Black Landlord, March 15, The Fillmore at the TLA

POSTED: Sunday, March 16, 2008, 7:15 AM

Filed Under: Music Show

myspace.com/blacklandlord

Black Landlord hit the stage to about 300 people at the TLA 10:30 Saturday night and laid down a heavy set of what I can only call Street Funk. Constant grooves kept the crowd bobbing and dancing.

I'd only known them from the recent Local Support episoide and a little MySpacing.

Two sax players, a percussionist mainly working six or so bongos, plus a dirty rock core including a metal-ish drummer, rocked-out guitarist, a chill bassist holding a solid flow the entire time, a second MC and the Black Landlord himself in his pristine white pimp suit and hat. To start the show.

By the end, the Landlord was sans hat. And jacket. And vest. (Never had a shirt.) Along the way from pimp suit to gut and ass crack, though (I kid!), was a fat set of rap, funk and straight-ahead rock. The saxes kept a staccato-yet-smooth deep, dirty grind on top of the rhythm section, which held a steady pocket and provided the ultimate source of the funk.

I wish I could remember the song titles a little better, but it was really a first listen, as well as first show, so I can't offer much of a real song critique. "Mea Culpa" played out as a fitting open. "Dear God," the apparent single, rocked and wouldn't have even been necessary to consider the set solid. What I believe was "Philly Love Song" was a fit crowd and band crossover. The "No War" song really opened up, and I hope to hear it again.

Those who saw the whole Black Landlord set probably dug it as did the rest of the Grimace Federation crowd that filed in near the end of the set. The whole hour was pretty pumping. Still, I think I speak for more than just myself when I say to the Landlord: Please, next time, try to find a better belt.

I kid!

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