Dam Funk, Onra (& Jameson) Gig Pics and Review

I was away last November when I think I missed both Dam Funk (LA) and Onra (Paris) in town. It's rare for me to go for a DJ set as a show these days but both artists have produced some of my favourite tracks of the last bit (like Hood Pass Intact, Galactic Fun from Dam, My Comet, High Hopes from Onra) so be able to see both of them on the same bill was pretty sick. Funny enough, the night was free as sponsored by Jameson Whiskey which I was recently introduced to by an Irishman a few weeks before. My Crown Royal days then seemed possibly numbered thereafter and were all but confirmed as I had my share during this show at the Lamplighter on Mar. 15.

But back to the music: With local talents, Hedspin with his homey Pump from Calgary and Nina Mendoza setting things off in the right fashion as I continued to confirm my last days a Crowner with every sip of the Irish brand, I was so stoked to see both Onra and Dam, not just to hear their sets but also to see how they would expand on it with their live input. Both guys' sound is based a lot on 80s R&B/hip hop so I was also curious to see how their sounds would mesh... (see pics and video below the cut)

Onra went on first with Buddy Sativa on keys. He played a lot of his material from his album Long Distance and it looked as if Onra was playing the beats live on the drum machine with his partner playing the key/synth portions. Overall, though I am a fan of laid back and "lounge" style sets, I was a bit underwhelmed here. It didn't change my love for his original material but as a "performance set," it still left a bit to be desired. I was hoping for more uptempo and improvisation versions in his songs and I don't think that happened (due to my new pal Jameson?). Never the less, I'm on Onra's soundcloud page now and am digging his new material post-Long Distance.

But my man, Dam Funk really set it down as I hoped. The man bringing back/keeping alive/holding down the classic LA bounce sound did not disappoint for numerous reasons. I got to hear some material beyond what I had heard from his releases but simply put, he really showed how good a DJ/producer's set can be by spinning, singing and playing. He started off spinning tracks on the decks but low and behold, he also took to the mic, not to just yell "yo, put yo hands together!" every 45 seconds but he actually sang. There is a vocal version of his track Hood Pass Intact with MC Eiht and some R&B vocalist that I discovered that night to be him!

Beyond the spinning and singing elements, as hoped as well, he picked up his keyboard guitar thing and not only solo'd but took the keys literally to the middle of the floor. This was impressive. You could see the sweat soaking thru his west coast sweat shirt, dude wasn't holding back no punches. He was there to giver, a real performance all the way round.

Anyhow, after the disappointment of seeing the legendary Rakim last fall disappoint heart breakingly hard, this gig helped restore some of my faith in the way hip hop shows can present itself. Thanks, Nina, Hedley, Pump, Onra, Dam & Jam for that.

Hedspin & Pump warm it up on 4 decks