Kyle Gilkeson

Nocando

Guest Spot: Nocando explains the power of wordplay

Flash Bang Grenada: 10 HatersFlash Bang Grenada: 10 Haters (Hellfyre Club / Alpha Pup, 8/23/11)

Flash Bang Grenada: “In a Perfect World” (f. Open Mike Eagle)

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Some rappers tell stories, some tell jokes, and some mangle language into a string of witticisms. A few manage to do all three of these things at once. It’s this balance that LA-based rhymer Nocando hopes to achieve. His affiliation with stalwart rap collective Project Blowed led to a rapid ascent of the battle-rap circuit, culminating in a 2007 Scribble Jam championship. Known for his clever, sarcastic style, he recently teamed up with kindred spirit Busdriver to form Flash Bang Grenada. The duo’s debut album, 10 Haters, was just released in late August and received a TWBA nod. Here, Nocando explains what wordplay means to him, and how he hopes to one day harness its powers.

Wordplay
by Nocando

As far back as I can remember (roughly seven years ago), I’ve been consumed with wordplay. It’s the tool that a rapper’s ego uses to stroke itself. Even if the rapper doesn’t pause after the punchline and say, “Get it? Let’s get it!” and use ad libs like “Dayummmm” to highlight his wordplay, he secretly wants to do. I’m not trying to make this an “I hate wordplay” rant, because I’m one of the wordplay-abusing rappers in question.

Me: Hi, I’m Nocando. I’m a wordplay junkie.
Other wordplay junkies: Hi, Nocando.

Braid

Concert Photos: Braid @ Metro (Chicago, IL)

Formed in the early ’90s in Champaign, Illinois, emo-rock band Braid has been mostly out of commission for the past decade. Save a brief reunion tour in the summer of 2004, the band has been split up, with each member doing his own thing. Last year, Bob Nanna and Chris Broach were performing DJ sets together at Bar Deville in Chicago and decided to once again reunite the band. A new EP, Closer to Closed, was released on August 16 via Polyvinyl. Contributing photographer Elizabeth Gilmore was on hand for Braid’s first show in roughly seven years.

Braid

!!!

Concert Photos: !!! @ Bottom Lounge (Chicago, IL)

After completing a busy summer-festival circuit (SXSW, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Bilbao, in Spain), dance-punk band !!! brought its high-energy tunes to Chicago recently. Contributing photographer Elizabeth Gilmore was on hand at the Bottom Lounge to capture all of the sweaty action. The band chugged and churned through tracks from its 2010 album, Strange Weather, Isn’t It?, among other crowd favorites from its back catalog. According to !!!’s website, its members will be taking some time off from touring soon to work on a new album.

!!!

Rasputina

Concert Photos: Rasputina @ Pritzker Pavilion (Chicago, IL)

In August, neo-classical cello-rock band Rasputina took to Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The diverse audience, befitting a free summertime show, spread across the lawn and listened intently until triggered into laughter periodically by lead singer Melora Creager’s quaint, endearing banter between songs.

At one point in the band’s set, Creager explained what a song was actually about, declared that it was not a “popular” theme, and asked that the audience help her fabricate a new, more popular song. It was all in jest, but the audience ate it up and bellowed absurd topics, which the band fused to create an even more absurd introduction to the song. Later, right before plucking into “Secret Message,” Creager said, “I think, next, I will play one of our many science songs, this being the physics department of our [music].”

– Text by Mojdeh Stoakley / photos by Lauren Hermann.

Rasputina