Atmosphere - Family Sign Tour - Calgary, AB (05.13.11)
Posted by Bill Wannop on 05.18.2011
Atmosphere brought their Family Sign tour and played to a packed house. Did the the group manage to please those in attendance or was the crowd left smile-less?
Atmosphere is one of the most commercially successful independent hip hop groups of all time. Forming in 1989, composed of rapper Slug and producer Ant, the group has released 16 albums over the years, as well as managed to form their own successful rap label, Rhymesayers Entertainment. While promoting the release of their latest album, The Family Sign the group stopped by Calgary, Alberta, Canada on the Family Sign tour to play to a packed house. Did the Atmosphere manage to please those in attendance or was the crowd left smile-less?
The show consisted of fellow Rhymesayers artists, Sab the artist, Grieves and Budo, Blueprint and was headlined by Atmosphere. The show really took off once Grieves hit the stage. Grieves, although he looks like a young newcomer, really is starting to grow and showed how much of a veteran he already is on stage. He had impeccable stage presence and a good personality as well as his producer Budo was a show unto himself as he moved from playing the keyboard to guitar to the drum machine to match Grieves delivery. This really started the show off well and got everyone in the mood for hip-hop.
Next up was Blueprint who had a different approach then Grieves by performing a much more serious set. Blueprint is an artist and as an artist he takes his work very seriously. Since Print is not only the rapper on his new album but also the producer, he busted out some instruments to support himself while on stage, including the keytar. He played pretty much only tracks off his newest album Adventures in Counter Culture, but once he hit up “Radio-Inactive”, he had the crowd rapping along, and really seemed to hit a note with the audience. However it seemed that Blueprint seemed to be finished right when he started to get going, as he played about 6 songs before he left the stage, which was disappointing as he seemed to be finally hitting his stride when he said his goodbyes.
Next up was Atmosphere, which had Slug to entering the stage to the first track off of the To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy, “Until the Nipples Gone”. This is a great beat which builds as the song moves along, which was the perfect way for Slug to enter the stage. He kept the energy going moving into “Gun’s and Cigarettes” and “God Loves Ugly”, before doing such favorites as “Angelface”, “She’s Enough” as well as “Bird Sings When the Caged I Know”.
The beats were loud and provided by produer Ant, but Slug kept the show moving interacting with the audience between songs and telling his funny stories. The set continued with “Shrapnel”, “God’s Bathroom Floor”, before he got a little series with new tracks “Just For Show”, and “Last To Know”.
Slug worked the crowd the whole night, seeming to have an endless supply of energy and a deep connection to the live audience. The only drawback was that the set seemed to go on a little too long. I would have liked a little shorter more high energy set from Atmosphere which could have given more time to the opening acts Grieves and Blueprint. As well the fact that the show was all ages was somewhat of a drawback (although not the fault of the artists). The beer gardens were outside the actual venue making it impossible to grab a drink while watching the show, as well the beer operators closed down right when Slug hit the stage, making for some awkward moments when Slug told the crowd to fill up your cup or raise your glass. Lastly DJ Abilities was not able to enter Canada and was not at the show.
The 411: The Family Sign tour consisted of members of the Rhymesayers Family and did not disappoint. Grieves & Budo, Blueprint played good (but somewhat short) sets, while Atmosphere set the stage on fire with a great performance. When the only main drawbacks are that the headlining act plays too long, then you know its a good show.
Atmosphere is one of the most commercially successful independent hip hop groups of all time. Forming in 1989, composed of rapper Slug and producer Ant, the group has released 16 albums over the years, as well as managed to form their own successful rap label, Rhymesayers Entertainment. While promoting the release of their latest album, The Family Sign the group stopped by Calgary, Alberta, Canada on the Family Sign tour to play to a packed house. Did the Atmosphere manage to please those in attendance or was the crowd left smile-less?
Next up was Atmosphere, which had Slug to entering the stage to the first track off of the To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy, “Until the Nipples Gone”. This is a great beat which builds as the song moves along, which was the perfect way for Slug to enter the stage. He kept the energy going moving into “Gun’s and Cigarettes” and “God Loves Ugly”, before doing such favorites as “Angelface”, “She’s Enough” as well as “Bird Sings When the Caged I Know”.
