It was the show of a lifetime, and we all knew it. It isn’t very often that you will see us braving the cold in line outside a club in Dallas, but inside that club one of our newest favorites and two classic acts would be rocking the house. Blockhead, a long time love opened for Black Moth Super Rainbow, an amazing group with a out of this world sound you can’t really hear anywhere else, followed and ended by Aesop Rock, who kinda sucked, but are legends at what they do.

Outside The Loft from The Loft’s Myspace

The Loft in Dallas is apparently run, or at least very closely related The Nokia Live Stage in Grand Prairie. It is attached to The Palladium Ballroom, which has a reputation of hosting great shows, especially if you are into Metal. I have had some issues with Nokia Live, the extremely corporate mega show place, but after a few amazing shows, I have come to like the place. Plus, they always go the extra mile for everything, like making it snow in the lobby. Knowing this really left me up in the air before we left. Could a company used to running large events out of huge buildings be able to capture the es science and everything good about a small club show?

As soon as we made it through the line, we received a wristband, complete with our name on it (which is creepy but also pretty high tech, as long as you are not trying to drink underage. Then it becomes a low tech bull fest). Downstairs they had a cool bar restaurant. I’m guess it is for the husbands and boyfriends forced to come see an act they could care less about. Instead of being bored to death they can stop and get a drink, and watch the game on one of the many TVs. Plus, it is on the way to the bathroom, which provides an escape opportunity.

Upstairs is the main venue, complete with a large center stage with plenty of room on the sides, a expensive as shit Dallas bar, and a balcony with a amazing view of the city. They have a lounge area in the back with large chairs made to seat a few, and a aura of sophistication that even a broke ass stoner geek like me can feel high class in. After we found our way around, we felt at home. Even though the show was a little delayed, we were in an element we could enjoy, something strange for Dallas (we don’t like blow, we are straight, and don’t own cattle).

Blockhead took the stage and played all my favorites. His look was surprising; kind of a football jock rapper style, but he ended up proving that looks can be deceiving. He had a guest DJ, who while necessary to the show, also took away from Blockhead, who I was here to see. Blockhead’s music is very cool, and sometimes being cool can make people sleepy when they have to stand and watch it. His guest added dance beats where needed, and made the show more upbeat. To tell you the truth though, I really wanted to hear Blockhead more, and I was disappointed when the generic club beats covered up my favorite and famous Blockhead rifts.

Black Moth Super Rainbow was completely and underly amazing. Behind the band the drummer played amazing beats, keeping steady throughout complex songs, and driving the band and sound forward. In front, a petite keyboard player who created a beautiful audioscape with effects and rifts that carried you along. Their bassist, a lanky tall guy with a beard, sat atop his amp and played a funky backdrop. Using a Vocoder, they create an amazing experience beyond words. They filled the venue with sound, a sound that you wouldn’t think could come from a small band of dedicated individuals. Simply amazing.

Aesop rock had a spot in my play list back when I used to listen to hip hop almost exclusively. In fact, they had a place up with Atmosphere and Saul Williams, but like most acts like that, once you figure out what they are saying so very quickly, you realize they don’t have much to say, even if they can say it very fast. Of course, I am trivializing the whole thing, but I get tired of that stuff pretty quick. If Aesop had played in front of me a few years ago, it might had been a different story, but I have heard it all, seen it all, and I am just not impressed anymore.

Even with all the recent tragedy in Deep Ellum, and a general feeling that the music scene in Dallas is drying up, we had a great time, and a great show. Perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After all, people in Dallas need their music too, and we demand it in a certain way, a certain experience.

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