[RH Photos] Disclosure and Vic Mensa in Austin (1/31/14)
Last Friday, the UK producer/DJ duo Disclosure took over Stubbs' outside venue to a a sold-out crowd. You couldn't ask for a better night for an outside concert. As soon as I walked in, Samo Sound Boy was already halfway trough his set, getting the crowd ready for SaveMoney's Vic Mensa. The rapper joined Disclosure on a handful of tour dates, with Austin being his last stop of the tour. Producer/DJ Stefan Ponce kept the crowd going before Vic stormed the stage, performing a set filled with songs from his latest project, INNANETAPE. Fans in the front row sang back lyrics to Vic as he moved around the whole stage. A short break to get things ready for Disclosure to hit the stage. ONce they did the crowd went wild. The duo went through many of their more popular songs from their last critically-acclaimed project, Settle. Austin loved Disclosure and did not want them to stop playing. Below are some shots I took of the show.
[RH Photos] Sundance Film Festival 2014
[Ruby Hornet will be at Sundance Film Festival 2014 providing coverage of the festival's 30th year. Keep it tuned to Ruby Hornet this week as we share reviews, interviews, photos, and more at one of the country's largest film festivals.]
As one of the largest film festivals in North America, Sundance carries a sense of respect and legacy with its name. Beyond the amazing films screening during its duration, the town in which it's set, Park City, UT, becomes just as important as the films themselves. Considering it was our first time at both Sundance and Park City, Virgil and I took in as many sights as we could during our week-long stay. We lucked out, too, as a few select Olympics qualifying rounds took place the weekend we were there.
Check out some of Virgil's amazing photos from Sundance Film Festival 2014 below!
[RH Photos] King Krule in Chicago (12/11/2013)
Photography by Nolis
On a blistering cold Wednesday night on the North Side of Chicago, everything I thought I knew about British indie artist King Krule was blown away. The 19-year-old artist, formerly known as Zoo Kid, took the stage in front of a sold out Lincoln Hall crowd that seemed to be almost frothing at the mouth for him to play just a note. Cat calls from women likely twice his age rained down on him as the young artist sang with his deep baritone voice, resolute and certain in a way that permeated inner confidence. It felt like a small miracle every time he opened his mouth that Krule could produce such a powerful voice from such a slight package.
King Krule has the most intense, radiating crop of red hair I have ever seen. As if showing it off, the lights continually strayed from the artist's face, masking it in shadows as his hair became highlighted, almost illuminated by the cascading, colorful lighting. Introducing his first song, Krule simply said, "This is a song about me." For his next song: "This is a song about living under a sea." And another was introduced by simply saying, "This song is about reptiles," before tearing into a library of songs that ranged from blues-y stories of loss and disappointment to uptempo surf/punk jams that seemed to leave the crowd wondering where the kid who made the self-titled, ambient electro-influenced project earlier this year went. Confused, but interested, the crowd gravitated to Krule, reacting to every pluck of the string and nasally-deep melody. From the get-go, the crowd was Krule's.
The thing I noticed almost immediately during my first King Krule show was that he seems to cover every genre. Not musically, per se, but from the punkish-intonations in his voice, the hip-hop influenced way he grips the mic when not on guitar, to the frenetic foot and head movement that makes him look like he's at a SBTRKT set at Bonaroo. At 19, Krule appeared more self-assured and confident than men three times his age, forgoing petty chit-chat between songs to dive headlong into each arrangement, his deliberate movements and passionate intensity keeping the crowd nearly silent, save for applause.
King Krule's star has risen exponentially throughout 2013, and he's poised to rise even higher in the coming year. If his set at Lincoln Hall Wednesday was any indication, though, we'll be seeing (and hearing) a lot from King Krule for a long time to come.
[RH Photos] Vic Mensa: "Live on the Innanet" in Chicago (12/7/14)
Photography by Nolis
This past Saturday, Vic Mensa took over Reggie;s Rock House for his first solo headlining show since breaking up with Kids These Days earlier this year and dropping his solo project, Innanetape, in late September. The buzz Mensa has garnered since releasing the project was palpable, with tickets selling out a week in advance for the tightly-packed affair. Fellow Chicago acts Jean Deaux and The Hood Internet opened things up, appropriately getting the crowd going with a mix of genres that mirrored the kind of frenetically changing and eclectic backdrops Mensa utilizes throughout Innanetape.
Performing with a full band, Mensa seemed right in his element on Reggie's stage. Seeing him onstage with a piano to his right and a drummer to his right, it was hard not to think back to the days of KTD, still fresh in many fans minds as listeners shouted "Vic These Days" over the crowd. Aided by inspired back up vocals from Chicago soulstresses Lili K and Eryn Allen Kane, Mensa overcame some early technical difficulties, commanding the stage professionally, working all sides and hitting almost every note of his fiery delivery, a nod to the endless rehearsal hours and past performances the artist has under his belt.
On "Time Is Money" Mensa flexed, bringing out Maybach Music Group signee Rockie Fresh to do his verse, accented well by an extended bridge played by producer Cam Osteen on the keys and Omar Jahwar on drums. it was fitting call to an artist that helped pave the way for Vic and the rest of Chicago hip-hop, as well as a solid anchor for his other special guest, Save Money artist Joey Purp who spit a chillingly inspired verse from "Fear & Doubt" that invigorated the crowd instantly.
Taking things down for "That Nigga," Vic was most self-assuredly himself, fully throwing himself into every word and rhyme as he recited the words to the song that essentially documented the past few years for an artist that has overcome plenty to arrive at his first solo headlining show in Chicago. Exiting stage left after the track, Mensa came back for an encore of crowd favorite "Orange Soda" and KTD throwback "Don't Harsh My Mellow" that left the young crowd in a frenzy.
While Mensa's show certainly is still rough around the edges, it is head and shoulders above what is seen from most acts, hip-hop or otherwise, with an energy that seems to never end. Most issues were due to sound problems at the venue, and Mensa paid little attention, rhyming through it all while proving to his hometown why seemingly everyone in the country has had him on their lips lately. Along with fellow Save Money artist Chance The Rapper, Mensa is quickly cementing his place at the top of Chicago hip-hop, and Saturday was yet another example of that.
[RH Photos] ShowYouSuck: "Dude Bro" Album Release @ The Hideout in Chicago (11/26/13)
Photos by Virgil Solis
Last Thursday, ShowYouSuck celebrated the release of his official debut EP, Dude Bro, at The Hideout in Chicago. Featuring a new show format and new songs, the next stage for the rapper's career has finally been set. I hope you guys are a fan of polka dots, because I get the feeling you'll be seeing a lot of them in the future. For now, check out our photos from ShowYouSuck's "The Dude Bro Show" below.
[RH Photos] Fun Fun Fun Fest 2013
Yesterday, we released our recap of this weekend's Fun Fun Fun Fest that took place in Austin,TX at Auditorium Shores. Today, we bring you all of our photo coverage of this weekend's festivities. Grab something to snack on or drink and enjoy.
Photography by Virgil Solis & Ra Ra Photography
* Due to a new FFF Fest rule we were not able to shoot headliners.
Fun Fun Fun Fest 2013 Recap
Fun Fun Fun Fest 2013 took place over the weekend along the shores of Ladybird Lake in Austin, Texas. A fully-packed affair featuring everything from music to comedy and action sports over three days, and the latest installment of FFF lived up to its name once again. Fun Fun Fun is easily one of the most unique festivals in the country with its off-kilter lineup of artists, both big names and emerging acts, as the weekend provided plenty to stay entertained with.
[RH Interview] The Tontons at Fun Fun Fun Fest
Photography by Niraj Mehdiratta
Bands, in large part, reflect the scenes from which they come. This sentiment rings true for indie band The Tontons, who helped to open this weekend's Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas with a pair of sets opening for Kurt Vile on Thursday night and another on Friday, as well as dropping their new video "Veida" on the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog. The trip to Texas' capital for the 8th annual music, comedy and action sports fest wasn't a long one for the four-piece act from Houston, although it was the first time playing the three day end to festival season.
Together for nearly eight years now, The Tontons are indicative of a slow-moving yet supportive Houston music scene where dues are paid before garnering the city's full support. To hear Asli and the gang describe it, breaking through to the next level in their hometown is a little different than other places in the country. The Tontons, a hodgepodge of styles, interests and musical abilities, are hard to put a finger on, precisely, but that's how they like it. Their music could most closely be described as indie pop, but they have a co-sign from Houston hip-hop legend Bun B, who introduces them at shows and they're toying with the idea of adding some metal components to some songs after hanging around FFF's Black stage Saturday.
Things are really coming together for The Tontons as they prepare to release their next album in the spring and ready for a wild 2014. Having been around for awhile and earned their stripes in their hometown though, they are ready to make things happen on their own terms. I had a chance to catch the group backstage at Fun Fun Fun and sat down for a quick chat, read what they had to say about playing the festival for the first time, being different and drinking too much Red Bull.