Hip hop, Bongos, and...Cyndi Lauper?!?
Welcome to The Runaway and Showtime show.
By Stephanie D.
" Hip hop started out as an anti-violence movement. We need to recognize that", declares The Runaway from the Groove Kitchen's stage on a chilly January night.
Indeed, bearing witness to a hip hop show full of positive, non violent lyrics like the ones featured in The Runaway's songs serves to reinforce my love for the genre.
Nowadays, however, references to substance abuse, weapons, and violence seem to be almost expected in hip hop, if not a prerequisite.
The Runaway is trying to change that, and doing a fine job.
The Milton resident took the stage with musical partner and longtime friend, Kitchener's Showtime, churning out track after infectious track full of uplifting messages free of cursing and degrading lyrics.
With hard hitting beats and sharp ryhming skills often backed by Showtime's jangly acoustic guitar, the duo captivated the audience.
But it doesn't stop there.
This is not your average hip hop show, and that's not solely based on lyrical content.
It's the way that Showtime and the Runaway incorporate an enormous selection of the musical spectrum into their performance.
The Music ranges from a cross between Marvin Gaye's good time soul to quirky vocals reminiscent of Digital Undergound, all the way to stripped down acoustic folk and even a bongo duet.
Not to mention a medley of covers, featuring Showtime playing and singing tongue-in-cheek versions of Cyndi Lauper's "Time after time",Cake's version of "I will survive",and even Britney Spears' breakout smash, "Baby one more time", to name a mere few.
These guys are yet another example of The Groove Kitchen's commitment to feature quality, diverse entertainment at its best.
It's a genre blurring, humor infested show, put on by two dudes who clearly know how to have great time doing what they love, know how to write awesome tunes, and obviously know how to entertain an audience.
But just as interesting as their show was the conversation I had with them immediately following their stage exit.
The Runaway and Showtime have plenty to say. And they want you to hear it.
Stephanie D: There's a line in the track " Good times" that goes 'Y'all are getting' tired of what the radio's pumpin', so me and my fellas gonna hit you with something. What does that mean to you? What is the something?
The Runaway: It's the soul, the spirit. The something is going to be different for everybody, so I don't want to fully define it, but it's like me bringing me. It's about brining individuality.
SD: There is so much independent music in Canada. Do you listen to it and is it important to you?
TR: Absolutely. And I've been thinking about this a lot in 2008. I'm thinking about making more choices towards the independent artists. Hip hop producers do a lot of, like, digging in crates to find records to sample.That's the way the culture grew. I want to dig for indie artists. I'm hoping that the next time I release a record, it will have a wider variety of Canadian talent on it.
SD: In an age of talentless, lip synching products, do you find it difficult to prevail as a real, honest musician?
TR: Honestly? I don't even think of it. It doesn't bother me anymore. it used to, but I don't think it's worth my mental energy. I would rather give my time to the artists that I respect. It would be easy as a 26 year old to get bitter. I don't want to be. That's not healthy.
SD: What was the main focus of your album, 'A brief word'?
TR: One of the biggest focuses was to not be the person who says that hip hop sucks and it's not positive anymore. I've heard those songs. I've heard the " I'm broke songs", everyone has. I want to take the next step.
SD: You certainly seem to be taking the next step already. During your set, you involved the audience in every single song. Would it be accurate to say that thye are as important to you as the music is>
TR: I think that there's something about the live experience, when a performer is really good at getting the crowd involved.To me, it's a symbol of the community basis of hip hop. That,and it would be boring to see someone rap At you for 45 minutes, especially if you're not familiar with the art form. I play to more non hip hop audiences than I do to hip hop audiences, so this is the best way to get them into it. They can take a piece of it.
Showtime: There's no point to performing without an audience, so it makes a lot of sense to me personally to involve them. Especially with something like this that's so easy to get with. It's not like we're playing crazy, out-there stuff that you can't find a rythm to. Anybody can clap, bounce, two-step.
SD: You guys clearly love what you do. has there ever been a time when you felt like giving up?
TR: There are points when I go; "Oh man, I'm not good enough, I'm not as good as this MC", but then I go to a show and the fire gets lit again.
Showtime: I've been playing in bands since I was 18. Now I"m 28, and have a "real" job. Sometimes it's like; "Well, I'm kind of where I was ten years ago. Is this really worth pursuing?". But at the end of the day, yeah, when you go to a show and see someone you love, it lights a fire under you, and you go, " Man, I want to be up there." There's a certain emotional attachment that'll never go away. I can always see myself performing.
Considering the show I was lucky enough to see, it's not hard to imagine Showtime and The Runaway entertaining crowds for many years to come.Here's hoping!
www.myspacw.com/therunawayjc
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On February 16th, Chicago bred blues legend Douglas Watson set winter hearts ablaze at The Groove Kitchen and Music Room.
With his band, the R&B revue, ably backing him up, Mr. Watson stunned the crowd with a rip-roaring set of classic rythm and blues songs, inspiring the whole place to cheer, bop our heads, and tap our toes.