I'm like the news/I always gotta bring the live shhhhhhh...

On Saturday, I finally saw a live show from the group that has always been touted as one of the best live show performers ever: The Legendary Roots Crew (also know as The Roots, for all those out there lacking technical hip-hop knowledge).

I gotta say, I was impressed. It's funny to think that The Roots are a hip-hop group; I feel like any Joe or Josephine off the street who might slip by security to see what all the commotion was about might think s/he walked into a rock concert. And I mean heavy rock. The way they pump out the energy is just so intense and high-energy, and their music itself is harsh on the ears (but not in a bad way - at least, according to me). Even when they play hits off their acclaimed "organic hip-hop jazz" record, Do You Want More?!!!??!, they parlay it into a high-wattage rock sound, seamlessly flowing from Roots song to cover song and back again.*

But, while watching them, as well as Gym Class Heroes, which performed just before The Roots, I realized an important revelation: I love live shows.

It seems like a silly and obvious realization, but I really do love live shows, and I don't necessarily think that is the standard for most people. Live shows can be tough. This Roots show was enough for most people to last a decade worth of live shows.

And don't get it twisted - I certainly have attended my fair share of live shows in the past. But this year has been something of a re-introduction to the live set. Twice I've been to The Independent in San Francisco (first to see People Under The Stairs, and second to see Murs along with Kidz In The Hall), and now The Roots. Each show had its own distinct feel, its own energy and action. And even though the styles were vastly different (PUTS putting on a dance party, Murs having a hilarious conversation while staying real and Roots just rocking bigger than I could have ever expected), I love the community that is established at live shows. It is something you certainly can never get out of a CD, no matter how hard you try, I think.

So my suggestion to you, dear reader, and the rest of the world? Go out and see live shows! I think the other reason that it is somewhat satisfying to hit up these shows is to be supporting the artist in the best way. Yes, record sales are important, but in terms of the bottle line, I don't think most of the groups I like are eating off SoundScans alone. The show is where the real money gets made. So it's nice to support, to let these artists know I'm down with their music.

As long as they rock it out well. If the show is weak, I don't know, man. I suppose I haven't attended a weak show in recent memory, so I don't know what my reaction would be. I'll cross that bridge when(/if, considering all the artists I like are the bomb) I get there.

If you are interested in attending a show with the world-famous D Lip and Crew, get ready! You next opportunity will be at The Warfield in San Francisco, on November 23 at 7:30 p.m., to see the most unorthodox orthodox you have ever seen - Matisyahu! See Ticketmaster for more information.

*You can get something of a feel for the performance aspects by watching The Roots perform at UCLA in the 2008 JazzReggae Festival (unfortunately, I did not attend UCLA at the time, meaning I've missed two possible free live Roots shows in my life). I see that Quanye already made his mark with a comment on the page (or someone else out there uses the alias "fakerthanfake").