Koncrete Examples - New Westminister, British Columbia, Canada
Location: Barfly, New Westminister
Author: Jeremy Gladstone
Photography: Jeremy Gladstone
As word continues to spread about the lower mainland's hottest unsigned hip-hop group, the Koncrete Examples continue to grow and redefine their show. They've moved well past the local recreation centers and are now full-fledged members of the club circuit. We find them at Barfly night club in New Westminster, in British Columbia, Canada. Apparently, as we find ourselves in line well down the block, we're not the only ones who found Koncrete playing a headlining show -- the line continues to grow down the street.
The bill has Foley Loadid opening, which is good. Not only is he a high energy performer, he's unafraid of being a one man show and going after the crowd. After that Short Change and Gemini, both fairly new artists to the scene, were set to perform. And finally, the Koncrete Examples, in one of their biggest shows to date, to entertain this plethora of people all waiting outside in the cold to get warm inside with some real hip-hop.
As promised, Foley Loadid tore it up through cut after cut. Armed with DJ Illbonik from the Koncrete crew, he got the crowd's attention from the back to the front as he packed the floor. Though it can be tough for any one MC without a full posse and a ton of bling to generate a buzz, Foley Loadid shoots straight. He delivers quick and tricky rhymes that make you listen. Claiming to have written one of the rhymes only minutes before the show, Foley Loadid could freestyle his way out of a Scrabble game with no vowels. He set the night up right for the main act, the way the opener should.
Then disaster struck the dance floor in the form of Short Change and Gemini. Sometimes two people can be so much worse than just one, and the lack of anything interesting to say or new to offer will keep these two out of the limelight for years to come. All of Loadid's hard work and effort riling the crowd was nullified, and they cleared the dance floor almost completely clear.
When Koncrete finally came on around 10:00, it was more of a mixed crowd, leaving it up to themselves to regain the entire audience of Barfly and get the people up out of their seats. Kludge had the privilege to talk with guitarist Rob Razzell and drummer Matt "McGee" Andrews before they went on. They both fully understood the importance of this event in their career and assured us a performance paramount to the last Kludge-covered event. Rob also mentioned their catalog had grown significantly and that we'd be seeing a lot more new material in the set, as well as some covers, but also some possible deletions as well including their underground hit "Examplified," which might be left out of their growing set.
"It'll just depend on if they want more," said Rob with a smile.
As the five piece crew took the stage the crowd re-enveloped the dance floor. Short Change and Gemini were forgotten -- quickly, let's have some fun. Armed with Coronas, K.E. launched into "KRS Said It Best," first showing respect to those of old, and then right into the powerful "When I'm On the Mic." Setting a lyrical fire on stage, MC Tylunol 3 got the bottles waving in the air as the band kept it tight with much more impressive ability than previous shows.
Notably, Matt Brown's bass is becoming more and more enthusiastic, confident and well rounded. Of the five, he has shown improvement in leaps and bounds, now really driving the rhythm that K.E. thrives on. Tylunol 3 has sharpened his tongue as well, confident on stage and ready to battle at any time. Spitting out both the clever and creative, he was simply off the wall. Even at a young age, this MC knows how to work the crowd. He never let them go, never left them hanging' between songs and they responded with cheers, high fives and raised beers. It was a Koncrete performance.
Rob Razzell is in a unique position he must love. There are few guitarists out there playing the style he plays, and even less that have the feel for it. As a result, Razzell can be the main hook of the song, or solo rabidly around cuts by DJ Illbonik -- either way his parts are well defined and well delivered. Illbonik was working hard all night from being on in the first set supporting Foley, to laying thick cuts and deep scratches for his own Koncrete Examples. Taking the right side of the stage, he had it set up like home with his decks spread out and vinyl everywhere. Matt "McGee" Andrews kept the beat flowing all night long. Clearly the sturdy backbone to rely on, Andrews looks the most comfortable on stage, smiling, laughing, but never missing a beat.
Before it was a complete wrap-up, they launched into a cover of “Hey Ladies” by the Beastie Boys and another medley featuring notable old school favorites like “O.P.P.” Having sweat it all out on stage, when Tylunol 3 asked the crowd if they still needed more after exhausting their entire set they still cheered like it was only the end of the second song. Launching into the hit “Examplified,” once again sending the dance floor into frenzy, K.E. finished off the night burying themselves inside a public who would definitely remember their name next time around.
Tighter than the last show? Infinitely. Though they had torn down their equipment immediately after the show, the Koncrete Examples were asked to go on again at one in the morning. Though new material might have been scarce in a second performance, not a person who had seen the show would refuse seeing it a second time. They're so ready for the next level that a club like Barfly is a merely a layover on their flight to success. British Columbia's best kept hip-hop secret won't stay that way for long.
More Koncrete Examples content at Kludge....
Kludge brings you music and politics
Sign up to our Mailing List - Receive monthly updates on our insightful articles, music reviews, monthly streams and mp3s - no spam! no list sales!
Reader's Comments:
Thelma :: 16:52 Friday 11 FebFor Jeremy Gladstone.Is your brother named Bryan?
kirstie :: 03:21 Friday 18 Jungr8 n he iz fine!! wow
Hilum Eleven :: 18:17 Thursday 20 MayLooks like Here Whispered is just that- whispered...
Ragoo :: 19:04 Friday 23 Aprhey boys, i glad you'all is going to the top, no hard feelings, the first show wiil be with me forever. you'all rep poco, and i'll keep it pimpin'
-peace
Ragoo...
Yohhhhh, show was tight. Cant wait till April 16th, when u rock that shit again.. keep reppin from tha pig farm cityyyyy..
name: :: 13:05 Friday 9 Apryo i think you should all die slooooowwwwww
I waz at that show.
Finally some real shizat
nice work boys, poco pride!
Felix :: 16:32 Thursday 8 AprWord up brothas keep rockin that shit