Three weeks after the Paradise Rock Club reopened following its summer hiatus, Blue Scholars performed on its freshly erected stage. The duo, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, brought their brand of West Cost beats, along with their West Coast-style fans, for a night of astute and introspective hip-hop.
An early crowd favorite, "Blue School," from their debut album Blue Scholars, reads like a theme song for the band: "It's the blue school, class is in session/Ask us a question, cause class is in session." The rest of the show consisted of one fabulous lesson.
Popular hits included "The Ave" and "The Inkwell," also from Blue Scholars, along with a track from the new album Cinematropolis. "The Ave" demonstrated The Blue Scholars' ability to combine intricate and unexpected DJ beats with clever wordplay. In addition to being members of Blue Scholars, Geologic is a spoken word poet, and Sabzi is a classically trained jazz musician. They also both happen to be second-generation immigrants. In fact, the pair calls themselves "Blue Scholars" as an ode to "blue collar" workers; most of their songs are about being an independent spirit.
A particularly dynamic aspect of the show was Blue Scholars' relationship with their fans, who were probably especially enthusiastic because Blue Scholars rarely tour the East Coast. There was a sincerely passionate response among the crowd to the band. Everyone in the room seemed to be either a West Coast native or someone introduced to the Blue Scholars by a fan from close to their Seattle haunt.
In addition, Sabzi continuously thanked the crowd for coming out on a weeknight. After playing significantly over their allotted two-hour time slot, Blue Scholars ended with "North by Northwest" from the Bayani album. The song was met with much enthusiasm, but also a bittersweet knowledge that it was time to go home. Blue Scholars are like those great professors we love&-they provoke thought in their audience while also keeping them entertained.
Though Blue Scholars played a standout show, the Paradise Rock Club reconstruction has its pros and cons. Unfortunately, the rumors about the removal of the two detested columns in the middle of the club were false, as they are still intact and now merely block the stage from a different angle. On the plus side, the seating section and the hallway that leads to the main room were completely reconstructed, significantly increasing the size of the venue. The stuffy downstairs, where it was previously impossible to move (sardines in a can would be an understatement) has been transformed into a spacious room that not only can fit more than 750 people but also allows them to move freely between the two bars.
Overall the changes are laudable and will hopefully allow them to continue to attract
performers as exciting as Blue Scholars.</p>
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