For those of you unaware, I go by the name of Sketch tha cataclysm. I'm an MC/producer based out of Waterbury, CT. In addition to my music pursuits, I am a frequent contributor to ok-tho, writing reviews and sharing new music.
As I was about to embark on my Part Of The Problem mini-tour with Vinyl Cape, a doomrap group from both Maine and Connecticut, I thought it would be great to share my behind-the-scenes unglamorous low level indie-rap experience with you folks.
Day 1: Rap Night - Portland, ME
For a long while, I made Portland, ME the first stop on trips. The Rap Night event run by Ill By Instinct is always a cool place to start. It attracts a great crowd, no matter the featured acts, and also a gaggle of talented MCs for the two open ciphers. It gets my head right for what is approaching and always feels like a challenge to really impress the crowd, considering what they see every week. Being that my tour mates (minus our mutual DJ Mo Niklz) are based in Portland, Part Of The Problem begins here.
The first open cipher featured a lot of great cats, some new to me and some old friends. B-boys lit the floor up and got the vibe going nicely. I chose to get in with folks and vibe out a bit. Spit a bit. Some local reporter attempted a short interview after he snapped a few pics. I must admit that I am a bit skeptical of his intentions, so I guess we will just have to see what comes of it.
Shoeless, I hit the stage for the first featured set of the night. Mo Niklz and myself danced through a number of tracks from about four different projects and a newbie. The crowd's reaction was quiet. Haha. But they definitely seemed to dig it with the amount of compliments and merch table conversations post-set.
Here was the setlist:
If
Re-Introductions Aren't Necessary But Fuck It
No Time For A Sad Song
Furor Poeticus
Sleep Deprivation And The Artist
Beware! Witness!
Vinyl Cape hit stage next with a great set that blended tracks from their releases, some new joints, and some selections from their vocalist Brzowski's solo career. C$ Burns rocked shit on his guitar and bass. Mo laced the set with his atmospheric cuts and movie snippets. Really cool. Same kind of reaction from the crowd with the same type of compliments about them to me at the merch table. Its great to rock with these gentlemen.
Second cipher started strong and kind of faded out a bit. A lot of developing MCs in that part of the night. Had a cat named Michael tell me he wanted to have my music in his next parkour video. Yet another thing to check on in the future. Many thanks to Rap Night, everyone that came through, the MCs that rocked, and whomever made that burger that I devoured when we arrived.
We left the venue to indulge in a nightcap at Brzo's and I concluded my evening listening to a podcast on my makeshift bed (a blanket and pillow on a wood floor). Rap Life!
Next. . . we head to Montpelier, VT for a gig at Charlie O's. Should be interesting as we are the entire entertainment for the evening and each have lengthier sets as a result. Many funs. See you guys tomorrow.
Peace and blessings.
As I was about to embark on my Part Of The Problem mini-tour with Vinyl Cape, a doomrap group from both Maine and Connecticut, I thought it would be great to share my behind-the-scenes unglamorous low level indie-rap experience with you folks.
For a long while, I made Portland, ME the first stop on trips. The Rap Night event run by Ill By Instinct is always a cool place to start. It attracts a great crowd, no matter the featured acts, and also a gaggle of talented MCs for the two open ciphers. It gets my head right for what is approaching and always feels like a challenge to really impress the crowd, considering what they see every week. Being that my tour mates (minus our mutual DJ Mo Niklz) are based in Portland, Part Of The Problem begins here.
Shoeless, I hit the stage for the first featured set of the night. Mo Niklz and myself danced through a number of tracks from about four different projects and a newbie. The crowd's reaction was quiet. Haha. But they definitely seemed to dig it with the amount of compliments and merch table conversations post-set.
Here was the setlist:
If
Re-Introductions Aren't Necessary But Fuck It
No Time For A Sad Song
Furor Poeticus
Sleep Deprivation And The Artist
Beware! Witness!
Second cipher started strong and kind of faded out a bit. A lot of developing MCs in that part of the night. Had a cat named Michael tell me he wanted to have my music in his next parkour video. Yet another thing to check on in the future. Many thanks to Rap Night, everyone that came through, the MCs that rocked, and whomever made that burger that I devoured when we arrived.
We left the venue to indulge in a nightcap at Brzo's and I concluded my evening listening to a podcast on my makeshift bed (a blanket and pillow on a wood floor). Rap Life!
Next. . . we head to Montpelier, VT for a gig at Charlie O's. Should be interesting as we are the entire entertainment for the evening and each have lengthier sets as a result. Many funs. See you guys tomorrow.
Peace and blessings.
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