Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (11/25/12)

I've been crushing on the new Macklemore & Ryan Lewis album, The Heist, these past couple weeks.  I'm smitten with his brand of conscious, intelligent rap.  He's an amazing lyricist, and props to Ryan Lewis for upping an already great production game.  This Cleveland show (originally scheduled for the Grog Shop!) was one of the last shows to sell out on his entirely sold-out tour, and thankfully so (giving us time to get tix).  Pretty impressive for an independent artist.

As expected, the audience was young and white. Macklemore even raps about this on his 2009 Language of My World album (which is also great).  We were easily two of maybe 10 people in the sold out show who were over 25.  Most were drunk, loud and the girls were scantily clad.  I have never seen so many mini skirts in one place.  Is there a classification for a skirt shorter than a mini skirt - because that's what these would be.  As amazing of a crowd watching experience as this was, this night was really about Macklemore.

In grand rap fashion, Macklemore took the stage and instantly engaged the fanatic, sold-out crowd.  I thought I would never see a crowd as excited as Matt & Kim's, but this kept pace.  He ran through his hits, dropping Thrift Shop early.  Macklemore pointed out that at every show, at least one person comes wearing a fur coat, so he just has them pass it up to the front and performs in it.  After the song, he even talked about giving these dead animals a second life - as they're being crowd surfed back to their owner.  Here are some clips, including Thrift Shop.

I was particularly intrigued as to how he would approach his second single off The Heist, Same Love, a song about marriage equality for gays & lesbians.  With this kind of audience, I wouldn't have expected the reception they received (maybe that's my older mentality not being current).  Macklemore even gave the song a long intro, giving props to his home state of Washington for passing it.  The whole experience gave me chills.  Check it out.

I was thrilled with this show.  I'm already ready for what's next from these guys.

New Find: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Sure they may have already hit #2 on the Billboard Charts, but I don't really follow those anyway.  I saw a bit of Macklemore back on BET's Backroom freestyle segment and thought he was good.  I also read this piece on The Lefsetz Letter too (on the changing nature of the Music Business, highlighting how Macklemore is doing this independently).  But it really wasn't until this Ellen piece that caught my attention.

But let's step back a bit.  Macklemore has been around for quite a while, but partnering up with Ryan Lewis really set things up for him.  Here's the breakthrough video for Thrift Shop.  Stunning.

This is the video that caught Ellen's attention.

Oh, did I mention he's coming to Cleveland??  <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hlVBg7_08n0?list=UUXYRdIXDdeZIf816EWAr5zQ&amp;hl=en_US" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>  Tickets are almost sold out!

Pot Shop: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Parody

I've been enjoying watching Macklemore's meteoric rise, which is bound to draw some parodies.  Pot shop (a parody on Thrift Shop - obviously) is one of the best… I thought about this as a bonus to a Video Tuesday post, but this was too good to bury.  Macklemore even makes an appearance!

Video Day #tzaupbeat

(catching up…) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis knock out another amazingly weird video for Dance Off.  Digitalism is back with a great album this video for Go Time.  Grimes new video for California is as bright, sunny, diverse, and unique as the state itself.

Caveman are back (and bearded!) with a new video for Never Going Back.

Video Day #tzachill

Neko Case has a new video out for Man to accompany the release of her new boxed set!  Saintseneca animates their Sleeper Hold video.  Remember Mary Lambert (Macklemore’s Same Love)? - well she worked with K.Flay (!) on the new video for the slow burning Ribcage.

Bonus:  I love Jon & Roy.  The video is a little retro and obtuse.

Video Day #tzaholiday

Several holiday videos popped up this year that I thought I would share.   Jose Rouse, a looong time TZA fav just put out his version of a Mediterranean X-Mas.  Clean Bandit is making A Christmas Wish with their video.  I hadn’t heard much from  Macklemore lately, and frankly I’ve moved on, but I figured he’d drop a good Christmas video, and he did.

Bonus.  Someone put out a 4K version of Wham!’s Last Christmas video.  I don’t think it was really necessary, but here it is if you want to relive some cheeseball 80’s realness… in 4K!

Video Tuesday

Still doing a little catching up… I'm sure you've probably seen this Macklemore video by now (and maybe already sick of the song) - but the video for Can't Hold Us is good stuff as you'd expect.  Youth Lagoon's trippy new (and quite lengthy) video for Mute is next.   Finally, another video for Isaac Delusion for Midnight Sun (I loved their last one).

What a bonus this week.  What an amazing video.  Kodaline's All I Want.

Video Day #tzaupbeat

Let’s get this week started on an upbeat note.  This Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song and video for Downtown is good enough to re-watch multiple times (and is now the reason I’m in love with Eric Nally). This Sylvan Esso is not so much a new video - but I missed it the first time around and it made me realize how good these guys are.  Ezra continues to tug at my heart strings with Lousy Connection.

Bonus.  I know everyone is hating on Miley, but I’m kinda enjoying this ride she’s taking us on.  This video is grossly intriguing.