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The Roots, Gym Class Heroes Fire Up Big Jams, Political Messages at Baltimore Tour Kick-Off

Photo: Dreyvitser/WireImage On Friday, the Roots opened their co-headlining tour with Gym Class Heroes at Baltimore’s Ram’s Head Live, testing their rep as the best live act in hip-hop with a jam-laced set short on hits and heavy on mind-numbing instrumentals and off-the-wall covers. As the 24-date tour works its way around the country, the band will learn whether or not its loyal fans — some of who were spotted in Baltimore wearing “?uestlove for Prez” T-shirts — will follow as they shift from their trademark hip-hop-soul to something closer to a darker Phish with only slightly more rapping. U.K. soul star Estelle opened with a short set bookended by her hits “Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)” and “American Boy.” Between songs, she quipped endearingly about the state of global affairs and offered some advice: “Life is short. The end is near. Have Sex.” Hip-hop’s emo-hippies Gym Class Heroes, up next, offered a high-energy set with some goofy stage patter — at one point lecturing on the power of love and asking everyone to hug their concert neighbors — and a couple of surprisingly deep musical interludes. They opened with the radio hit “Clothes Off!” on which guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kosongo (or, as frontman Travis McCoy called him, “Chocolate Genius”) lit into his first of a couple deft solos on the night. By way of charming the locals, McCoy then turned to his bandmates and asked, “Is Omar coming?” Met with quizzical looks, he shook his head. “Damn,” he said. “Am I the only one that watches The Wire?” McCoy crooned a section of Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” before the band launched into their other mega-hit, “Cupid’s Chokehold” mid-set. Playfully ruling the room, McCoy referenced girlfriend Katy Perry, who he said makes him want “jump up and down on a couch on Oprah” and encouraged everyone to vote and support Obama, asking “Am I the only one who thinks McCain is too old for this fucking job?” After dedicating “Live a Little” to DJ AM and Travis Barker and reprising Estelle f

Published: 2008-10-06
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News