Considering that he thrives in paranoia-soaked lyrics, Aesop Rock's live performance felt surprisingly comfortable. He evaded the biting urgency of a Sage Francis or a GZA as he delivered his verbose rhymes with a laid back lope across the stage and frequently distributed high fives. He didn't remind us who he was every ten minutes, nor did he rely on excessive call and response with the audience. Aesop Rock had not come to start a revolution or to throw a party that burned the place down. He didn't need to. Armed with a fresh batch of new tracks, Aesop Rock's taut flow coupled with DJ Big Wiz's dance-inducing beats served as a reminder as to just why he is one of the biggest names in underground hip-hop. more ›

>> Should you expect crappy service at the Black Cat tonight, when they're advertising a party celebrating their 14th anniversary tonight as an event where staffers "will be hanging out?" Maybe. But it's a free night of noisy rock bands, and you know the guys and gals who pour your drinks night in and night out deserve some appreciation. Backstage, 8 p.m. >> Def Jux artist Aesop Rock has been redefining hip-hop since the... more ›