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Mark Ronson's Allido showcase (Wale) @ SOB's, NYC - pics

photos by Faith-Ann Young

Wale

There were models at SOB’s on [last] Tuesday [October 21, 2008] night. Or, at least, reasonable facsimiles thereof.

They might have been there for the aggregated talent from Washington, D.C., who headlined this showcase of artists on Allido Records. More likely, they were there for the label’s co-founder Mark Ronson: onetime celebrity DJ, resurrector of vintage soul via his work with Amy Winehouse and others, and, it should be said, sometime squirer of models.

But if Mr. Ronson likes Wale, the rapper known best for his Seinfeld-themed mixtape “The Mictape About Nothing,” then why couldn’t they? To help plead his case, Wale enlisted the services of the go-go band U.C.B., likely one of the most proficient groups to be playing this festival, even if they weren’t technically on the bill. Go-go music makes fantastic use of space in its rhythms, and when Wale gave in to the band’s impeccable playing, as he did on “Nike Boots,” he seemed at ease. But sometimes, he clustered his syllables together as if he were trying to out-percuss the percussion, making songs like “Back In The Go-Go” feel cluttered. [NY Times]

Faith adds,

Rhymefest kicked off his set….beasting out jams…He brought along with him suprise guest Rahzel (formerly of the Roots) mid set…Got the crowd perfectly rowdy…….especially when he ended with an Obama pitch : ‘When I say O, you say BAMA’ …..Next up, heavily hyped Brits, The Rumble Strips, took the stage with gleeful pop rock….(think Albert Hammond Jr. meets The Kooks…..) Got the killer hook-heavy jingle, Girls and Boys in Love, but also knocked out a sizzling cover of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black. Pretty damn cute. Aussie soul singer Daniel Merriweather brought major cred to the stage with the Dap Kings backing him…. Ronson played guitar at the end of his set….

Wale ended the set waxing lyrical to go-go influenced beats. He brought with him a heavy artillery of beatboxers, DC-based rappers, and friends- most of whom sported thick shades……In fact, most of the time, he relinquished the mic to his friends……as well as Daniel Merriweather who came back on stage for a rendition of ‘Stop Me,’ the hit from Ronson’s solo album…………Overall, Wale makes DC proud- a veritable talent….bringing home-grown DC music to more mainstream…. Was a jam packed night of talent.Ronson deserves a pat on his back..”

More pictures from last week’s CMJ showcase below…

Rhymefest…

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Rhymefest

The Rumble Strips…

The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips

Daniel Merriweather…

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Merriweather

Wale…

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale

Wale