Vine St.

It’s rare to see a hip-hop show at Plush, especially one where the crowd is into what's going on. However, local hip hop/jazz rock act Vine St. stepped up to the challenge Jan. 15 and succeeded in getting a crowd of nearly 100 people into a groove frenzy that has not been seen at the venue in recent times.

As a band, Vine St. encompasses a melodic sound comparable to early Funkadelic, mixed with an MC that gives underground rapper Atmosphere a run for his money. Lyrically, the songs range from socially conscious observations to party music that could fuel a raging keg party.

MC Justin Gordon, aka G-Ari, spits flows that both make the listener think about what is being said and simply enjoy the show. The baritone-voiced MC delivers his lyrics in a laid-back style, commenting on the state of hip-hop with lines such as "Now the only thing we have is cookie cutter MCs/that hop up on the track/and talk about their cheese" ("Sick With The Bars").

Backed by Dave Romero on lead guitar, Randy Lopez on rhythm guitar, Clay Desmond on bass and Adam Levine on drums, the group forms together like the robot from 1980s Japanimation cartoon "Voltron" to create an original sound. Vine St. is a refreshing alterative to the cheesy metal rap-rock that is played in between commercial breaks at sporting events. There are not jock jam anthems anywhere in Vine St.'s set.

When Vine St. took the stage, G-Ari did his own beat-box rendition of “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing To F-Wit,” channeling beat-box master Rahzel from The Roots. Soon after, the whole group joined in with a groove so funky that the crowd couldn’t help but rush the stage and dance. By its third song, Vine St. began pulling fans from the crowd to join in the funk-laden rhythms.

Talking to G-Ari after the show, the MC attributed the group’s sound to such acts like Atmosphere and OutKast and underground hip-hop in general while staying true to playing with a full band that actually knows how to groove in the pocket.

Formed in 2007, Vine St. has progressed from being a garage band with an affliction for experimenting with hip-hop and jazz into a group that could easily break free from Tucson’s music scene and make a name for itself nationally.

The fun didn’t begin with the headliners. Newcomers Sticky Legs and the Sipps opened the show and, while an experimental folk-rock group normally would not be the first choice to warm up a crowd expecting to see hip-hop, somehow it worked. An experienced listener could tell that Sticky Legs and The Sipps are heavily influenced by Modest Mouse and Bob Dylan circa "Highway 61," though the group does remain true to a sound of its own. Energetic frontman and rhythm guitarist Matt Molina performs like a soul singer who feels the music and wants the crowd to take part in his message.

Also playing was local hip-hop sensation Parable Paul, accompanied by Denton, Texas, rapper Push. On first glance, Parable Paul's appearance—essentially, scruffy white boy—doesn't prepare you for what follows. He assaults the ears with a barrage of lyrical talent backed by beats that sound like East Coast legends “A Tribe Called Quest” when they released “Midnight Marauders." The sound was straight from the early 1990s, making me long for the days when hip-hop was about what a lyricist said, not his/her image.

This was one of the best-matched lineups I’ve seen in quite some time, truly something that those who were there will be talking about for awhile. If you get a chance to see any of these acts in the near future, do it. - Tucson Citizen

It’s rare to see a hip-hop show at Plush, especially one where the crowd is into what's going on. However, local hip hop/jazz rock act Vine St. stepped up to the challenge Jan. 15 and succeeded in getting a crowd of nearly 100 people into a groove frenzy that has not been seen at the venue in recent times.

As a band, Vine St. encompasses a melodic sound comparable to early Funkadelic, mixed with an MC that gives underground rapper Atmosphere a run for his money. Lyrically, the songs range from socially conscious observations to party music that could fuel a raging keg party.

MC Justin Gordon, aka G-Ari, spits flows that both make the listener think about what is being said and simply enjoy the show. The baritone-voiced MC delivers his lyrics in a laid-back style, commenting on the state of hip-hop with lines such as "Now the only thing we have is cookie cutter MCs/that hop up on the track/and talk about their cheese" ("Sick With The Bars").

Backed by Dave Romero on lead guitar, Randy Lopez on rhythm guitar, Clay Desmond on bass and Adam Levine on drums, the group forms together like the robot from 1980s Japanimation cartoon "Voltron" to create an original sound. Vine St. is a refreshing alterative to the cheesy metal rap-rock that is played in between commercial breaks at sporting events. There are not jock jam anthems anywhere in Vine St.'s set.

When Vine St. took the stage, G-Ari did his own beat-box rendition of “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing To F-Wit,” channeling beat-box master Rahzel from The Roots. Soon after, the whole group joined in with a groove so funky that the crowd couldn’t help but rush the stage and dance. By its third song, Vine St. began pulling fans from the crowd to join in the funk-laden rhythms.

Talking to G-Ari after the show, the MC attributed the group’s sound to such acts like Atmosphere and OutKast and underground hip-hop in general while staying true to playing with a full band that actually knows how to groove in the pocket.

Formed in 2007, Vine St. has progressed from being a garage band with an affliction for experimenting with hip-hop and jazz into a group that could easily break free from Tucson’s music scene and make a name for itself nationally.

The fun didn’t begin with the headliners. Newcomers Sticky Legs and the Sipps opened the show and, while an experimental folk-rock group normally would not be the first choice to warm up a crowd expecting to see hip-hop, somehow it worked. An experienced listener could tell that Sticky Legs and The Sipps are heavily influenced by Modest Mouse and Bob Dylan circa "Highway 61," though the group does remain true to a sound of its own. Energetic frontman and rhythm guitarist Matt Molina performs like a soul singer who feels the music and wants the crowd to take part in his message.

Also playing was local hip-hop sensation Parable Paul, accompanied by Denton, Texas, rapper Push. On first glance, Parable Paul's appearance—essentially, scruffy white boy—doesn't prepare you for what follows. He assaults the ears with a barrage of lyrical talent backed by beats that sound like East Coast legends “A Tribe Called Quest” when they released “Midnight Marauders." The sound was straight from the early 1990s, making me long for the days when hip-hop was about what a lyricist said, not his/her image.

This was one of the best-matched lineups I’ve seen in quite some time, truly something that those who were there will be talking about for awhile. If you get a chance to see any of these acts in the near future, do it. - Tucson Citizen