So, I went and saw Q-Tip (formerly of A Tribe Called Quest) last night (October 10, 2007)…
I scored the only staff ticket at KUSF (which included a VIP pass!!!) and talked a couple of friends into getting tickets and we met at Little Star Pizza for dinner. The dinner, by the way, was tasty (x3).
We arrived at the club around 8:45 and one of the DJs from a KUSF cultural show called Beatsauce (I can’t remember his name now) was spinning. We found a seat on the side (it was at the Independent) and waited. My friend Ezra felt sick and decided to leave early - bummer for him. It turned out to be a really great show.
The opening act was a local hip-hop dude from Oakland - can’t recall his name off hand - who was a real crowd pleaser. He broke up a fight on the dance floor by stopping the music and telling everyone to take a deep breath. Then he went into a human beat-box bit that left us all speechless.
Q-Tip, however, stole the show. I have to admit that my expectations were quite low. I heard that Q-Tip was doing more mainstream hip-hop these days, but that was not the case. He did more Tribe Called Quest songs that I thought he would and his new stuff did not seem out of place. His band - yes, he had a real band - was hot hot hot. DJ Scratch manned the turntables (and he was mind-blowing amazing. His solo was surreal and a cornucopia of sound), and there was also a pianist, a guitarist and a bass player.
I watched Q-Tip from the VIP area (upstairs) and the guy really put his soul into the show and I left there feeling happy and satisfied.
Now I wish that I had seen A Tribe Called Quest back in the day.
I’m out.