Catch It
Nappy Roots At Honga’s Lotus Petal In Telluride
For all its music accolades and experiences offered, Telluride seems to inexplicably neglect one facet of the music world at large. Oddly enough it is the genre that has had the largest impact on mainstream music in the common era. Hip-hop and the rappers that represent the thriving genre have traveled from coast to coast for decades, sometimes stopping at Front Range hubs, but it’s extremely rare that they bring their beats and bars to 8,750 feet.
For that reason and many more, the revelation that Kentucky’s best ever rap crew The Nappy Roots will be swinging through Telluride for a show at Honga’s is monumental news. Whether it’s the start of a much needed trend, or just a very special one off performance, Skinny DeVille, B. Stille, Ron Clutch, and Fish Scales will be here tomorrow night and that is a reason to get excited.
Finding critical acclaim and mainstream fame in 2002 with their breakout debut Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, the singles “Awnaw” and “Po Folks” have remained timeless hip-hop mainstays in the playlist rotation of any conscious Southern rap connoisseur. The Nappy Roots were not one hit wonders by any means, and their four studio efforts and eight mixtapes since have had chart presence and featured heavy names like Kanye West and Organized Noize on production.
Coming up around the same time that Atlanta’s rap duo Outkast made their mainstream mark, their familiar rapid fire delivery and syllabic drawl over hard hitting soul beats is what DeVille, Stille, Clutch and Scales represented and perfected. The once Grammy nominees have recently returned to their independent roots and dropped a digital release titled Sh!t’s Beautiful this year that is a representative indicator of their continued creativity and staying power within the hip-hop world. If anything their major label departure has brought about some of their more sincere bodies of work yet. Do not miss the country boys this Friday as part of their (name of tour).
The Nappy Roots, Fri., Nov. 16th, Honga’s, Telluride, 8:30 p.m., $25 avd/$30 door hongaslotuspetal.com
The Scrugglers at the Summit in Durango
The Scrugglers will be kicking off a two night billing of local Western Slope bands performing at the Summit. The often musically comedic power trio of Todd Webster, Fishy Lebowski, and Patrick O'Halloran can also throw some some seriously rowdy bluegrass drinking tunes. Finding themselves and their roots in a weekly jam gathering, The Scrugglers have made touring advances with trips to the surrounding states and even a set at the revered Northwest String Summit. Pretty impressive feats for some string guys that have only been at it for two years. They are also billed to play the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown next April, so be sure to get out and check them in this intimate setting while you still can.
The Scrugglers, Fri., Nov. 16th, The Summit, Durango durangosummit.com
The Great Funktier at the Summit in Durango
Night two of the Summit’s local band showcase features Telluride’s The Great Funktier. From the bedroom jam session that started the band, to the packed bar room shows that refined their performance grooves, The Great Funktier’s self-proclaimed mission is to take on the uncharted soundscapes of music guaranteed to get you on on your feet. But they warn you, this is not a place in your music soul that all come away from unscathed. Once their lightly jammed out acoustic island rock hits, you will feel it all the way down to your funky bone. Dancing shoes are mandatory, and this quartet will bring the thumping bass lines and infectious vocals that get the revelry going in Durango on Saturday.
The Great Funktier, Sat., Nov. 17th, The Summit, Durango durangosummit.com
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