Kingspade deals heartfelt hip-hop at Knotty Pine

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

By Aaron Davis

A career in the music business is tough to sustain, but being able to engage in creative works with your best friend eases a lot of the worry.
Kingspade consists of two friends, D-Loc and Johnny Richter, who for over 20 years have been creating music they want to listen to. They take the stage at 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Knotty Pine in Victor, Idaho. Tickets are $15 at the door. DJ Bobby B will join Kingspade as well as hip-hop acts Subnoize Souljaz, Potluck and Boondocks.
 D-Loc and Richter are better known as frontmen for the indie rap group The Kottonmouth Kings of Placentia, Calif., which formed back in 1994 and has enjoyed considerable underground success without the help of a major label.

Where the Kottonmouth Kings play psychedelic hip-hop and punk rock, D-Loc and Richter’s side project, Kingspade, is more straight ahead. Rather than focusing on the legalization of cannabis and rebelling against political America, the duo’s efforts are redirected at making music that is more personal.

“This project is all about branching out and having fun,” Richter said. “As a kid I, grew up hustling, but you end up dead or in jail. The point is to not envy others, but playing it straight-laced and making things better for yourself. We’re stoked that other people are relating to it and are stoked on it, too. That’s what its all about.”

Kingspade’s new album, “P.T.B” (2007/Suburban Noize), takes its name from the duo’s high school and college basketball squad, the P-Town Ballers. Their self-titled debut disc was fueled by party-anthems like “Drunk in the Club,” but “P.T.B” is more emotional, digging into subjects currently facing suburban culture. “Brotha Brotha” tackles drunk driving, and “Follow the Leader” lashes out at the Bush administration for making war in the world.

 “Me and Loc will get together, come up with an idea and elaborate from there,” Richter said of their songwriting process. “I don’t do much on the production side of things, but the music always comes first. It almost defeats the purpose to write lyrics without the beats – the beats and melodies speak to me, and I commit to the beat.”

Kingspade’s stop at the Knotty Pine is part of a five-week tour spanning the States, from the Rockies to Florida and up to New England. The supporting acts are also on the Suburban Noize label.

 “This is going to be a great show,” said Richter. “If you don’t come out, you’ll be hearing about it from your friends the next day.”
Contact the Knotty Pine at (208) 787-2866.

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The Jackson Hole Chorale and the Jackson Hole Symphony make their debut in the new Center for the Arts Theater, 265 S. Cache, when they present their annual spring concert, “From Bach to Broadway,” at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is free to the public, though donations will be accepted at the door.
The first part of the program will feature J.S. Bach’s “Magnificat” in its entirety presented by the symphony and chorale. For his first Christmas season in Leipzig, Bach (1685-1750) composed this cantata for the holiday. Later, he revised the piece to make it more suitable for other times of the year. Unlike his previous cantatas, the Latin “Magnificat” is laid out in five chorale movements rather than four.

The work features solos for tenor, bass, soprano and alto, a duet for alto and tenor, and a trio for two sopranos and an alto. Members of the chorale will sing all solo parts.

The second half of the afternoon concert will feature popular Broadway hits of the 1940s, such as “They Call the Wind Maria” from “Paint Your Wagon” and “The Music of the Night” from the “Phantom of the Opera.” Rich Viola will be featured on “Old Man River,” from “Showboat,” and other soloists and small ensembles will enjoy some limelight, too. Al Young directs, while Laura Huckin accompanies the chorale on the piano.

The JH Chorale was established over 25 years ago and performs two concerts a year and is also involved in community events throughout the year. For more information about the concert or how you can get involved with the friendly, easy-going chorale, call 734-9048.



Courtesy Photo - Kingspade plays at 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Knotty Pine in Victor.

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Kingspade deals heartfelt hip-hop at Knotty Pine | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

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