Mike Patton & Rahzel
You’re probably thinking what the fuck do those two guys have to do with metal. Well not much, it’s just that Mike Patton has had such a big influence on rock/experimental music he has become one of my personal musical heroes and deserves to be reviewed on this site. Together with the human beat-box from The Roots named Rahzel one hell of a show was put together.
I’ve seen the show twice, once at Pukkelpop in Belgium and once at Paradiso in Amsterdam. At Pukkelpop there were some serious problems with Rahzel’s mike, it’s volume was way too soft and now and then agonizing squeaks emerged from the speakers. Rahzel wasn’t that happy with that. Mike Patton on the other hand sounded great.
Now try to image a life-like beat coming from a human mouth together with extremely weird samples, screams, singing, yelling and even more beatboxing. One of the weirdest things I have ever seen. Too bad that in Belgium more Rahzel fans were present than Mike Patton fans, that spoiled the atmosphere a bit. A lot of boo screaming towards Mike caused him to leave the stage to create a moment alone for the Rahzel fans. Which was really cool by the way, he beatboxed Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothing to fuck with!
Since they were performing at the same time as 50 Cent was, a lot of jokes were made about him. They even covered Pimp! In a really weird version of course. Even Shania Twain was thrown at us… through a radio. Mike searched a channel with a beat that Rahzel could join in on, which was pretty fun to see/hear. Especially when you hear the Dutch commercials really loud and you see both performers looking like what the hell was that!?!
In Paradiso I liked Rahzel better because there he was just straight pumpin’! I could feel the bass trembling throughout my entire body, how many people can do that with their voice (and a couple of speakers… ). This time Mike Patton didn’t leave the stage neither.
This is one of the coolest and weirdest things I have seen up till now, but it wasn’t better than Fant�mas. I’m glad I got to witness this, twice!