Plan B, The B Team & Beans - New York Hiro Ballroom - 21/6/07
4/5
By: Joshua K
One can only imagine how the world must look through the eyes of Ben Drew, a.k.a. young rap wunderkind Plan B, as he hit New York City late last month...
Straight outta East London and into the city's over-hyped club wonderland in the Meatpacking District he came, to perform a special late night showcase. In a Japanese-themed bar. Under a disco ball. To a mixed crowd of industry playas, indie hipsters, and hip-hop heads. Thankfully, Rockfeedback is <i>all three</i>, so we fit right in, la. And, impressively, so did Plan B, looking past the odd environs to wow the crowd for 45 fierce minutes.
Making the gig special was the presence of The B-Team, his full four-man live band (bass, drums, electric guitar and turntables). A talented crew, they provided the perfect organic soundscapes for his gritty tales, offering exciting point and counterpoint to Drew's trademark acoustic guitar-picking as they covered a full range of styles, from Rage Against The Machine stutter rawk, to hard country, to laconic reggae rhythms.
But you don't want to hear muso-wank phrases like "organic soundscapes," now do you? Nope. All you care about: did Plan B rock the m-i-c?
With highlights including everything you'd expect - a gritty 'Kidz' and 'No More Eatin'; a sweetly sung 'Charmaine'; a claustrophobic set-closing run through 'No Good' that exploded into a hardcore drum and bass jam - and some things you wouldn't - a pogo-happy semi-cover of Blur's 'Song 2' - the answer is clear. Hells yeah he did!
Opening the show was New York rapper Beans, a one-time member of hip-hop crew Antipop Consortium, whose last LP was 2003's 'Tomorrow Right Now' on Warp. Fresh from the studio, he previewed his forthcoming new album. Based on tonight's showing, it promises old skool, KRS-One style delivery over jittery electro beats... a tasty combo to look out for later this year.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment