The disconnect between the real world and the Internet music bubble is always striking. When I told friends that I was covering Jay-Z’s Friday night Staples Center performance, response came in two forms: “please take me,” or “I work in an office, fuck you.” Meanwhile, half the people whom I dragged to the Brainfeeder Sessions on Sunday night left early when Kode9 lit into an hour-long talk about the connection between sound and warfare. And those were two of the few friends of mine aware that Flying Lotus isn’t a flower able to defy gravity. While it’s tempting to view Brainfeeder and Hyperdub as major stars, they ultimately exist within a fairly minor constellation — at least, domestically.
But for my bag of bubba kush, the experiences weren’t really comparable. Though both took place only a couple blocks and 48 hours apart, the Brainfeeder Sessions was one of the best musical experiences I’ve had in a long time, particularly Kode9’s DJ set where he played 45 minutes of previously unheard Burial material. It was a very special night, one I won’t soon forget. As for Jay, he wasn’t bad. Objectively, he was quite good. He’s a consummate showman, professional, and has great songs for days, but there’s something lost in translation when you’re surrounded by the Ed Hardy and Entourage set, Christina Aguilera, and about a billion flashing commercials and advertisements. Then again, he played “Where I’m From” and “Can I Live?” Plus, this is to be expected from the man whose first words were “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” Links below — pick your poison.
LA Times: Live — Jay-Z at Staples Center
LA Times: Live — The Brainfeeder Sessions
Download:
MP3: Jay – Z – “Where I’m From (Marcy Son)”
