Rapper and rockers find an indie common ground

 by Sam Gavin
 published on Wednesday, March 26, 2008

At first, it seems incongruous for up-and-coming rapper Cadence Weapon and hot indie-rock trio Born Ruffians to co-headline their American tour.

Yet the two acts have more than a shared Canadian nationality in common: they both thrilled a small but appreciative audience at Phoenix's Rhythm Room on March 17.

It's no exaggeration to call Cadence Weapon the best indie rapper on the planet. Backed only by the prodigiously talented DJ Weez-L, 22-year-old Rollie Pemberton stormed the stage with an array from his newest, "Afterparty Babies," and his self-produced classic debut "Breaking Kayfabe."

Highlights included the call-and-response "Real Estate" and scathing hipster takedown "The New Face of Fashion." The appropriately named "House Music" was like a wild rap party at the nu-rave disco, and first-album standout "Oliver Square" had every hand in the building in the air.

The rapper ended the show with a bizarre cover of Weezer's "Pink Triangle" screaming the "I'm dumb / She's a lesbian" chorus/punchline at maximum volume.

Cadence Weapon's set served as the rowdy afterparty to what many in the audience seemed to consider the main event, an absurdly impressive set from baby-faced trio Born Ruffians. Combining the airtight rhythms of Warp labelmates Maxïmo Park with the shaggy sensibilities of bands like Wolf Parade and Deerhunter, the rockers switched melodies and time signatures as deftly as any jazz combo.

Tempe rockers Underwater Getdown began the night with a mesmerizing performance. They didn't get anyone dancing, but from the awestruck faces of still-filing-in show-goers, they definitely blew a few minds.

Also on the bill was well-regarded local indie-pop act Back Ted N-Ted. An apparently reshuffled lineup has dulled the edges of the band's live show, producing a sound like a punkier, less-interesting version of the Album Leaf or Pinback.

— sam.gavin@asu.edu