LIVE REVIEWS
Zion I
El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA Contact: nik@ballinpr.com, 323-334-6917 Web: http://zionicrew.com The Players: MC Zumbi; DJ AmpLive, producer. Username: Zion-I
Musicianship: MC Zumbi knows how to tailor his voice and wordplay with cadence, making sure to be constantly audible throughout his DJ’s instrumentals. DJ AmpLive is the ying to Zumbi's yang, completing each other on every song, not missing a beat. Even though MC Zumbi is more vocal than DJ AmpLive, the DJ’s energy from the 1’s and 2’s still gets positive feedback by the crowd when he plays songs like “Buck ‘Em” and the heavy synthesized “Rock On.” Performance: Zion I kept their live show interesting, turning a laid back audience into excited concert attendees. DJ AmpLive opened the set with a 10-minute mix blend of soul, hard knocking hip-hop and hometown
AdAm Seyum
Material: Zion I’s music offers a rich, eclectic mix of live instruments and retro funk samples with socially conscious lyrics that leave followers moving forward with optimism. They walk paths similar to A Tribe Called Quest, Hieroglyphics and Black Star. “Shadowboxing” sonically occupies a jumpy groove with martial arts influences while “Sex Wax,” featuring Collie Buddz, presents a smoother vibe devoted to a range of women. Ultimately, Zion I have commercial appeal in their ability to bridge the gap between early-‘90s nostalgic listeners and today’s mainstream hiphop/rap fans. Zion I: Bridging the gap between early-'90s hip-hop and today's mainstream rap. Bay Area music. Zion I were also accompanied by a hype man and keyboardist (playing from a Yamaha Motif ES6 Workstation) adding variety to their performance. MC Zumbi and his hype man occasionally gave handshakes to audience members; on a different track, their keyboardist came to the forefront of the stage out of nowhere to spit a freestyle, which also wowed the crowd. Zion I have been rapping as a group since 1996. One would think that their stage presence would be much more electrifying and alive. Nonetheless, they still know how to rock a crowd and engage with their fans. After performing over 20 songs ranging from
new to classic material, Zion I and crew ended their set telling the audience to leave in peace. Summary: Oakland, CA’s Zion I are an underground group that continue to remain true to what they believe real hip-hop is with the disinclination to compromise their integrity. They’ve established a cult following through the years, those that enjoy the group's rap/rock/soul infused music. They have seen some commercial light, being featured in a video game as well as a movie soundtrack, but the underground is where these two continue to thrive. ––Adam Seyum
Broken Anchor
The Silverlake Lounge Los Angeles, CA Contact: contact@brokenanchormusic.com Web: http://brokenanchormusic.com The Players: Austin Hartley-Leonard, guitar, vocals; Mike Duffy, drums. Username: Broken Anchor
Musicianship: The power source for Broken Anchor lies in its frontman, Austin HartleyLeonard, a classically trained cellist turned singer-songwriter. Having cut his teeth as part of the band St James Inc, including performances at Lollapalooza and South By Southwest, Broken Anchor represent a further evolution for this remarkably talented musician. Drummer Mike Duffy rounds out the duo. While he does a more than adequate job providing a backbeat for the songs, Hartley-Leonard’s powerful presence leaves Duffy somewhat in the shadows. Performance: The intimate setting of The Silverlake Lounge seemed tailor made for Broken
Corey IrwIn
Material: Weaving deeply personal lyrics with hauntingly catchy melodies, Broken Anchor push the boundaries of what an indie-rock duo can sound like. Imagine Death Cab For Cutie or the Shins with a darker, grittier edge and you’ll start to get the idea. From the lush and dreamy “Dear Diary,” to the rollicking, upbeat “Stencil Heart,” Broken Anchor’s songs have an uncanny ability to resonate long after each listen. Alt rock radio stations would be wise to jump on this bandwagon early, several of these songs seem primed for the airwaves. Broken Anchor: Weaving deeply personal lyrics with hauntingly catchy melodies. Anchor. Hartley-Leonard’s emotive voice resonated throughout the room on stripped-down songs like “Leave The Light On.” The anthemic and vividly descriptive “Always” appeared to have the crowd under some kind of spell, with each person hanging on every word sung. “Say Serenity” acted as a transition of sorts, starting slowly and then building to a soaring, rocking crescendo. By the time they’d reached their closing song, the upbeat, driving “Never Leave Me Alone,” Broken Anchor had taken their audience on a rollercoaster ride of tempos, themes and emotions.
Summary: Having toured extensively on previous musical endeavors, this is a “new” band only by name. Their chops are on par with road weary veterans and those experiences have inevitably added a depth to their songwriting that’s not found in younger up-and-coming bands. Three digital EPs are available for free on the Broken Anchor website. Download them while you can—this is a band on the brink of something special. ––Corey Irwin
GET YOUR ACT REVIEWED: See musicconnection.com/amp. Please DO NOT mail a package; we no longer accept them. 54 February 2013
www.musicconnection.com