three-night stand at
the House of Blues. Not only did his show incorporate live keys
and guitar, one of its highlights was Miri Ben-Ari, the Israeli-born
violinist who ripped hip-hop classics with a bow. I mean, there
is nothing more hip-hop than violin, right? Actually, if you do
check out Abstract Giants, you'll see another hip-hop
violinist, Jason Vinluan, who, by the way, could rip Ben-Ari. And
you should hear what a hip-hop violin does when it's backed by a
whole band.
----- David Jakubiak, Chicago
Red Streak
Few bands can pull of an eclectic, electric,
adaptable method for music madness the way Chicago-based absTRACT
giANTS can.....The way the Giants balance chaos and order- carefully,
but seemingly effortlessly - might explain some of their success.
Ultimately, weather listeners "get" their band's subtleties
or not, audiences cant help but get into their infectious sound:
electric violin mingling with jazz piano, hints of Calypso percussion
beating behind strong dance rhythms, all brought together on the
turntable to form a base of sound for the silver-tounged MC's..........Listeners
from all kinds of musical backgrounds can get into the Giants.
- - - By Mandy Burrell, Wednesday
Journal
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