Astronautalis, Sims, Mr. Invisible

The Milestone

March 8, 2011

The Deal: Since I first discovered Astronautalis a few years back, he has been in regular rotation within my music collection and equally a part of my heart. So, when he comes into town, you better believe that I know as soon as he is booked and make plans for the night to have an emotional whirlwind of world rocking. Combined with one of Charlotte's best hip-hop groups and touring with a full band (instead of just his laptop) and Sims of the Doomtree Collective, I knew this time at the Milestone would be dope as hell.

The Good: Instead of Mr. Invisible straight opening up the night, their DJ, Marley, took the stage and performed a small set of his own. Spinning records and scratching over beats while singing light and trancy, almost in the style of Thom Yorke, he kept the mood relaxed and entranced. His beats were in the style of lounge and hip-hop and his scratching was impressive, an instrument of its own. It was a pleasant surprise that got heads nodding and in gear for the sickness to come.

Mr. Invisible jumped right in and as always, never fails to grab everybody's attention and get their bodies rocking. It would be impossible to describe how much talent projects from them. Slinging their bodies back and forth naturally to their beats, Blake and Justin spit rhymes with such precision; they could make the illest MCs look like amateurs. Paired with Marley scratching and executing beats, they brought the crowd to an all-out hype. The room was packed, heads bouncing and hips grooving, rightfully so. And then, Justin broke out his Maschine (equipment made by Native Instruments) and began killing it, with speed so on point that you wonder how it is even possible for someone to question the complexity of electronic music. All in all, Mr. Invisible always puts on a sick-ass show, especially with a crowd of fans that know how to get live.

Sims was up next and I was uber-stoked that I was finally going to be able to see him. As it was his first time in Charlotte, he complimented the Milestone for its eclectic awesomeness and got going with some ill rhymes. He, and the Doomtree Collective in general, has a pretty strong following that was demonstrated to us throughout his set with people jumping up and down and mouthing and screaming all of his lyrics. It would normally, in my opinion, be intimidating for another hip-hop artist to follow an act like Mr. Invisible but Sims carries his own unique sickness and wasn't going to neglect to show us. Traveling back and forth into the audience and on stage, he excited the crowd and got them participating in the music, getting down and enjoying the present. It certainly was a pleasure to finally experience his music live.

Then it was time for what we were all awaiting… Astronautalis. I can only attempt to describe the beauty that radiates from one of his sets. One can only be impressed by the passion Andy exerts as he performs and with a full band, the intensity is certainly raised a couple notches. Not to mention, songs that we have yet to hear live are now possible and are just as fantastically executed as if they were a regular occurrence. I seldom get so wrapped up in a performance that I have a physical emotional response but as they played “X-Mas in July” my eyes welded up tears as the words came flowing from my mouth. However, Andy lightened the mood in between the more emotional numbers with praise for the Milestone, joking about how they poured whiskey the right way, which successively led to shots being bought and carried to the stage.

Throughout the entire set the entire band, but more particularly, Andy was ardently provoked by the music displaying the energy of woodland creature that got a hold of fun tip, vibrating and stomping to the beats while tugging on his shirt for accentuation and belting out rhymes and tunes. On top of the written material fulfilled, Astronautalis is also known for killer freestyles that bewilder you in admiration. He takes suggestions from the audience and executes a flawless impromptu song entirely exercising his way with words. With the room packed and everyone in love with the moment, an encore was granted to us all of two songs and another freestyle, ending the night with us all astonished.

The Bad: Apart from a traumatic incident, nothing could have ever made this night bad and since no dire situation was placed upon us, it was stellar.

The Verdict: If you have yet to see or hear Mr. Invisible, Sims or Astronautalis and can get down on some hip-hop, I have to say you are certainly missing out. They are all exceedingly worth your listening and viewing time. Mr. Invisible is local gold, if you don't believe me check out one of their YouTube videos and let their skills make your eyes widen. I really hope Sims liked Charlotte enough to come back around (the Milestone was packed and it was a great show, so I wouldn't doubt it). Maybe he will even come back around this tour with Astronautalis (please,please,please). As far as Astronautalis goes, he seems to have a soft spot in his heart for the Milestone so I can almost guarantee he will be back. Keep your eyes peeled for another show because it really is a miraculous experience that you shouldn't put on the back burner.