Tonight Seattle based rapper Grieves concluded his Winter and the Wolves tour right here at Pub Rock in Phoenix, Arizona. Grieves has been on this tour in promotion of the new release since it started with a free show in Mesa, Arizona back in April. Check out my review of this show here.
Opening the show was local rapper Mouse Powell from "about three blocks that way" he tells us
pointing behind him. Mouse knows how to make an entrance with the accompaniment of his DJ, beginning the show with a brief crowd pleasing play of "Turn Down for What".
Mouse Powell already has some brownie points with me for sporting a Wavves shirt but relying too much on catchy radio hooks can definitely be a negative in how I receive a performance. However, Mouse quickly won me over diving into his first song. The show starts with a song about love, provoking quite a bit of audience interaction Mouse Powell is already working the crowds energy in his music, demeanor, and excitement.
I like seeing an artist enjoy themselves on stage, but even better was the dynamic between Mouse and his accompanying vocalist. Especially during their performance of what Mouse introduced as a "Love song to someone you hate" during which ensued a vicious battle rap resembling back and forth between Mouse and his now rapping vocalist. Recovering from the harsh tone of this song, Mouse introduces the next track saying "To prove I love women, here's a song about my mom"
All in all Mouse Powell gave what might be the best opening performance I've seen at a hip hop show. He seems to not only defy but even contradict the stereotypical rapper with his child like happiness. By the end of Mouse's set I was not only thoroughly entertained, but it almost felt like I had just made a new friend.
As for Grieves he delivered nothing less than expected. After his last performance in Mesa the rapper certainly did not disappoint bringing the same energy to the last show of this tour as he did to the first. Grieves and his dirty rotten gentlemen return to Pub Rock opening with Rain Damage, the first track off Winter and The Wolves.
Grieves acknowledges the impressive week day turn out commenting "Look at you motherf*****s on a Monday!' going on to say "Aren't you supposed to take care of your kids on Monday and s*** like that?"
Feeding off of the unexpected energy of the Monday night crowd Grieves moves into his song Bloody Poetry, which featured an additional guitar solo from one of Grieve's instrumental performers. The live instruments introduced several exciting moments to the performance. Most notably the aforementioned improvisation.
From Grieves we got the charming laughs and stories similar to his previous performance. Providing ironic introductions to songs such as "Kidding Me" asking the audience "How many of you are in a healthy, loving relationship?" and retorting the following applause with "Well this song is not about that. This song is about loving someone who don't love you back, catching them with another man listening to your D'angelo records!'
Again Grieves delivered a stage show with more pizzazz than your average rapper while maintaining a personal and comical relationship with his audience. As usual there's always an opportunity to get a CD (or four) for cheap, meet Grieves, and have probably the best Monday night of your life at the Grieves show. For those that missed it, keep your ears open for the next Grieves show in AZ as its sure to be another phenomenal performance!
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