SANTIGOLD + Trouble Andrew + Amanda Blank @ Metropolis

By DJ Solespin - Eclectricity - 06/04/2009

Even though I'm a born and raised Montrealer, I have always had a special place in my heart for Brooklyn, New York.  Memories of travelling to get there for shopping and visiting family are as vivid to me as if they happened yesterday. That said, I identify vicariously with any hip hop song or artist that makes reference to Brooklyn. 

I have missed Santigold's previous Montreal performances and did not want to miss the June 4 show at Metropolis.  In retrospect, I really must not have wanted to miss it because I was at the venue nearly an hour before show time.  The goal was to be there early enough to catch the show and to buy a copy of either Santogold or opening act Amanda Blank's music in the lobby.  To my disappointment and possibly others, the only music available for purchase was other opening act Trouble Andrew. 

I have seen Amanda Blank's name on blogs for months but finally got to hear her music.  Her lyrics were not very audible, but the sexual inneundo and gyrations were loud and clear.  I can well imagine just how graphic the lyrics are when I get around to hearing her recorded material. 

Trouble Andrew performed next with an original and unusual set.  I had not heard of them before, but discovered Santigold recorded a song with them when I visited the booth where their merchandise was sold.  I was hoping they would perform the song live for us, but it did not happen.  The crowd enjoyed Trouble Andrew as did I, in anticipation of Santigold. 

After Trouble Andrew's set, I ran into a former classmate who I had run into previously at another concert.  He said what most have said about Santigold.  He said that her debut was one of the best releases of 2008 and named individual tracks he was anticipating to hear live. 

My former classmate and I were not the only ones eagerly awaiting Santigold's appearance on stage.  The crowd nearly went into a frenzy upon seeing her.  Her attire was reminiscent of late 1980s Golden Era Hip Hop.  It was as if she were bringing the essence of Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shante to the present day or at least paying tribute to them. 

On the subject of songs waiting for to be performed, “Anne” was on the short list of what I burned and yearned to hear.  Amazingly, the live performance was as chilling as the recorded version.  That made me realize how and why she packed Metropolis that night.  “Say Aha” made everyone go wild!  “L.E.S. Artistes” was my introduction to her music and was nice to experience live. 

The song I waited for the most, that made my 2008 Best-Of list, that starts with the four magic words "Brooklyn, We Go Hard" that Jay-Z used to help make more of an anthem is “Shove It”. When I heard the song for the first time, it solidified my interest and respect for Santigold for many reasons.  The production of the song is incredible and the vocal delivery is spellbinding.  Lastly, the first four words of the song have become etched into hip hop history by a not necessarily a hip-hopartist from Brooklyn.

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